German cutting tool manufacturer Wink has recently introduced its extended range of finishing variants for diecutting tools to the North American market. Wink’s four non-stick coatings can be used for flexible dies, solid rotary dies and other machine components. This versatility makes them the optimum solution for a wide range of diecutting tasks. The repellent action against adhesive and ink residues means that cutting tools stay clean especially on the cutting lines. Moreover, hardly any labels adhere to the web or tool after cutting, which significantly increases the production rate. The coating does not in any way affect the flexibility, magnetic adhesion and precision of the flexible dies. 

While the Black coating for flexible dies is recommended especially for diecutting standard labels and less aggressive adhesives, the Silver version is particularly efficient for the ink protection of accessory products, such as ink troughs and guide rollers. The new Grey and White variant are all-round products for difficult materials. They stand out for their optimum non-stick effect, which makes them ideal when diecutting multi-layered labels and hot melt adhesives. The White silicon-based coating can also be used for coating solid rotary dies, and provides added protection against ink residues.

Wink can rely on years of experience with non-stick coatings. “Over the years, we have tested and optimized various coatings. It has emerged that there is no single variant that can satisfy all our customers’ requirements,” explains product manager Fransz Verbeek. In close cooperation with material manufacturers and customers, the Wink research department conducted a series of detailed tests, in order to fine-tune all the variants to the needs of printers.”

In personnel news, Wink has announced the appointment of Steve Burleson to president of Wink US, based in Charlotte, NC. He will be responsible for the sales of Wink’s complete product range of flexible dies, steel rule dies and rotary cylinders in the North American market. Burleson has many years of experience in the label industry, most recently as sales representative for Wink.
 
In addition, Stacie Missey joins Wink US as sales representative. Missey has been working in the internal sales for rotary and flexible dies for almost twenty years and is now looking forward to joining Wink’s outside sales team.
 
“We are very satisfied with our development in the US market,” says Detlef Geske, international sales director of Wink. “Steve has proven excellent performance during the last years and played a crucial role in expanding our US activities, and Stacie will be an ideal addition with her technical experience. With their outstanding service mentality, both of them are perfect matches for our ‘You cut, we care’ approach,” Geske adds.