South African label printer First Impression Labels (FIL) has added a custom-built, three-color Rotocontrol DT-Series modular digital finishing machine to its fleet of printing, converting and finishing equipment. Leading the sale was Pascal Aengenvoort, director and co-owner of Rotocon, the local Rotocontrol representative.

“Rotocontrol has taken the best tried-and-tested components and used them to build this modular machine, consisting of two rotary print stations, a varnishing station, a rotary cold foiling station and a semi-rotary diecutting station and edge guide system,” says FIL operations director Vaughan Cummin. “Additionally, the servo-driven software is key to the machine’s performance, ensuring it ticks all the boxes.”

The DT-Series arrived at FIL in modular form and was installed within a day by Rotocon’s technician William White, who stayed a week to train three FIL operators on production, joined by a Rotocontrol software technician to ensure the machine was operating at full potential.

Aengenvoort describes it as “a privilege” to offer FIL a full-house digital service through the supply of its new Rotocontrol finishing machine, following two previously installed Rotocontrol RSC 440mm web width slitter rewinders. “As Vaughan requested, we kept its design as simple as possible and made the web path and other vital areas – which are usually concealed, resulting in maintenance and cleaning challenges – open and accessible,” he explains.

Rotocon also supplied FIL a Screen Truepress Jet L350UV digital inkjet label press in 2014, a first for an African converter. FIL produces top-quality folding cartons, pressure sensitive labels, shrink sleeves and wraparound labels for multinational food, home and personal care customers.

A Rotocontrol DT 340 featuring a new delam/relam functionality and a turret rewinder for non-stop production will be demonstrated at Labelexpo Europe on Rotocontrol’s stand 7D42.