Lombardi Synchroline 430 has won four flexo awards at Best in Flexo 2016. Best in Flexo ATIF (FTA Italy) sponsored the awards ceremony with the aim of encouraging improvement in flexo printing quality.

Two label printers in northern Italy, Minova Labels and Riber, won the first, second and third prizes in two categories. The submitted works were divided into 11 categories and judged by a qualified panel of technical experts in each of the stages of preparation in flexo printing.

Minova Labels won first prize for the narrow web category, which includes labels and flexible packaging, and the third prize in the combined use of
flexographic printing. Riber finished second in the combined use with hybrid printing machines with screen printing units and cold foil, and the third
prize in the narrow web category.

Ivan Caldirola, Minova Labels’ owner, is not surprised at his company’s success because customers and the market require high-quality jobs. “I think the Synchroline 430 by Lombardi Converting Machinery is now the best narrow web flexo machine on the market,” he says. “I come from an experience of printing technique and still for me it is easier to choose a good machine than print labels.

“We evaluated a Lombardi flexo press eight years ago,” he adds. “But we did not choose it for several reasons. But four years ago, we bought our first Synchroline for a
company we have in Russia. On that occasion, we were convinced more for its mechanics than electronics. Today, Lombardi has grown a lot and, in addition to mechanics, it is just the electronics, and in particular their management software to make a difference. For this reason, we believe that the Synchroline 430 is today the best choice.”

Synchroline is designed to provide high-level performance for narrow web labels and packaging on any type of substrate. Minova won its two awards with a Synchroline 430, 10 colors with double lamination and the option to print coupons.

Minova Labels is a small company of 12 people working in two shifts on narrow web machines from 400 to 600 mm. The requested quality is similar to rotogravure but for small and medium runs.

“Our clients are international groups demanding high quality, but today high quality is always requested,” says Caldirola. “We focus mainly on the technical specialties of the product. As for durables, for example, each product is approved and submitted to a series of stress tests prior to those that will be carried by our own customers.

“On applications with the choice of materials that are produced directly by a company of coating and laminating specialists, like us, we started an exclusive collaboration. For this kind of job, we always compare to offset printing because our customers are companies accustomed to Cromalin proofs. So we have to reach these levels. And we are in constant improvement. But as for prepress, we rely on external service and we focus on printing and we must rely on good printing machines. For that reason, we have chosen Synchroline by Lombardi Converting Machinery. Moreover, we have a very accurate programmed cleaning and maintenance cycle, and Lombardi’s assistance is essential for us.”

There is a difference between the two winning entries. “The first is a narrow web flexographic work purely on supporting flexible film,” he says .”The other is a combined printing of synthetic materials, which combines other techniques. For example, there is a transparent hologram, an ice cube applied with cold foil technology. It is the customer who ask us to find something beautiful, and we collaborate with their graphics offices.”