Malaysian-based Hexachase Flexipack, one of three divisions of the Hexachase Group, has installed a Nordmeccanica Super Simplex laminator fitted with Vetaphone corona technology at its production facility in Cheng, Melaka.
Founded initially as Hexachase Labels in 1996, with Hexachase Packaging added in 2002, Hexachase Flexipack was opened in 2015 with a mission to create innovative and sustainable packaging solutions with a strong ‘green conscience’. The company specializes in converting primary flexible materials, including film and laminates, into single or multiple layers of high-quality printed packaging materials. The flexible packaging is supplied in roll form or as pre-made pouches.
The company says it uses advanced technology to serve a variety of market sectors where maintaining strict quality management practices is essential to meet the specifications of multinational and local companies. Executive director Chai says, “Hexachase aims to deliver versatile, eco-friendly flexible packaging solutions that combine protection with shelf-appeal on sustainable custom designs.”
The materials (substrates) in most use are PP and PE and to laminate these films successfully, one requires surface treatment before they are rotogravure printed on one of three presses. Hexachase has four Nordmeccanica laminating lines running 90% solvent-free. The latest laminator was specified with two Vetaphone corona treaters, supplied through the Danish manufacturer’s local agent Colorblend. These are VE1C-D (C4) models with a 1420mm web width and a 6kW power rating, capable of running at sustained speeds of 450 m/min.
Rayson Ng, business development manager at Colorblend, says, “Hexachase knew Vetaphone had a good reputation for design, and following a recommendation from a customer, we arranged to do a live stream demo for them from the manufacturer’s showroom in Denmark.” Three things impressed Hexachase: the iCorona ‘intelligent’ generator, the easily removable cartridge that allows the operator to clean and maintain the electrodes, and the integrated iCC7 panel that offers touchscreen control.
Speaking for Vetaphone, sales manager for Asia-Pacific Holger Selenka says, “We are delighted to be on board with such a vibrant company as Hexachase and look forward to extending our business with them. To be able to demonstrate our technology with a live link to our showroom in Denmark proved crucial in securing this order, and we see it as an asset for all those companies who are too far from Denmark to visit in person.”
Hexachase Flexipack will continue to grow its business from a current annual sales figure of around $25m, 30% of which is exported to Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Australia and Europe.
