UV Graphics showcased its newly launched Ultraflex UFO 2 AI – a double servo flexo press with AI technology at the five-day Printpack exhibition in Greater Noida. The Ultraflex UFO 2 AI was launched at Labelexpo India in November 2024 and UV Graphics has already delivered six machines in the last 2.5 months to Sonepat-based Jupiter Laminators, Telangana’s Moldtek Packaging, Faridabad’s Dashmesh Foils, Mumbai’s JD Printers, Pune’s Parag Packaging and Kolkata’s Shree Jagannath Udyog.
Abhay Datta, director at UV Graphic Technologies, told Packaging South Asia, “This is the first intelligent press in the market. It has features unparalleled to any, including an instant make-ready device, extremely low waste and quick job changeovers. This press can print from 6-inch repeat up to 40-inch repeat, which makes it the largest print repeat in the industry.”
There is 100% positive feedback about the machine and at Labelexpo, they sold nine Ultraflex UFO 2 AI presses, which is a benchmark, Datta said, adding three are yet to be delivered. “Besides the Ultraflex UFO 2 AI, we have an economical model – the Ultraflex EFO, an entry-level budget machine for startups, which we demonstrated at Labelexpo last year.”
UV Graphics signed 11 deals at Printpack – six for the Ultraflex UFO 2 AI , two for the Ultraflex UFO, and three for the Ultraflex EFO, Datta said, adding the company has not missed a single Printpack since 1984.
“We showcased our machines at Printpack to make customers aware of what flexo can do today. There is a lot of growth in the flexo market and we see a lot of demand for flexible packaging. Earlier, flexo concentrated only on labels, but today we see a change in demand – a huge inrush of flexible packaging,” Datta shared.
UV Graphics and UFlex Chemicals are partners in ink development. The company uses UFlex inks and specialty coatings in the Ultraflex UFO 2 AI, Datta said, adding CMYK LED adhesive, matt UV and gloss UV products are used in the running of the press. Along with this, digital foil using silkscreen adhesive used for digital foiling is supplied by UFlex Chemicals.
“UFlex is flexible and quick in developing and adopting new technology, generous in sharing materials for difficult substrates, and special inks for special purposes,” he added.
Apart from the Ultraflex UFO 2 AI, UV Graphics showcased the Utraflex USR Plus – a 100% inspection system with a built-in slitter rewinder in collaboration with Bengaluru-based Lucid Imaging, Ultraflex Pony IML – a die-cutting machine for in-mold labels that can also be used for die-cutting of pressure-sensitive labels, the Ultraflex VPM – its plate mounter, which can mount a plate in less than 30 seconds, the Ultraflex combo machine, and the automatic roll-to-roll silkscreen printing machine with digital foil.
Lucid Imaging are pioneers in 100% inspection systems and involved in 100% inspection of bank notes, Datta said, adding the automatic roll-to-roll silkscreen printing with digital foil is a new concept where one can have cold foil in gold or silver or holography with raised effect, a kind of embossed foil, which is more popularly known as digital foil.
UV Graphics always has had well-designed stands at all exhibitions and Printpack was no exception. “We are hospitable people who like to make friends. The stands are always designed well because we participate in a lot of European exhibitions and we want our stand to be on a par with international standards. We host our friends and customers at our stand as we don’t get time to socialize at these exhibitions,” Datta said.
