Hyderabad-based Techno Graphic Services (TGS) is a leading distributor of finishing equipment in the country. It distributes several types of equipment manufactured in Taiwan such as Wen Chyuan lamination and UV coating machines. Recently, the distributor has grown its portfolio by signing up with four other Taiwanese postpress equipment manufacturers – SBL Group, Golden Tec Machinery, Datien Industrial Company and Fulontek Enterprises.
We accompanied TGS managing director Muralidhar Nalli on a recent visit to Taiwan. First we saw two of SBL’s plants in Taipei to preview products to be shown at drupa. Travelling another 200 kilometres on a high speed train to reach Taichung, we visited the Daiten, Fluontek and Golden Tech production units. On the last of our trip we visited the Wen Chuyan factory.
SBL Group
Established in 1968, the Taiwan-based SBL Group’s products cover a wide range from automatic laminators, autoplaten diecutting and creasing machines, foil stamping and diecutting platens, high speed folder gluers, die-making machine, precision scroll saw and window patching machines. It was the first Asian partner of Heidelberg supplying the Varimatrix diecutter. It’s TS1000 WSV high speed folding and gluing machines, and the EG100 gluing machine are exported globally.
SBL’s director of marketing Hank Kan says, “The Indian market is quite big and drupa offers us an opportunity to showcase our high quality products to converters. We have the skills and techniques that enable us keep pace with European pioneers from Switzerland and Germany and we have around 2,500 installations across the globe. With guidance from Muralidhar Nalli we are positive that we can serve the Indian converters more efficiently.”
Expressing his desire to ramp up installations in India, Nalli says, “SBL offers high quality products with long shelf-life at competitive prices. Such products are good options for converters who are looking for alternative solutions in diecutting, folding and creasing autoplatens.” Talking about after-sales service, he says, “Our engineering team of five has already completed training at SBL’s manufacturing plant in Taipei and is well-equipped to provide local installation and after-sales services in India.”
Datein, Fulontek
Datein Industrial Company has more than 30 years experience in manufacturing computerized double-arm automatic paper cutting machines in compliance to European CE Standards. These range from 25-inch (66 cm) to very large format 118-inch (300 cm). Including its pile turning and paper jogging machines, about 70% of its equipment is exported to South Asia, France, Australia, United States and Brazil.
Targeting digital printers, TGS has added Fulontek’s multi-function finishing machine launched in 2012 with 14 global installations so far. Fulontek FL-500 is capable of diecutting, kiss-cutting, creasing, perforating, blind and foil embossing, hot foil stamping and scoring sheets with a max size of 375 x 173 cm. Changeover from hot foil stamping to cutting by replacing the portable heating plate with its insulated frame with a standard chase takes less than 10 minutes. A touch panel with pictogram controls makes it easy to operate. Paper registration, foil draw length, counter functions, jam detect/interrupt double feed detect, speed and impression pressure functions are controlled and displayed through the computer touch screen.
FL-500 applications include greeting cards, business cards, stationery, invitations and commercial letterpress work. It can efficiently produce work at speeds up to 6,000 sheets an hour for board with a maximum thickness of 1 mm and at 3,000 sheets an hour of 90 gsm paper. “Both machines will be of great value to Indian print firms since the technology is high-end and the cost is affordable. In the future, we plan to display the Fulontek machine at Hyderabad so converters can have better understanding about the machine’s end use,” said Nalli.
Golden Tec
Founded in 2000, Golden Tec Machinery with two factories in Taiwan, supplies a range of roll-to-sheet equipment across the globe with over 200 installations so far. GTM’s cut-to-sheet or cut-to-register machines are compliant with European CE standards and will be at Stand B63 in Hall 11 at drupa. GTM engineer Mick Lai, says, “Over 21 years we have sold sheeters to more than 20 countries. Our sheeters are CE-certified and integrate many patented designs, making them unique in the market with an extensive choice of models and configurations to suit varying requirements of the paper industry and solutions that convert a wide of range of materials such as paper, paperboard, films and semi-rigid films into sheets. Most of our components are from SKF, electronic equipment like sensors are from SICK (German technology) and the servo motor and PRC controller are based on Taiwan technology.”
With Lai, we visited Formosa Paper Mills, a regular user of GTM equipment who converts 200 to 300 gsm paper rolls to sheets with proper alignment of paper pile at the delivery unit. According to Lai, “The first sheeter which we installed was a SHM sheeter from a European manufacturer and GTM used to provide technical services for the installed machinery. As in Formosa, many other converters are loyal to us, due to their unique technical requirements including better cutting-edge and enhanced shelf-life of cutting blades.” Lai said that another sheeter is to be installed Formosa Paper Mills in the near future.
“We have successfully installed more single rotary machines vis-à-vis twin knife machineries. Often, single rotatory sheeters are used to cut around 500 gsm paper and twin rotary sheeters are used to cut the thicker board up to 1 mm,” states Lai. Citing the unique requirements of almost every customer, Lai says, “For lower gsm of around 30 to 40 grammage, we have come up with multiweb slitters where many paper rolls of the same gsm are passed simultaneously between knives to have a clean and easy cut, hence promising the delivery of smooth cutting-edge as well enhanced productivity for the end user. For the first time, GTM is participating in drupa, and will use illustrations to display our products. We want make our presence felt and would like to enhance our customer base and also meet our loyal customers.”
Wen Chuyan Machinery
Founded in 1972, Taiwan-based Wen Chuyan Machinery is a family-owned business supplying Indian printers and packaging converters industry for more than 20 years. Trusted by Indian users such as Pragati Offset and Parksons Graphics its overseas installations number more than 2,300 machines. Emma Lin, sales director of Wen Chuyan Machinery said, “Our first customer in India was Narendra Paruchuri, the owner of Pragati Offset and we are delighted to be associated with him.”
Explaining its growth in the world market, Wen Chuyan’s managing director Lin Chi explains, “In 1986, we participated for the first time at drupa as an exhibitor and had a good exposure to other finishing machines. Our machine quality was good but to enable us penetrate the world market we modified the look and design of our machines. This was a wise decision which helped us gain an edge in the market. Today Wen Chuyan is a leading manufacturer and supplier of high quality varnishing, laminating and finishing machinery.”
“We have been serving the Indian market for over 20 years and will be participating in the upcoming drupa for the third time. The KYEK-82DK3 automatic high speed film laminating machine at our stand B63 in Hall 11 in drupa is especially designed for water-based glue lamination, controlled by servo motor systems as well as a flying knife system to separate BOPP/ PET /metallized films. It ensures a 20% saving in power consumption making it an environment-friendly machine.”
