Leading finishing equipment manufacturer, A B Graphic International (ABG), has recently sold one of its highly-rated shrink sleeve seaming machines, the SR (seaming rewinder), to Imprimerie de L’Eperon, a label converter based in the Dordogne region, France. As an existing customer, L’Eperon has invested in eight other ABG solutions for their 6,000 sqm facility, including a Digicon Series 3 and a DigiLase digital finishing machine.

The sale, which marks the first-ever sale of an ABG SR machine to a French customer, comes in the wake of ABG's most successful Labelexpo yet, where they showcased 17 machines on their largest-ever stand and generated significant interest in their cutting-edge finishing solutions.

The shrink sleeve seaming machine (SR) is produced with precision at ABG’s Girona site in Spain. Its function is to convert a flat film reel into a single-sleeve label or multiple sleeves. Once placed on the container, the label conforms to its shape. One of the SR's key features is its ability to create a strong and consistent weld. This is achieved through ABG’s unique application system, which results in a flat and clean weld. The company’s proprietary solvent, grafix, is used to apply the chemical weld in a way that ensures reliability.

What sets the SR apart from other machines is that it uses a bespoke solution from ABG, called Smart Wheel. This unique feature applies a consistent layer of solvent, which has several benefits, such as reducing waste, providing greater consistency of solvent application, and creating a more reliable weld. Additionally, the online inspection kit allows the application system to avoid subsequent inspection processes, saving time, and Laser Perforation can be added to existing seaming machines, which increases efficiency and decreases turnaround times.

According to Marc Planella, ABG’s shrink sleeve product manager, the sale is a significant milestone for the company. "We are delighted to confirm that during Labelexpo, L’Éperon became the first in France to invest in an ABG seaming rewinder,” he said. “The system showcases our unique solvent application mechanism, the servomotorised Smart Wheel. This translates to improved quality, better operational efficiency and a significant decrease in waste for L’Eperon.”