INTERNATIONAL

EIKEMEIER
GROUP
■ A working width up to 2.80 m
with up to 6 outs;
■ A fully automatic system with no
additional personnel needed;
■ The production of perfect fanfold
with a good stack presentation;
■ The possibility to combine the
production of fanfold with the
production of sheets.
In order to ensure these features,
BHS has divided the whole process
into three steps. Step 1 – the
process of folding; Step 2 – the
process of separating the stacks,
and Step 3 – the process of stack
discharge.
One of the main technical
innovations of this stacker is the
fact that the process of stack
separation is executed after the
process of folding and not before.
All previous systems for stacking of
fanfold use the cut-off for this
separation, with the disadvantage
that the new web has to be fed into
the folding unit again and again for
each stack. This results in a slow
average production speed and low
quality board during fanfold
production. The new stacker from
BHS separates the stacks after the
folding process. While separating
the stacks, the folding process can
proceed at full production speed —
this is a clear advantage which will
increase not only the average
production speed of fanfold
production, but also the quality of
the board produced.
“This is the first one of its kind in
the world,” confirms Mr Eikemeier.
“We are very happy with the
installation of the new AS-F stacker
and it has certainly
improved the quality and
output for fanfold off the
corrugator.” A two colour
Göpfert flexo print
machine, situated on the
corrugator, means that
simple flexo print can be
applied to the liner after the single
facer prior to entering the double
facer.
Consolidating position
So the money has been invested,
the machine park is full (for the time
being) and business is brisk. But
what of the future? “I am
comfortable with the fact that I have
my son in the business, running our
Langenhagen plant. That leaves me
to concentrate my efforts in Lucka.
Our job now is to look for continued
growth, specifically through our
internet based business,”
concludes Mr Eikemeier. “We are
looking to the future with
confidence, as we are well
equipped through our IT systems
and our machine park to serve the
‘next generation’ of customer. We
have pretty much completed the
three year €25 million investment
plan and thanks to the hard work of
our people and the support of our
machinery, paper and service
suppliers, we are well placed to
flourish in the years ahead.” ■
Two colour Göpfert print unit on the BHS corrugator.
End of line sheet counter
at the corrugator take-off.
“WE HAVE
PRETTY MUCH
COMPLETED
THE THREE YEAR,
€25 MILLION
INVESTMENT
PLAN AND ARE
WELL PLACED TO
FLOURISH IN
THE YEARS
AHEAD.”