Vivid Easymount Hybrid
Vivid has brought to market a hybrid laminator and applicator that rolls into one machine features you would normally find on two equivalent-sized machines. Brian Sims finds out more
Principal consultant, Metis Print Consultancy
Wednesday, 03 Apr 2024 11:26 GMT
Two in One
Vivid has come to the market with a new machine in more than one way. It's new hybrid machine is a combination of laminator and applicator which should be of interest to any sign-maker or finishing company. Rolled into the Easymount Hybrid are several features all of which hold patents which goes to show Vivid is keen to maintain a leading advantage with this new equipment.
At the core of the machine is a reel-to-reel laminator which is modular in design to cope with sizes from 1.5m to ‘unlimited lengths’ which Vivid claims means the machine can grow with your company or business.
The laminator element of the machine has the capacity to cope with reel-to-reel production meaning the scope of work is limited only by the size of the reels used. The width is up to 1,600mm wide and a speed of six metres per minute. The applicator roller is pneumatically adjusted and can apply an even pressure across the sheet ensuring the applied sheet is free from blemishes and air bubbles.
In laminator mode, the pressure roller is locked into position and the laminate is held in a series of rollers stretching over the pressure roller itself. A simple web path means the tension of the laminate or film is maintained to ensure fault-free application regardless of the length of the job.
The substrate itself passes under the pressure roller and is tensioned by the use of industrial-sized (77mm) reel bars which keep the substrate moving not only at the correct speed but also under the correct tension, the second factor in the production of fault-free laminated products.
One of the clever parts of the hybrid design is the way the machine switches from one function to the other. When in laminator mode the roller assembly is locked into the docking position by the use of an electro-magnet securing it firmly into place to act as the feed roller for the laminating function of the hybrid design.
When you wish to use the machine as an applicator, you release the roller assembly from the docking station by pressing a button on the touch screen and the bridge holding the applicator roller can freely run up and down the bed.
Whilst all that sounds simple and easy enough, the engineering sitting behind it is anything but. First of all, the bridge that holds the pressure roller needs to be of rigid construction to hold the roller and the mechanism to operate it. But it also needs to be little enough that the whole system is not troublesome to move.
With that overcome, moving the whole assembly from one end of the table to the other from just one side of the machine requires more clever engineering. Anyone who has tackled this issue knows the assembly will try to twist rather than move. You need to engineer linear bearings and other alignment systems to ensure when you do move the roller from one extremity to the other, everything moves in one, smooth, vibration-free movement to ensure a smoothly laid product.
It is clear from the simple function of the roller that a lot of thought and savvy engineering has gone into this part of the machine and this investment clearly has paid off.
The pressure roller itself is described by Vivid as ‘hovering’ over the substrate and can be lifted up and down by the simple use of a small joystick. As it is pneumatically controlled, you can set where the roller is positioned in height on the slideway to match the substrate thickness.
The patented ‘hovering’ roller maintains the perfect height for applying films and ensures damage-free substrates”
This has a number of advantages, the main one being that with the accurate setting of the position of the pressure roller, the substrate itself is not subjected to excessive pressure meaning the edges of it do not get damaged or deformed. Another simple thought, but it is the investment in design that pulls it off.
Laying Down Film
The Easymount Hybrid can tackle a large number of tasks and films and the capacity of the applicator itself is up to 48mm in thickness, which means it can apply a covering to most signage, boards, pop up displays, and outdoor signage.
To help with the loading of the laminate and film, the machine comes with further cleverly designed arms which form a loading system where each arm swings out from the machine to load the required reel in one simple and easy operation.
Switching between formats is as simple as pressing a button and the docking station uses an electromagnet to secure the laminating mode in place”
There is also a variable speed control which can compensate for either changes in film or laminate, and cope with trickier substrates. Should this be required, the Easymount Hybrid has a reversing function to allow for a situation where changing the direction of the film is required.
Everything you need to do on the machine is easily accomplished by the use of a simple touch panel that can be configured in a number of different languages. The simple icons used on it do make it very easy to set up and change from one format to the other.
Saving Space and Money
As Vivid says, you are really investing in two machines when you purchase the Easymount Hybrid, the easy switch between the in-line laminator and applicator could not be easier. The space saving attributes of the machine speak for themselves, you only need floor space for one.
The machine does offer much more as a hybrid version and the substrate size and variation should be able to satisfy virtually any request for signage or graphics. Given the modular design, either scoping the machine from the beginning or testing the water with the idea of expansion, the Easymount Hybrid works on a number of levels.
Statistics
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Laminating speed 6m/min
- Max width 1600mm
- Mounting thickness (max) 48mm
- Roller diameter 130mm
Brian Sims Principal Consultant, Metis Print Consultancy, www.metis-uk.eu
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