At HIPLEX, SP Ultraflex showcased its latest advancements in slitting technology, highlighting automation solutions designed to improve productivity, reduce downtime, and address the growing challenges faced by converters in today’s fast-changing packaging industry.
The company presented its advanced slitter machine equipped with an innovative automatic job change solution, developed to meet the increasing demand for shorter job lengths and faster production cycles.
“Earlier, converters would run a single job for several days or even a week. However, today the market has changed significantly. Job lengths are becoming shorter, and manufacturers are handling multiple job changes every day,” explained Rohan Pankar, Sales Engineer, SP Ultraflex during the exhibition.
With converters now managing 10 to 12 job changes in a single day, machine setup time has become a critical factor affecting overall efficiency. Traditionally, every changeover could take around 40 minutes, resulting in considerable production loss.
To overcome this challenge, SP Ultraflex has developed a complete automation approach that goes beyond just automatic shaft or shutter systems. The company believes that true productivity improvement can only be achieved when the complete job change process — before, during, and after the changeover — works together seamlessly.
The company’s Precision Auto Change technology reduces the job change time from approximately 40 minutes to just seven minutes, allowing converters to convert saved setup time directly into increased production output.
“For example, if a converter saves 30 minutes per job and performs 10 job changes in a day, nearly 300 minutes of production time can be recovered. This directly improves machine utilisation and overall profitability,” Pankar added.
Reducing Operator Dependency Through Automation
Another major advantage of SP Ultraflex’s latest technology is reduced dependence on highly skilled operators.
With the availability of experienced machine operators becoming increasingly challenging, automation is playing a crucial role in maintaining production efficiency. The advanced control features of the machine simplify operations, enabling even regular operators to manage production effectively.
“Today, skilled manpower availability is becoming a challenge. With our automated solutions, operator dependency is reduced significantly, as most critical functions are managed by the machine itself,” Pankar stated.
Global Acceptance of Advanced Technology
SP Ultraflex has been expanding its presence across international markets with its advanced slitting solutions. The company has supplied machines to various regions, including Africa, Russia, Turkey, and the UAE.
The company believes its technology is aligned with global standards and offers features comparable to European solutions.
“Our focus has always been on developing world-class technology. We are confident that our solutions meet international expectations and, in some areas, offer advantages over conventional European systems,” Pankar said.
Future Roadmap: More Automation Solutions Ahead
Continuing its focus on automation, SP Ultraflex is also working on additional solutions such as automatic taping and automatic clipping systems. These developments are expected to further enhance efficiency and reduce manual intervention in slitting operations.
The company expects to introduce these advanced features within the next six months.
Positive Response at HIPLEX
SP Ultraflex received an encouraging response from visitors at HIPLEX, with strong interest from converters and industry professionals.
“Although it is only the second day of the exhibition, we have already received visits from quality customers and have had meaningful discussions. Visitors are appreciating the automation features and productivity benefits of our technology,” Pankar shared.
The company also appreciated the exhibition platform for helping it connect with customers from different regions of India, particularly the southern markets.
“While we have traditionally had a strong presence in northern India through major industry exhibitions, HIPLEX has given us an excellent opportunity to connect with customers from southern regions. We are receiving visitors from cities such as Bengaluru and Chennai, and the response has been very positive,” Rohan Pankar concluded.
With its focus on automation, productivity enhancement, and operator-friendly solutions, SP Ultraflex continues to strengthen its position as a technology-driven solution provider for the flexible packaging and converting industry.
