Blog

The Changing Landscape of Core Cutting Machinery in the UK

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For many years, Parkland International has been a recognised name within the converting industry, particularly in the field of core cutting machinery. Their equipment has been used by manufacturers and converters across the world, helping businesses maintain efficient production for decades.

Recent developments indicate that Parkland International is no longer manufacturing new core cutting machines and is instead focusing on servicing and supplying spare parts for its existing installed base.

As fellow UK manufacturers, we at Universal Converting Equipment are genuinely saddened to see another long-standing machinery manufacturer step back from active production. The manufacturing industry has faced significant challenges in recent years, from rising material and energy costs to wider economic uncertainty across Europe and beyond.

The loss of any specialist engineering manufacturer is felt throughout the industry. Companies like Parkland helped build the reputation of British engineering within the converting sector, and their contribution is recognised.

Automation Breakthroughs in Narrow Web Slitting for Bottle Labels

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Automation in slitting technology is nothing new, it has evolved steadily to meet rising demands for precision, speed, and consistency. However, the challenge has been most obvious in the production of bottle labels. Narrow slit widths and demanding rewind requirements have long presented bottlenecks in efficiency. Today, those limitations are finally being overcome, thanks to advances in automation.

At Universal Converting Equipment, we have dedicated ourselves to building the world’s most productive slitting machines, with the highest end being the Universal X8. Over the past year, our engineering team has perfected the automation required to handle bottle label production seamlessly, from “parent roll-to-packaged pallet”, with no operator intervention. This milestone represents not only a technological leap forward but also a redefinition of what productivity and reliability look like in the converting world.

The Challenges of Bottle Labels

Bottle label production brings unique demands that conventional slitting setups struggle to meet. Labels must be slit to extremely narrow widths with high precision to ensure flawless application on high-speed bottling lines. Compounding this challenge, the industry standard requires rewind rolls on 6-inch cores, difficult to manage when adding automation with delicate, narrow webs. Historically, these two factors have necessitated significant manual oversight, slowing throughput and adding cost.

Automation at Every Step

Our latest generation of slitters is designed to eliminate those inefficiencies by automating every stage of the process. From roll closure and roll start to the automatic positioning and offloading of finished rolls, each step has been engineered to operate without operator input.

  • Roll Closure & Roll Start: Automated mechanisms guarantee secure, repeatable roll builds every time. The days of manually attaching tail ends to cores to start rolls and taping down finished rolls are over.
  • Automatic Roll Positioning: Narrow web rolls are positioned with pinpoint accuracy, ensuring flawless alignment on 6-inch cores without manual adjustment.
  • Automated Roll Offloading: Once the rewind is complete, finished rolls are safely and quickly removed, ready for downstream packaging—again, with no operator required.

The result is a fully integrated system capable of running continuously, with productivity levels unmatched.

From Parent Roll-to-Packaged Pallet

What sets this achievement apart is the ability to truly handle the process from Parent Roll-to-Packaged Pallet. Incoming master rolls are loaded, slit, rewound, and offloaded onto conveyor systems with no human intervention. Once on a conveyor the finished rolls can be weighed, labeled, bagged and palletised automatically. By streamlining the slitting stage, converters can achieve unprecedented uptime and output, maximising the investment in post slitting automation. 

Productivity Without Compromise

Automation often raises concerns about flexibility, but our technology has been built to adapt. Whether a converter is handling short runs or long campaigns, narrow widths or broader applications, the machine’s automated intelligence optimizes setup and throughput. Combined with robust mechanical engineering, this ensures not only higher speeds but also consistency and reliability, key qualities when serving the fast-moving consumer goods sector.

Redefining the Future of Slitting

The automation breakthroughs we’ve achieved represent more than just incremental improvement. They redefine what’s possible in label slitting by removing manual bottlenecks and driving true end-to-end productivity. For converters supplying bottle labels, a segment where precision, speed, and cost control are paramount, the impact is transformative.

As the demand for bottled goods continues to grow worldwide, converters now have the tools to keep pace. With fully automated slitting solutions, they can meet customer expectations with confidence while setting new standards of efficiency for the industry.

At Universal Converting Equipment, we are proud to lead this transformation. By delivering machines that combine automation, precision, and reliability, we’re helping converters move faster, smoother, and more productively than ever before.

Experience the Future of Converting

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We are excited to announce our participation in K-Show 2025.

Düsseldorf, Germany
 8 – 15 October 2025
 Hall 4 / C56

At our stand, we will showcase the latest version of the highly automated Universal X8 Slitter, designed to run in a fully autonomous manner. As the key to Parent Roll-to-Pallet, operator-free slitting, the Universal X8 delivers a step change in efficiency and productivity.

Also on display will be our popular Universal CCA – Automatic Core Cutter.

We will feature our trial/demonstrator coater, used to validate processes and prove new concepts. Alongside our experts, a representative from our partner ITW Dynatec will also be available on the stand to discuss adhesive and coating technologies.

Please contact us if you would like to book an appointment during the exhibition.

How to Improve the Efficiency of Slitting and Rewinding Processes

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In converting, efficiency is crucial. High-speed automated slitters like the Universal X8 process materials at remarkable speeds but can be hindered by poor-quality parent rolls. Defects in these rolls cause downtime, reduced throughput, and increased costs. Addressing these defects early is vital to peak performance.

Universal Converting Equipment’s X2XL roll doctor machine offers a solution by inspecting and reworking parent rolls before slitting. This proactive approach prevents imperfections from disrupting operations, ensuring smooth processing.

Why Parent Roll Quality Matters

The principle of “quality in, quality out” applies strongly to slitting and rewinding. Even advanced systems rely on high-quality input to deliver consistent results. Wrinkles, edge damage, or printing and laminating defects in parent rolls can disrupt processing. For highly automated systems like the Universal X8, the speed and throughput amplify the impact of these problems, leading to substantial downtime. Addressing parent roll quality is essential for achieving greater efficiency.

The Role of the X2XL Roll Doctor

The X2XL simplifies preparation by correcting common roll defects. It inspects and reconditions rolls, allowing the removal of defect areas then aligning the roll properly. This reduces stoppages and ensures uninterrupted operation of high-speed slitters.

A key feature of the X2XL is its reversibility. The machine can run in either direction, which is crucial when working with printed materials. These must return to their original direction before slitting to prevent backward print. The X2XL also supports various inspection systems to identify defects and flags. It can scan entire rolls, log issues, reverse to defects, and stop for corrections. This process enables operators to produce rolls with zero flags—a key goal for efficient slitting.

The doctoring process can also involve the removal of edge trims, available as an option on this machine.

Safety and Customisation

The X2XL prioritises safety with features like the ability to pick up and lower rolls directly to the floor, reducing manual handling. It meets stringent safety standards and offers customisable safety systems tailored to customer needs. Options include physical guarding, laser safety barriers and laser area scanners, ensuring comprehensive protection.

A Holistic Approach to Efficiency

Investing in high-speed slitters like the Universal X8 is important, but ensuring material quality is equally critical. By incorporating the Universal X2XL roll doctor into workflows, businesses can maintain consistent output and maximise efficiency. A seamless combination of the X2XL and X8 ensures high-performance converting operations.

For businesses aiming to excel in automated slitting and rewinding, prioritising parent roll quality is essential. Addressing roll defects proactively creates a streamlined, efficient production process and maximises returns on equipment investments.

ICE Europe 2023 Exhibition

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Munich, Germany
14th – 16th March 2023
Stand 824

We are pleased to announce that we will be exhibiting at ICE Europe again this year. At ICE Europe we will be exhibiting the latest version of our highly automated Universal X8 Slitter.

We will also have one of our popular Universal CCA Automatic Core Cutters on display.

Please contact us if you would like to book an appointment to meet us at the exhibition.

Universal X8 Slitter Rewinder
The Universal X8 Slitter Rewinder

Mike Wilkinson Retires

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After over 50 years in the converting industry, Mike Wilkinson, known as Wilkie to many, has decided to retire. During his career he has worked for Chambon, Titan/Atlas, Comexi and Kampf until finally ending his career with Universal Converting Equipment.

Commenting on his time in the industry Wilkie said “I have seen the transformation of the packaging industry from paper/cellulose based materials to plastic materials and the rapid growth in packaging to preserve and protect food products. As Managing Director of Titan, I was responsible for the development of a small UK engineering company into one that could compete on a worldwide basis. Finally, at Universal I have seen the same happening. The Universal X8 machine is the best slitting machine I have seen with fantastic automation and it can achieve productivity levels that I am told other manufacturers cannot match. It has been a pleasure to end my career, in the slitting industry, with a company that is technically leading the market.”

Alan Jones, Director, Universal Converting Equipment, added “Mike Wilkinson joined our company at a time when most other people would be retiring. With Universal, he wanted to make a difference. He helped to open the door with Bryce Corporation in the USA, which led to Universal installing an automated slitting operation at their Searcy factory. This $8 million investment was the largest order received by Universal and it has been followed with an order for an additional two X8 slitter rewinders. Personally, I have enjoyed working with MIke and being able to tap into his wealth of knowledge and experience. Mike was taken ill at the recent K2022 exhibition but has thankfully recovered. At Universal, we all wish him the best for the future.”

Photograph of Mike Wilkinson