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Universal offer free lifetime support on all slitters

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X6 Slitter photo
The Universal X6 Slitter – with free lifetime support

Universal Converting Equipment manufacture class leading slitting machines and other converting equipment that is sold worldwide. The Universal X6 slitter offers a range of technically advanced features to ensure production of high quality product while minimising the amount of time the machine is stopped.

However, to achieve repeat sales, Universal decided they must also offer excellent reliability and customer support. To achieve this, Universal has focussed on four areas within its business:

Designing reliability into the machine.
Our approach is to focus on future reliability as part of our initial design process. We do not make our own drives or circuit boards – we buy our drives from a global supplier with worldwide support.

Our bearings and standard mechanical components are purchased direct from the manufacturer to avoid the risk of supply of counterfeit components. We provide easy access to lubrication points so it is easy to keep components correctly lubricate to prevent premature failure.

Internal manufacture of mechanical components.
Over the last three years, we have invested heavily in CNC machining centres to allow us to make our mechanical components ourselves. This has both improved product quality and reduced our manufacturing lead-time.

As the component drawings now go directly from our 3D CAD/CAM system to the CNC controller there is no risk of data entry error and it ensures repeatability. As part of this process, we have also standardised our components.

Should there be a need for a mechanical component, we will nearly always have it in stock and if not we can make it quickly. We also have extensive stocks of pneumatic and electrical components allowing us to respond to any need for spares quickly.

Comprehensive on-machine diagnostics.
The X6 slitter rewinder can be supplied with a range of automation systems to position the unwind, position the guider sensor, position shear knives and anvils and position the cores.

As the automation grows, so does the complexity of the control system. To make it easy for local engineers to support, we have developed the diagnostic system to give clear reasons if the machine will not operate.

We use a 22 inch colour touch screen as the main operator interface so all the information required can be clearly displayed. If the operator presses the start button and the machine will not start because, for example, a guard is open, a pop up will explain in simple terms what needs to be corrected.

We also provide dynamic electrical circuit drawings which are viewed on the display. They show the status of components such as inputs, outputs, voltages and current meaning that diagnostics which an electrician would do with a meter can be undertaken without even opening the control panel.

Remote diagnostic systems that work.
If we have completed the first three steps correctly then the need for remote support is greatly reduced. Universal is so confident in the reliability of its X6 slitting machine that it offers free telephone and internet based support for the life of the machine.

Sometimes a local engineer can struggle to resolve an issue. All our Universal X6 slitter rewinders have remote access capability via either VPN or port forwarding. The control system has been integrated to a level where when we connect to the machine remotely it is almost the same as being next to the machine. We can see the status of all the control components on the machine and look at the settings on the three touch screens. we can even watch as the operator changes settings on the touch screen.

Instead of the local engineer having to have a laptop with software and interfaces to connect to the machine, we offer this service free to our customers for the life of the machine.

Alan Jones, Managing Director of Universal Converting Equipment adds
“I am always amazed when talking to customers, the number of times I am told that they have purchased equipment that performs well but the ongoing support is poor. Since the launch of our X6 slitting machine, we have seen sales increase rapidly with orders from around the world. Although we will not stop developing the features of the X6 slitter rewinder, our biggest challenge is ensuring that we maintain our reputation for excellent support. Not only are we seeing repeat orders but some customers are ordering two or three machines at a time so the formula appears to be working. We have recently announced a showroom and support centre in the USA which will help consolidate are growing position the the Americas. We always have several X6 slitting machines in build so customers can visit and test their material on a machine. We will also have an X6 slitter rewinder at our showroom in the USA.”

Universal Expand Hot Melt Coating Equipment Range

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Universal Converting Equipment are well known for their high performance X6 slitting machine. However, hot melt coating is an important sector of Universal’s business and Universal are utilising their high-speed web handling technology from the X6 to expand the capability of its coating equipment.

The latest machines incorporate closed-loop unwind tension control, edge guiding for the two unwinds and the rewind, closed loop rewind tension control, gap winding capability, extensive recipe and diagnostic systems and a remote diagnostic system using an internet-based connection. The systems ensure consistent product quality when running at high speed. The comprehensive recipe system allows the customer to return to the same setting time and time again once the optimum setting have been found. Many years ago Universal introduced a motorised coating station so the die position is set using the touch screen operator interface with no manual adjustments required.

Commenting on the new coating machines, Alan Jones, Managing Director Universal Converting Equipment said: “We have focused on the coating technology to ensure that we can produce the exact product required by the customer. We have a range of non-contact and contact coating systems for continuous coating, stripe coating and patch coating with options for breathable coatings. By incorporating our winding technology into the coating machines, we are able to offer increased quality and output. Precise control of tension is essential for the production of high quality finished rolls. The remote diagnostic system allows us to see the complete operation of the machine in real time so we can provide rapid assistance to customers. We offer free telephone and internet support for the life of the machine to help our customers maintain their equipment.”

Universal have recently supplied equipment to UK, USA, Germany and Australia, incorporating these systems to great success. The hot melt coating systems are available in widths from 250mm to 2500mm and speeds up to 300m/min.

Schmelzklebstoffbeschichtungsstation

Universal Converting Equipment will be exhibiting at ICE Europe 2017 and ICE USA 2017

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ICE 2017 Exhibition

Universal Converting Equipment at ICE USA

Universal Converting Equipment has exhibited at ICE Europe in Munich many times. ICE Europe 2015 was particularly successful, with interest in the company, and in-particular our Universal X6 slitter exceptionally high.

ICE Europe is a great opportunity to spend time with our long-term customers, as well as to meet potential new customers.

We are pleased to announce that in 2017 we will also be exhibiting at ICE USA in Florida. Interest in the Universal X6 in the American markets continues to grow exponentially. Exhibiting at ICE USA is a great opportunity to demonstrate the capabilities of our X6 slitter rewinder. Universal has recently announced the establishment of a service centre and showroom in the USA which will house a Universal X6 slitting machine and a range of other equipment.

We are proud of the technological advancements we continue to make with the Universal X6 Slitter Rewinder. Efficiency options like automatic knife and core positioning, closed loop rewind tension control and compact design make the X6 a popular machine for slitting all flexible materials. Universal offer free online and telephone support to customers to back up the comprehensive machine diagnostic systems. Universal are committed to providing customers excellent ongoing support wherever the machines are located worldwide.

In addition to the Universal X6 we will also be exhibiting a Universal CCA Automatic Core Cutter and a Hot Melt Adhesive Coating Station.

ICE Europe 2017
Munich
Stand number 527
21st – 23rd March 2017

ICE USA 2017
Orlando, Florida
Stand 205
25th – 27th April 2017

Universal X6 Slitter Rewinder
The Universal X6 Slitter Rewinder

Universal Converting Equipment at DRUPA 2016

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Drupa bannerUniversal Converting Equipment will be exhibiting at DRUPA 2016 in Dusseldorf.

The exhibition stand has been booked in response to the rapidly increasing industry interest in the Universal X6 Slitting Machine. We have enjoyed several strong years of growth and increasing our presence at Converting and Packaging exhibitions worldwide consolidates our recent expansion. In the last two years we have doubled our manufacturing space, established a showroom and service centre in the USA and installed a range of CNC machining centres to manufacture our own mechanical parts.

Universal offer free online and telephone support to customers to back up the comprehensive machine diagnostic systems. Universal are committed to providing customers excellent ongoing support wherever the machines are located worldwide.

At DRUPA we will be demonstrating a Universal X6 Slitter Rewinder, a Universal CCA Automatic core cutter and a Hot Melt Adhesive Coating Station.

DRUPA 2016
Dusseldorf
Hall 12
Stand 12D12
May 31st – June 10th 2016

Universal Converting Equipment invests in support centre and showroom in USA

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Universal X6 Slitter with cores

Universal Converting Equipment is a fast-growing supplier of slitting machines and other converting equipment. Established 20 years ago, Universal has expanded its sales in North America and has now secured a dedicated facility for a showroom and service centre. The centre will be the focus for servicing the market in both North and South America.

The new building is due for completion in March 2016 with plans to install a Universal X6 slitting machine and other equipment in June 2016.

Alan Jones, Managing Director added, “North and South America has become our second largest market outside of Europe. We have invested heavily in developing our X6 slitting machine to be highly productive and reliable with comprehensive diagnostic systems. However, we realise that our ability to provide ongoing support to our customers is vital to ensure that they achieve productivity benefits for years to come. We already offer FREE telephone and internet-based support to our customers to give confidence that we will provide support throughout the entire life of the machine. Having a local stock of spare parts will increase our ability to react quickly to customer needs.

Secondly, we will provide an easily accessible location for potential customers to view our range of equipment. The new facility is located in Florida within easy travel distance of both Tampa and Orlando airports with extensive national and international flights. In addition to our high productivity X6 slitting machine, we will also have a range of our other products on show.”

MIke Wilkinson added, “I joined Universal almost two years ago. Having worked in senior positions for two of the major worldwide suppliers of slitting machines, I was excited by the potential of the equipment produced by Universal. Adding a demonstration facility in the USA will allow potential customers to truly understand the cost savings and productivity benefits that will result from the innovative technology developed by Universal. I have been tasked with expanding sales to major companies worldwide. This investment is another step in this expansion.”

Universal Converting Equipment manufacture the X6 Slitter Rewinder. The X6 is designed to slit a wide range of flexible materials and has been particularly popular in the flexible packaging and converting industries. Features include automatic knife setting, automatic core positioning, closed loop tension control and comprehensive on-screen and remote diagnostics. The Universal X6 is simple to set up and operate. The automation features make changes between jobs very fast, typically less than two minutes, maximising machine uptime.

Universal also manufacture a range of salvage winders, core cutters, roll handling and hot melt adhesive coating equipment.

Universal Showroom

Don & Low expand production with a Universal X6 Slitter

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slitter rewind
Universal X6 Slitter (rewind section)

 

Don & Low are an international supplier of innovative polyolefin based woven and non-woven materials for a range of specialist applications. As their business has grown over the past few years, they found their existing slitting capacity could not keep up, so they took the decision to invest in a Universal X6 slitting machine.

The investment followed extensive research by Don & Low into the machines available. The range of non-woven materials produced by Don & Low have very specific handling requirements. Their prefered slitting method is shear slitting, but they needed to reduce set-up times. It was essential that the chosen slitter had the ability to automate as many processes as possible. The machine needed to produce slit rolls up to 1000mm in diameter with precise control of tension.

The Universal X6 slitting machine was able to meet all of the requirements of Don & Low and more. The key aspects for Don & Low were:

  • Automatic setting of shear knives and anvils.
    A 20 knife set-up can be completed in under two minutes with no operator involvement. The precision of the system ensures the knives are in the correct position, with the required knife depth and the specified side load. Micrometer feedback confirms the position of the knives to the operator.
  • Closed loop tension control.
    The load cells are part of the control algorithm for rewind tension control, ensuring that the exact tensions requested are being achieved. Trend graphs are available to show actual vs set tensions through all the rolls produced. In simple terms, you always achieve the tension profile required per product.
  • Comprehensive diagnostic system.
    The 22 inch operator interface provides easy to read diagnostic information on the machine including Dynamic Circuit Diagrams. Using a secure Internet connection, all aspects of the machine performance can be seen remotely by Universal engineers when required. Universal also offer FREE telephone and Internet support for the life of the machine.
  • Fast loading and unloading.
    Although the machine can handle large diameter rolls, the high speed of the machine dictates that frequent unwind and rewind roll changes are required. The vertical raise/lower unwind (with remote control) is extremely quick to load parent rolls. On the rewind, the machine was supplied with a finished roll pusher and laser core alignment to minimise time the machine is standing still.
  • Small Footprint.
    The compact design and short web path of the Universal X6 was ideal for the preferred factory location.

Commenting on the investment, Keith Galloway, General Manager of Don & Low Nonwovens said “Don & Low is undertaking a major investment in new production equipment to expand capacity and increase the range of products we can manufacture. The Universal X6 slitting machine was one part of this investment. We talked to many companies about our requirements and Universal stood out as a company that could meet our technical requirements while still staying within our budget limits. Although the initial discussions focussed on the specification, what became clear was the commitment of Universal Converting Equipment to the ongoing support of their equipment. We are based in Forfar, Scotland and sometimes we can struggle for a fast response from our machine suppliers. Universal have invested heavily in developing their diagnostic systems so we have the comfort that if a problem occurs, we have the information available to solve it ourselves. The free lifetime support is a statement in the confidence Universal have in their equipment.

It is great to have a machine that can almost set itself, leaving the operator to focus on other tasks. The automatic knife setting system is a massive time and cost saver. Most knife set ups take just over a minute. Likewise, the closed loop tension control and gap winding capability ensures that we always produce high quality slit rolls.”

Alan Jones, MD, Universal Converting Equipment added “Don & Low have high expectations and they pushed us hard to achieve their objectives. Very quickly, they identified the benefits of having a fast changeover machine with automated set-up. However, with automation comes additional complexity so the diagnostic and support package ensures the high performance of the machine can be maintained. As a company, we have tried to look beyond just selling machines. The ongoing support offered to customers combined with the quality of machine supplied, is the best way to secure future orders. Does it work? We think so. Since supplying the Universal X6 to Don & Low, they have ordered two further machines for other operations within their factory to gain the same production benefits.”

More about the X6 Slitter Rewinder…

 

Universal X6 Slitter (unwind section)
Universal X6 Slitter (unwind section)