The demo will include its biggest seller worldwide – the Mini 76 thermal film laminator – equipped with an inline inkjet spot UV machine and a high-speed flying knife cross-cutter.
The kit was new to the North American market, said director Alan Gilmore, adding that the US market was showing signs of sustained growth.
“We’ve been selling in the US for 25 years and have received more enquiries and made more sales than last year,” said Gilmore, who reckoned sales to American companies accounted for around 10-15% of his business.
“Last year was pretty flat over there but this year we’ve enjoyed three or four sales. Talking to people, there’s a genuine confidence this upturn is not just a blip.”
The configuration on show at Print 13 on 8-12 September will include the Mini 76 x 105 TH-CC with a 52 SUV, which has a one-sided, thermal thin film, sheet-fed laminator. This has a Heidelberg Speedmaster 74 feed-head, a flying knife cross-cutter and spot UV varnishing machine.
Gilmore said that since it was launched in 2011, Autobond’s inkjet spot UV technology had attracted global sales from trade finishers and commercial printers.
The kit produces applications with gloss effects and a braille-like feel and uses inkjet printheads to spot print UV varnish in-line with lamination in a single pass.
The flying knife cutter – in widths of 30″ or 41″ – can run polypropylene, polyester and nylon applications and cuts film at up to 200ft per minute with sharp accuracy.
It can also be adapted to run two-sided thick film applications, edge seal and flush cut, or for pressure-sensitive applications such as floor and window graphics, magnet lamination and metalized film.
Oran Gilmore, vice president of Autobond in the US, said: “The North American market is forward thinking in the way it approaches obstacles, with customers seeking dynamic and innovative solutions to enhance their business.
“The Mini 76 x 105 TH-CC with in-line inkjet spot UV was built in response to customer demand as we look to help them gain a competitive edge. I’m delighted we can debut our inkjet spot UV and cross-cutter technologies here.”