Biku Kohli's checklist offers guidance for slitter rewinder buyers

A comprehensive checklist has been created to guide diligent buyers through the complex process of selecting slitting and rewinding machines. The checklist, authored by Biku Kohli, managing director at SP Ultraflex Systems, a company specialising in slitter rewinders for two decades, aims to empower buyers with the knowledge traditionally applied to larger, more expensive converting equipment like co-extrusion, printing, and lamination machines.

Kohli says, "Slitting and rewinding is the final critical step before finished reels of flexible packaging material are shipped to customers, directly impacting the quality and visual appeal of the final product. Any interruption during this process can lead to significant inventory pile-up and financial losses." Despite its crucial role, the intricacies of slitter rewinders and the technology required have often been underestimated.

Kohli's checklist addresses this gap by outlining twelve essential criteria for buyers to consider. These include:
Layout: Discussing the advantages of stand-alone unwinds over compact versions for safety, accessibility, and hygiene.
Quality: Emphasizing the importance of machine design and features from reputable manufacturers to achieve precise cutting, winding, reel tightness, and manage static levels.
Output: Highlighting how factors beyond just speed, such as ramp times, reel changeover time, and job changeover time, significantly influence overall productivity. Kohli's checklist specifically delves into the benefits of dual turret slitter rewinders for minimising changeover times.
User-friendliness: Stressing the importance of safety features, process and job set-up automation, and integrated material handling solutions for optimal human-machine interaction.
Versatility and future proofing: Advising investment in machines capable of handling a wide array of substrate types and thicknesses, especially given the evolving landscape of sustainable packaging.
MIS (Management Information System): Promoting the integration of MIS facilities for accessing production and maintenance data to improve overall equipment efficiency (OEE).
Power consumption: Encouraging buyers to compare power cost per kilogram slit to make informed purchasing decisions.
Bought outs: Urging a thorough survey of third-party components (motors, drives, PLCs, web handling devices) to ensure reliability and performance.
Standard vs. customised machines: Recommending proven, standard designs from manufacturers to avoid funding R&D initiatives and ensure immediate productivity.
Manufacturing company's profile: Advocating for manufacturers specialising exclusively in slitter rewinders, as their focused approach often leads to superior design, manufacturing, and support.
Manufacturing company's technology: Highlighting the value of investing in machines from companies with a culture of constant innovation, leading to original concepts, robust design, and reliable support.
Manufacturing company's age: Suggesting an inquiry into the company's longevity and their offering of refurbishment solutions for older machines, as this indicates commitment and can reduce future investments.

The SP Ultraflex Systems checklist concludes by advising buyers to select a configuration that best addresses their specific needs, emphasising the importance of calculating the differential ROI for premium machines to understand the long-term benefits of additional investment. This checklist is set to become an invaluable resource for anyone looking to purchase a slitter rewinder, ensuring a more informed decision and ultimately, higher quality and efficiency in their operations.

This is republished from a longer blogpost that appeared in spultraflex.com.