A pioneer in the slitter rewinder segment for more than two decades, Mumbai-based SP Ultraflex has carved out a significant share in the slitter rewinder market in India. It launched its latest offering, ROBOSLIT dual turret slitter rewinder, in 2014 with the first installation at GLS Industries, Gurgaon. At the Elite 6th Specialty Films and Flexible Packaging Conference held last month in Mumbai, the company’s managing director Biku Kohli spoke on the evolution of converting slitter rewinders and his company’s pivotal role in the last few decades.
Kohli informed the audience of the technological advances from the days of removable rewind shafts to the advent of cantilevered, quick lock shafts which were used in second-generation machines before they evolved into differential, ball friction shafts in the third generation.
Kohli further provided an overview of his company’s ROBOSLIT dual turret slitter rewinder, which represents the fourth generation of converting slitters. “Dual turret technology, introduced by us in India in 2014, has had by far the biggest impact on productivity in the history of converting slitters. With more than 15 machines supplied in three years, the brand name ROBOSLIT has become synonymous with dual turret technology in the subcontinent. The ROBOSLIT slashes down the changeover time by carrying out in parallel, activities related to reel change, offloading finished cores and inserting fresh cores without stopping the machine. The machine can run at 800 meters per minute, stopping for just 26 seconds during rewind changeovers.”
After having established itself in the Indian market, SP Ultraflex recently moved to the next level by exporting the first ever dual turret slitter rewinder from India. What stands out is the fact that this machine was supplied to Thailand, which is a mature market. The Thai market is dominated by Japanese, European and Taiwanese machines.
Addressing diverse customer challenges through a wide range of differentiated models of converting slitters has given SP Ultraflex more than three decades of rich industry experience. While describing the evolution from model to model, Kohli highlighted the specific industry challenges that led to the development of each model, calling it a case of “standardization through customization.”
Kohli then went on to illustrate the sales break-up in SP Ultraflex since FY 2014-2015 (the year ROBOSLIT series was launched) between the various series and models manufactured by SP Ultraflex. Machines from the dual turret ROBOSLIT series have quickly replaced the duplex machines over the last three years, a trend he expects will continue in coming years.
“SP’s success would have not been possible without the support of its customers, suppliers and employees. I thank each one of you for your faith and guidance during our journey. I am sure that in coming years, we will continue to receive the same support from you as we continue to deliver value to our customers,” he said, in conclusion.
