REFINE Finishing introduces an easy and reliable digital varnish embellishment solution for printing and finishing systems.

The system can be provided as an expansion to the existing Creative and Compact product ranges or as a small unit mount in-line, before or after exiting equipment.

The clever graphic workflow optimizes efficiency, reduces waste, and fits perfectly in a modern production environment. 13” and 17” versions are available.

Join us at SCREEN LABELfest on September 21st, 2022, to see high build varnish samples from our new digital embellishment solution.

January 2022: Two REFINE Compact 2 machines have been installed at SCREEN’s Solutions and Technology Centers in Chicago, IL, USA, and Amstelveen, the Netherlands, further intensifying the strategic collaboration between the two companies.

All the Bells and Whistles
The Compact 2 machines will provide high-quality finishing – varnish, lamination, cold foiling and die-cutting – both inline and offline in connection with SCREEN’s new Truepress Jet L350UV SAI Series, displaying a real-life production environment with end-to-end label production to visitors and prospective customers.

The Compact 2 machines are fully equipped, fit with “all the bell and whistles” – electronic anvil cylinder, semi-rotative flexo printing- and die-cutting units, lamination, cold foil, cast and cure holography, automatic back scoring, dual rewinders, and more. LED UV curing for the European market, and conventional mercury UV curing for the American market.

Intensified Strategic Collaboration
The installation of two REFINE Compact 2 machines at SCREEN’s international Solutions and Technology Centers marks the further intensification of the strategic collaboration between the two companies. SCREEN has established themselves as one of the largest and most successful suppliers of UV-inkjet stand-alone machines in the label printing segment, and REFINE Finishing is proud to partner with them.

Premier Solution
The demand for stand-alone digital printing is increasing. Production speeds are going up, and productions series’ are getting shorter. With this development, the need for highly automated converting equipment has skyrocketed, as it is crucial to avoiding bottlenecks in production. Digital label embellishment is also an important parameter. The market clearly demands higher quality as well as more differentiation on label products, and here, the combination of SCREEN’s new Truepress Jet L350UV SAI Series and REFINE’s Compact Series provides a premier solution.

 

Join us in welcoming two new team members! On the 1st of August, 2021, we welcomed Mechanical Engineer, Kim Rasmussen, and Production Planner, Peter Jørgensen, to the REFINE team.

Kim Rasmussen
Mechanical Engineer
Kim is the newest member of our development team and will work in our department in Værløse. In addition to being a trained mechanical engineer, Kim is also an industrial engineer, and a former production planner, which will serve us well in these busy times. Kim is a great team player, very committed, and shows great attention to detail.

Peter Jørgensen
Production Planner
Peter will be part of our team in Slagelse and will serve as the link between production and development, and our administration in Værløse. Peter is a trained chemical engineer but has many years of experience working with production planning and management. Peter used to work as a typographer at Danapak, and as a production manager at several other companies in the industry. Peter is an experienced and patient man with a knack for problem-solving.

 

 

In just a few years, Danish REFINE Finishing has created a secure position among the world’s leading suppliers of machines that convert digitally printed labels. The machines are equipped with new automation technologies from Beckhoff Automation and deliver the highest speeds, highest precision, and minimal waste. Even the smallest batches of multilayer labels can now be produced on-demand.

REFINE’s first finishing machine with built-in vision technology is ready for shipment to an industrial company in the Netherlands. The machine is compact and made of aluminum, the design is simple and elegant, and there are almost no handles or buttons anywhere. The machine is primarily controlled via a touch screen.

The machine is designed and developed to handle all finishing processes of digitally printed multilayer labels. At the highest speeds, with the highest precision, and with the least possible waste through high degrees of automation.

“This machine is the Tesla of the printing industry. We have equipped it with all the best from the automation and software world, and it is proof that Industry 4.0 can now be achieved in the printing industry – and offers great benefits. It is especially considerations such as sustainability and environmental awareness, as well as reduction of waste costs, that drive the market for intelligent printing machines,” says Bjarke Gerdes-Nielsen, CTO and Founder of REFINE Finishing.

REFINE Finishing was established in 2013 and today, Nilpeter, which produces label printing presses, is its main shareholder. The two companies complement each other with machines that handle all processes related to digital printing and finishing. REFINE Finishing exports more than 95% of its machines outside Danish borders and is represented in Europe, the USA, and Asia. Primary target groups are the pharmaceutical, chemical, and food industries, where there is increasing growth primarily in short production series of labels as well as special solutions such as multi-layer labels.

Quick changeovers and quick start-up
The printing industry has gone through quite a revolution. More software in the machines and a higher degree of automation enables profitable small/short-run orders through tailored production adapted to suit the need for fast delivery and high quality. It reduces the need for storage capacity and month-long planning.

With the latest technology, highest speed, and precision, the fully automated finishing machine optimizes the workflow for customers. Where they once had to order series of for example 1 million labels for six months, they can now divide the series into several, smaller portions, and just plan a few weeks ahead. Delivery time can often be reduced to 24 hours. Fast changeovers, fast start-up, and small order sizes shorten the warehousing period and create great flexibility and less waste.

“Production start-up time can take just a few hours rather than several days, so there is a lot of time to save. The technologies make it possible to streamline the supply chain. In addition, the machine typically reduces paper waste by a factor of 100 – from approx. 100 meters to 1 meter. In small production series, it is crucial that the waste percentage remains low. The machine must be competitive on all parameters and make it significantly easier, faster, and cost-saving to complete and convert labels,” says Bjarke Gerdes-Nielsen.

Furthermore, all functions are controlled via a touch screen or tablet. All you have to do is specify the type of job you want to run. Then the machine automatically knows what it needs. The physical handles that used to be rotated and fine-tuned are now integrated into the control system.

“It eliminates user errors and creates a more uniform process. Handling of the machine is no longer dependent on the user. You cannot force anything that the machine has not been programmed to do, and you cannot overload the machine. Because everything is digitized, we can monitor and help with the control via remote access, online, and in real-time. It has created great value – especially in the COVID-19 era,” says Bjarke Gerdes-Nielsen.

The challenge with multi-layer labels is to get them placed exactly on top of each other. Dots on the paper rolls indicate how the layers should lie on top of each other, and with an integrated vision camera, the machine automatically corrects and verifies that all layers are placed correctly from the start.

All management takes place in a PC-based Windows environment, which makes it easier to program, link IoT data in Microsoft Azure, and connect all machines via the Internet so that REFINE Finishing can guide operators and remotely control the machines. With Object-Oriented Programming (OOP), REFINE Finishing has reduced the need for manual programming and control.

“We can tailor our machines completely to the needs of our customers, and that flexibility is crucial to our success,” he says.

Speed ​​and accuracy in the DNA
REFINE Finishing has always had Beckhoff Automation as a supplier. There is a special reason for this, according to Bjarke Gerdes-Nielsen.

“I started REFINE Finishing because I wanted to develop machines based on intelligent software and IoT. Beckhoff’s philosophy goes hand in hand with ours, and they have been able to help throughout it all. The timing of Beckhoff’s systems is incredibly accurate compared to others. For example, the tolerance threshold is very low when we make multilayer labels. We can tolerate a maximum of 1/10 millimeter in tolerance, and Beckhoff’s systems live up to that. Furthermore, speed is essential. Our machine can handle 200 meters of paper per minute, while conventional finishing machines can handle 50 meters per minute with similar applications. Accuracy and speed are deeply engrained in Beckhoff’s DNA – and in ours,” he says.

High expectations for the global market
With machines represented at Nilpeter’s demo centers around the world, REFINE Finishing has a large entrance to the global market. And expectations are high.

“We are an absolute market leader when it comes to software, technology, and automation, and we look forward to strengthening our business in the coming years. With an innovative total supplier like Beckhoff behind us, we are equipped for the future. We can quickly integrate various new products and protocols into our modular machines. That flexibility is a huge advantage,” says Bjarke Gerdes-Nielsen.

Photo courtesy of Automatik & Proces. From left to right: Erik Behrend Snerle, Machine Engineer, REFINE Finishing, Bjarke Gerdes Nielsen, CTO & Founder, REFINE Finishing, and Rasmus Jensen, Application and Support Engineer, Beckhoff Automation.

 

July 2020: SCREEN Europe has acquired a REFINE Compact 2 and a Web Buffer Module for their Solutions and Technology Centre at European headquarters in Amstelveen, Netherlands.

The Compact 2 will provide high-quality finishing – varnish, lamination, and die-cutting – both inline and offline in connection with SCREEN’s Truepress Jet L350 Series Press, displaying a real-life production environment with end-to-end label production to visitors and prospective customers.

Sales Director Packaging Solutions Carlo Sammarco says: “The new in-line finishing kit from Refine will enable us to showcase the whole setup in a live label-production for our demo activities. It also gives us capabilities for testing special applications within coatings, foiling, and lamination which we haven’t had before. We are really looking forward to getting started, working with the Refine unit!”

Superior Price-to-Performance Ratio
Compact 2 is a complete solution for finishing of digital and conventional printed labels, with the addition of a fully register controlled flexo station with cold foil and lamination capabilities. Completely servo-driven, Compact 2 is extremely user-friendly and offers a superior price-to-performance ratio.
The Compact 2 installed at SCREEN Europe HQ features a touch-screen operator panel, unwinder including web guide, flexo printing unit, full- and semi rotative die-cutting, waste rewind, oscillating razor slitter, and rewinder. Furthermore, it has been fitted with the optional Automatic Back Scoring that enables edge-trimming with no manual intervention.

Trouble-Free Production
The Web Buffer Module allows SCREEN to connect the Compact 2 to any web-based digital printing press, thus upgrading their stand-alone solutions with an in-line automated finishing line. The Buffer module features a precise web-guiding system, a servo-driven buffer section, and an integrated splicing table, all to ensure stable operating conditions, short setup times, and trouble-free production.

SCREEN Europe Solutions and Technology Centre
SCREEN Europe is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SCREEN Graphic Solutions Co., Ltd and is responsible for EMEA (Europe, Middle East & Africa) business. At the Solutions & Technology Centre in Amstelveen, Netherlands, SCREEN Truepress Jet POD inkjet printers are available for demonstrations to potential users, and for test print sessions to evaluate quality, performance, and integration possibilities. Working with the customers’ own job files and media, SCREEN’s specialist applications team demonstrates the Screen inkjet presses and workflow, exploring the optimum paper and ink coverage settings to achieve the best solution for the customer’s application. The print sessions are, as they say, “as interactive and in-depth as you wish”.