Vertical Tower Label Printing Machine – RK F 320 Series

A vertical tower (or tower type) label printing machine is a flexographic press whose printing units are arranged one above the other in a tower. The web runs up the tower through each colour, is dried between units, and comes back down into the die-cutting and rewinding section. The result is a multi-colour label press with a small floor footprint and a short web path.

The RK F 320 is a flexo rotary label printing machine on this layout, with ceramic anilox rollers and an individual motorized anilox system on every unit, dial gauge registration, and a 5 HP AC variable speed main drive. Labels are printed, laminated where required, die-cut and rewound as finished rolls in one pass.

Five Colour Flexo Printing in a 12 ft Footprint

Five stacked printing units cover four-colour process artwork plus a spot colour, white or varnish – on a machine 12 ft long. The platform is also built in 1, 3 and 6 colour versions.

IR Hot Air Dryers on Every Unit, One UV With Upgrade Facility

Each unit has an IR lamp based hot air dryer. One UV dryer unit is fitted as standard, and the machine can be upgraded to all UV later. An individual dryer window system on every unit lets the operator see and adjust drying at each colour.

Online Rotary Die Cutting With Waste Matrix Rewinding

The die-cutting unit cuts the label shape inline and rewinds the waste matrix, so the machine delivers finished label rolls straight to the rewinder.

Lamination Unit and Turn Bar

The lamination unit applies a protective or decorative laminate inline, and the turn bar allows back side printing in the same pass.

Ultrasonic Web Guide and Load-Cell Tension Control

The unwinding unit uses an imported ultrasonic electronic web guide with a splicing table and paper holder for paper joining, and an imported auto electronic tension controller with load cell feedback. The rewinding unit has the same tension control. The web stays centred and at a steady tension through the tower.

Individual Motorized Anilox and 360° Unit Regulation

Every printing unit has its own motorized anilox roll system and adopts 360° regulation, so each colour is set up on its own, with a dial gauge for printing registration.

The label roll (up to 600 mm diameter) is loaded on the unwinding unit. The ultrasonic web guide keeps it centred and the load-cell tension controller holds it at a steady tension as it enters the tower.

The web climbs through the printing units one after another. At each unit a ceramic anilox roller meters ink onto the plate, the plate prints the image, and the web passes through that unit's IR hot air dryer – or the UV dryer where fitted – before the next colour. The turn bar flips the web for back side printing when the job calls for it, and the lamination unit applies laminate after printing.

The web then comes down into the online rotary die-cutting unit, where the label shape is cut and the waste matrix is stripped and rewound. The finished label roll winds on the rewinding unit (up to 450 mm diameter) under its own tension control. The operator sets speed and registration with the variable speed drive and the dial gauges at each unit.

Self-adhesive product labels

food, pharma, cosmetics, chemicals and consumer goods.

Water bottle and beverage labels

the RK F 320 5 Colour is also configured as a water bottle sticker printing machine.

Laminated labels

using the inline lamination unit for durable or glossy labels.

Two-sided labels

using the turn bar for back side printing.

Short and medium runs

where a compact press with quick setup suits the job mix.

In-house label printing

for manufacturers who want to print their own labels in limited space.

The RK F 320 runs the self-adhesive label stock and paper, within a 320 mm paper width. Anilox rollers and printing cylinders are supplied to your requirement, so share your actual materials and artwork with RK before the specification is fixed.

• RK F-320 6 Colour With IR Lamp With Hot Air Systemthe six colour version of this tower.
• RK F-320 3 Colour With IR Lamp With Hot Air Systemthree colours for simpler labels.
• Micro Flexoa compact two-colour flexo rotary printing and die-cutting machine with 220 mm feeding width.
• Paper Cup Printing Machinethe tower platform configured for paper cup blanks.

RK Label Printing Machinery Pvt. Ltd. has manufactured label printing and converting machinery in Ahmedabad, Gujarat since 1995, operates three manufacturing units and supplies customers in 23+ countries. The tower machine has been a core RK product for label printers who need multi-colour printing with inline die cutting in a small space, and it is configured to the customer's colour count, drying, lamination and options rather than sold as a fixed model. RK's slitting, inspection and die-cutting machines complete the line from one supplier.

• Colours: count the colours on your regular jobs. The RK F 320 comes in 1, 3, 5 and 6 colour versions.
• Drying: start with IR hot air plus one UV unit, or specify all UV if your ink mix is mainly UV.
• Finishing: the online die-cutting unit with matrix rewinding is standard; add the lamination unit, turn bar, cold foil or video monitor as your jobs need.
• Label sizes: the print width is 310 mm and the print length 430 mm – check your label layouts.
• Floor space: 10 ft high, 5.5 ft wide, 12 ft long, plus operator clearance. Confirm the ceiling height for a tower layout.
• Output: 60-70 m/min published; calculate labels per shift from your label repeat.

The price of a vertical tower label printing machine depends on the number of colours, drying arrangement, die-cutting, lamination, turn bar and options, anilox and cylinder sets. Prices are quoted ex-works Ahmedabad with GST at 18% applicable; engineer transport and stay for installation and training at your site are borne by the customer. Share your label materials, sizes, colour count and monthly volume with RK and the engineering team will recommend a configuration and quote against it.