The firm’s new Technicrease inline rotary creaser came about after a customer producing small format food cartons on a Gallus press asked if it was possible to incorporate Tech-ni-Fold’s creasing technology.
Managing director Jack Harris, son of Tech-ni-Fold inventor and founder Graham Harris, told Printweek: “Initially we said no to the enquiry, then we looked into it and realised there was a big potential market and we started to build a new version.
“We don’t believe this is possible with any other system.”
The Technicrease deploys the proven CreaseStream creasing method in a modular device that can be added to flexo, hybrid and digital web presses, including models from Gallus, Mark Andy, MPS, Edale, Domino, AB Graphic, Nilpeter, Omet and Bobst.
It can also be added to web converting and finishing lines.
The Lutterworth company has achieved considerable success in the market with its offline CreaseStream devices.
Harris added: “We do all the engineering in-house, so it’s all under our control and we can test things as we go along.
“A customer from Romania flew in to see the concept, and bought two immediately!”
The Technicrease is made from aerospace-grade materials.
Tech-ni-Fold has already taken multiple orders, and will exhibit at the upcoming Labelexpo events in Thailand and Barcelona, the first time it has exhibited at that show.
It is manufacturing the Technicrease in different widths depending on the press specification, with 660mm the widest yet although Harris said the business was exploring what would be necessary, engineering wise, to go wider.
The device uses the same colour-coded creasing bands for different substrate weights as the CreaseStream. Perforating is also possible.
The unit requires no power or software and runs at the same speed as the web, as the web effectively drives the Technicrease, which also features “instant changeover” to different stock types thanks to an inbuilt calliper.
It has fifteen crease settings as standard, with a host of potential product applications include folding cartons, sleeves, and high-output finishing. It can also crease in both directions.
Harris said that pricing was from £4,500-£11,000, depending on size and configuration.
“We believe Technicrease has the potential to become the standard for inline creasing in the same way Tech-ni-Fold became the benchmark for offline solutions,” he added.
“We’ve taken everything we’ve learned from 20-plus years of offline creasing innovation and engineered a mechanical solution that integrates directly into modern web systems.”
