When was the machine launched and what market is it aimed at? Steinemann first unveiled the Syrius Trade at Drupa 2008. Designed for both water-based and thermal laminating, it was launched along with Syrius Thermal, a thermal-only variant of the machine. The range is designed to laminate everything from magazine covers, book covers, mail order catalogues and packaging, to ring binders, posters and shopping bags.

Last autumn, both machines received a significant overhaul. The Swiss manufacturer says the relaunch was a response to the growing trend of printers replacing their old laminators with "inflexible, cheap" secondhand models.

How does it differ from the previous Syrius Trade? To entice those tempted to buy second-hand, the updated model is now also available in a basic configuration for day-to-day laminating. High-performance laminating is still available, however, and Steinemann now offers a Trade Plus package, which is a number of extra bells and whistles, including a pneumatic lateral pull guide, a hot knife cutting system for precise cutting of all types of film and an automatic stacker. The hot knife has additional cutting rollers, reducing adjustment times even on the thinnest of papers and metalised polyester films. In another change, Steinemann has also reduced the machine’s footprint.

How does it work? Capable of handling sheets from 420x297mm to 1,060x1,450mm, the Syrius Trade can laminate with all common film types, including OPP, PET and acetate, in thicknesses from 10 to 100 microns. These films can be optionally glossy, matte, coloured, transparent and metallised, and can even contain holograms. A twin-drum laminating roller system and large-drum dryer both help to maintain quality at high speed. The temperature of the laminating rollers can be set independently of the hot-air drier, again enabling thin papers to be laminated quickly. For thermal laminating, a roller diameter of 400mm is said to guarantee an optimum working temperature even at the highest speeds.

How quick is it and what’s the quality like? UK distributor M-Partners claims the machine’s new compact carbon dryer technology has boosted production to 80m/min for water-based laminating and 100m/min for thermal laminating, and also reduced energy consumption in the process.

Meanwhile, eight tonnes of laminating pressure improves quality and saves glue. There is new sheet-cleaning technology and a "highly automated" sheet feeder, which reduces makeready times. As a further aid to productivity, Steinemann has developed software that allows the machine to be set offline. This means jobs can be set up before they are prepared on the machine and data from previous jobs can be accessed for repeat orders.

What’s its USP? While conceding that the Syrius is never going to be as cheap as a secondhand model, M-Partners joint managing director Murray Lock says the machine’s versatility means it offers key benefits in short-run, high-end laminating.

"Everyone is trying to find niches and, when it comes to short runs of metalised polyester in particular, which is extremely popular in high-end packaging, this machine is ideal," he explains.

How easy is it to use? The fact that jobs can be stored for repeat work significantly reduces makeready times and makes life simpler. Thanks to a modular IT platform, the user interface is able to cover different laminating methods with just one program. Automatic axial cut correction, meanwhile, is able to correct misaligned sheets in the event of the machine being left unsupervised.

What level of service support is there? M-Partners is able to provide technical support training as well as remote service diagnostic support should anything go wrong with the machine. Free telephone support is also available from Steinemann’s Swiss factory.

What’s its cost and is there a sales target? Prices start from £326,000, but as yet there have been no UK installations as the unit is currently being beta tested at Herts-based Mirror Finish. Lock doesn’t deny that the laminating market has shrunk in recent years, nor that in the current economic climate potential customers are holding on to their existing machines for as long as possible, but given the quality and flexibility of the machine, he believes one or two sales per annum is achievable.

SPECIFICATIONS
Max sheet size (wxl) 1,060x1,450mm
Min sheet size (wxl) 420x297mm
Speed
80m/min water-based
100m/min thermal
Max sheet production 10,000sph
Stock weight
100-600gsm
Film thickness
10-100 microns
Price
from £326,050 (€370,000)

ALTERNATIVE
Autobond 105 CTP Autobond’s high-end, water-based equivalent to the Syrius is known for its high speed and study construction – it uses a servo-driven Heidelberg Speedmaster 102 feed head, for example. The 105 CTP also benefits from a secondary nip built-in to the main laminator, which comprises a 240mm top rubber roller and a 200mm bottom chrome roller. Managing director John Gilmore says Autobond will continue to compete in the water-based lamination market, but adds that the vast majority of his sales to printers these days are for
thermal-based machines.
Max sheet size (wxl) 1,050x760mm
Speed 80m/min
Price £320,000