A wide variety of machine types are available for the decoration of a variety of drinks containers and closures of all types used in the drinks industry. Whether your requirement is for printing onto rigid bottles, sports drink containers, baby feeder bottles, flasks, cans or pouches you can be sure Apex Machine have solutions to meet virtually any requirement.
Similarly, Apex has leading edge solutions for plastic and metal closures of all types, for printing around the circumference, on the tops or even inside the closures depending on specific customer requirements. Apex Machine is also the leading manufacturer of specialist printing machinery for all types of wine corks, both natural and synthetic, with machines for all levels of production.
Machine classes in this sector include:
Wine Cork Printers
Cork Printers
Apex C-series printers for synthetic and natural corks are the industry first choice with large numbers in production around the world. The range has been developed to keep pace with our customers production requirements and now comprises six different models.
With a choice of 1 to 4 colour printing, single or double lane feed, pre-treaters, bowl feeds, silicone applicators, and speeds ranging from 75 to 300 parts per minute, there is sure to be machine to meet every requirement.
Please refer to the matrix table below for all the various machine features.
| C-40-2 & C-40-4 MACHINE DATA | |
|---|---|
| Product | Corks |
| Operations | Automatic bulk feed, Pre-Treat, Print, UV Cure, Eject |
| Parts per Minute | 150 to 175 |
| Printing Method | Dry Offset - print round circumference, print to edges. |
| Utility Requirements | Electrical: 220 v, 1 Phase, 30 amp, 50 or 60 Hz - Air: 60 to 80 psi (1cfm) Exhaust hose for UV/Corona. |
| 1 or 2 Color (C40-2) 3 or 4 Color (C40-4) |
|
| C-4000-2 & C-4000-4 MACHINE DATA | |
|---|---|
| Product | Synthetic corks |
| Operations | Automatic bulk feed, Pre-Treat, Print, UV Cure, Silicon treat, Eject |
| Parts per Minute | 300 to 350 |
| Printing Method | Dry Offset - print around circumference, print to edges. |
| Utility Requirements | Electrical: 220 v, 1 Phase, 30 amp, 50 or 60 Hz - Air: 60 to 80 psi (1cfm) Exhaust hose for UV/Corona. |
|
1 or 2 Color (C4000-2) |
|
Detailed machine information, specifications and, in many cases, videos are available on request once we have the basic details of your application and requirements to enable us to select and supply the most relevant information and recommendations. Please click below to submit a request for additional information. We will be very pleased to provide you further information and assistance.
Can, Cup & Tube Printers
C-506 Cylindrical Parts Printers
A 6 color system designed to enhance the aesthetic value of your product - discover the world of unparalleled print quality.
The C-506 utilizes mandrels to support flexible or rigid parts to allow printing on their full length, and 360 degrees around. Parts commonly printed on the C-506 include:
• Cans • Bottles • Cartridges • Containers • Cups • Tubes
Whether you are looking for high quality printing on metal or plastic; cups, cans, containers or tubes, the Apex C-506 consistently delivers the solution. Capable of printing both rigid and flexible cylindrical parts with a copy length of up to 12 inches.
The C-506 can incorporate a range of feeders, pre-treaters, cleaning systems, decoration units, dryers, coaters and unloading systems. Moreover, the system can also integrate automatic capping stations, side seam detectors as well as our revolutionary and recently developed Quick Change features.
Interfaced within are the appropriate:
Feeder / Loader
The feeding of your components to the system can be simple or sophisticated, depending on your specific production requirements. Typically, hoppers and bowl feeds are utilized for smaller components whereas inline conveyors and chutes are used for larger parts.
Pre-Treaters
Gas treaters or corona discharge units are most often used to pre-treat parts to remove any excess lubricants or contaminants that might hinder the highest print quality and adhesion. Additional cleaning options include de-ionized air jet systems as well as static eliminators to assist in superior lay down of ink. Any of these cleaning systems can be integrated in the C-506 and each is available in a variety of formats to suit each customer’s unique requirements.
Decoration Unit
Any decoration technology can be integrated in the C-506. For multi-color applications, we recommend either dry offset print, which can be supplied in different widths with up to six color printing heads or, where high density colors are required, our FlexApex system can be used either on its own or in combination with dry offset. For overcoating applications, we suggest rotary silk screening, rotary hot stamping, letterflex or flexographic printing, with each type specifically designed and interfaced to suit your requirements.
Dryers
Forced hot air, infrared, convection and ultraviolet curing styles of drying can be supplied to cure the appropriate ink for each customer’s specific needs.
Quick Change Features
Apex has developed industry revolutionizing technology that allows for a 6 color ink and plate change in just minutes, thereby nearly eliminating downtime. With the market trend moving towards shorter and shorter runs of production, this optional feature has proved to be decisive in justifying ROI’s for our clients, many of whom have been experiencing huge downtimes.
As with all Apex machines, we tailor each one to suit the individual customer's specification and requirements.
Detailed machine information, specifications and, in many cases, videos are available on request once we have the basic details of your application and requirements to enable us to select and supply the most relevant information and recommendations. Please click below to submit a request for additional information. We will be very pleased to provide you further information and assistance.
Closure Sidewall Printers
C-500 Printers
The C-500 utilizes mandrels to support flexible or rigid parts to allow printing on their full length, and 360 degrees around. 
Parts commonly printed on the C-500 include:
• Barrels • Bottles • Cartridges • Containers • Cups • Syringes • Tubes • Oil Filters
Be it a disposable syringe, a marker pen barrel, or a squeeze tube, the C-500 is one of the most flexible and versatile decoration systems on the market today.
The heart of the machine is a 6, 12, or 16 station servo driven index table with quick change horizontal or vertical mandrels mounted at centers around the machine.
Interfaced within are the appropriate:
Feeder / Loader
The feeding of components to the print system can be simple or sophisticated depending upon the type of product to be handled, and the production speed required. Typically hoppers and bowl feeds are utilized for smaller components, and inline conveyors or chutes for larger products.
Pre-Treaters
Gas treaters or corona discharge units are commonly used to pretreat plastic components to allow the highest quality of print and adhesion. Either system can be integrated within the C-500, and both are available in many different formats and types to suit every customer's unique requirements.
Machine Types
| C-500-3 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Part Diameter | min | 0.175" | 4.45mm |
| max | 6.00" | 152.4mm | |
| Part Length | min | 0.25" | 6.35mm |
| max | 6.00" | 152.4mm | |
| Copy Length | max | 3.00" | 76.2mm |
| C-500-6 | |||
| Part Diameter | min | 0.175" | 4.45mm |
| max | 6.00" | 152.4mm | |
| Part Length | min | 0.25" | 6.35mm |
| max | 10.00" | 254mm | |
| Copy Length | max | 6.00" | 152.4mm |
| C-500-9 | |||
| Part Diameter | min | 0.175" | 4.45mm |
| max | 6.00" | 152.4mm | |
| Part Length | min | 0.25" | 6.35mm |
| max | 10.00" | 254mm | |
| Copy Length | max | 9.00" | 226.6mm |
Decoration Unit
Any decoration technology can be integrated into the C-500. For multi-color applications, we suggest a dry offset print station. This can be supplied in different widths and with up to six color heads. For single color or overcoating applications we suggest the use of rotary silkscreening, rotary hot stamping, letterflex, or flexographic printing, with each type specifically designed and interfaced to suit your own specific requirements.
Dryers
Forced hot air, infrared, convection and ultra-violet curing units can be supplied to cure the appropriate ink for each customer's individual demands and requirements.
As with all Apex machines, we tailor each one to suit the individual customer's specification and requirements.
Technical
Up to 12" of copy can be printed on parts no more than 12" (304mm) in length and 6" (152mm) diameter. Production speed up to 200 parts per minute.
Electrical: 220, 380, 440 volt, single or 3-phase - 50/60 Hertz.
Pneumatics: 70-80 psi - 5 cfm.
Detailed machine information, specifications and, in many cases, videos are available on request once we have the basic details of your application and requirements to enable us to select and supply the most relevant information and recommendations. Please click below to submit a request for additional information. We will be very pleased to provide you further information and assistance.
S-40 Cap Top Printers
S-40 Multi-Lane Cap Top Printers
Aluminum Caps
Pictured below is a derivation of the well proven Apex S-40 type machine which has been specifically designed for printing onto the tops of the aluminum closures commonly used in the wine and spirits industry. The machine is available to handle a variety of cap sizes, depending on customer requirements.
Typically the system will be designed to print the caps after the first draw stage, as this allows color to be wrapped around the cap top on the subsequent second and third draw stages of the cap formation. It is, however, possible to print at any stage in the manufacturing process as may be required for specific production needs.
The operation involves feeding and orientation of the caps from bulk, transport into the system, scrubbing with alkaline to remove drawing lubricant contamination, pre-treating with flame, tape cleaning, base coating with primer, UV drying, top printing in up to 4 colors, UV Drying, Clear Coating, UV drying, and exit into a bin or to a bulk loader.
The complete system has an approximate production rate of 550 to 600 parts per minute, with the actual speeds being dictated by the feeder and the quality, consistency and size of the caps.
Plastic Caps
The S-40 cap top printer can be configured with one to 4 lanes, or more, and with up to 6 color printing for all common sizes of plastic closures and caps. The number of lanes depends upon speed requirements and also, to some extent, on thge range of diameters that need to be handled. The machines are extremely flexible iand can be supplied dedicated to a particular size or, alternatively, can be engineered to print a range of different sizes which typically might range from 28mm to 65mm. Larger diameters are also possible.
The S-40 provides extremely high quality, perfectly centered, close register print using either dry offset or flexapex technology, where heavy laydowns and bold colors are required, or a combination of these according to requyiremenmts and artworks.
Production speeds in the region of 2000+ parts per minute are achievable, subject to product suitability, number of lanes provided, etc.
Detailed machine information, specifications and, in many cases, videos are available on request once we have the basic details of your application and requirements to enable us to select and supply the most relevant information and recommendations. Please click below to submit a request for additional information. We will be very pleased to provide you further information and assistance.
Additional specialist high speed printers for Caps and Closures are also available from our Desco Machine Company division - for details please click here.
Rotary Cap Top Printers
CP-2000 Cap Top Printer
The CP-2000 is a purpose designed, high speed rotary printer, for imprinting in up to four colors on the tops of metal and/or plastic bottle closures. The machine configuration can be readily adapted for varying product diameters and lengths, and offers solutions for other hollow tubular shaped products requiring end cap printing.
The CP-2000 can be provided with pre-heating or other pre-print treaters, Ultraviolet dryers and clear coat stations in addition to the 4 color dry offset printing.
The CP-2000 can be interfaced with appropriate pre and post print handling equipment to meet many automation requirements.
Depending upon product size and shape, production speeds of up to 2000 parts per minute are achievable.
Detailed machine information, specifications and, in many cases, videos are available on request once we have the basic details of your application and requirements to enable us to select and supply the most relevant information and recommendations. Please click below to submit a request for additional information. We will be very pleased to provide you further information and assistance.
Additional specialist high speed printers for Caps and Closures are also available from our Desco Machine Company division - for details please click here.