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Keep digital print jobs moving continuously

Digital inkjet quality continues to improve, and demand for short-run jobs and personalized print is on the rise. This is great news for digital printers—but it also brings growing pressure from customers for faster delivery times and more competitive pricing.
 
The digital print process – from order intake to shipment of finished product – is highly digitized and automated. However, one costly and time-consuming factor disturbs this efficient chain: the need to change paper reels manually. Manually changing paper reels using a mono unwinder can easily take 15 minutes. Changing a paper reel every hour therefore cuts productivity by 25% every working hour. If you also operate a manual rewinder, the productivity loss will be even higher.
 
For printers who would like to optimize their workflow, shorten their delivery times, reduce labor costs and use their web inkjet press to the max, Contiweb non-stop winding equipment is the solution!

Benefits

  • Save production and labor hours: Non-stop winding eliminates manual reel changes that cause downtime, significantly increasing press uptime.

  • Increased operator flexibility: Splice preparation can be done at any convenient time during production—allowing operators to focus on other tasks.

  • Fast and simple splice preparation: Preparing a splice takes just two minutes.

  • Exceptional splice reliability: Achieve consistent splice performance of 99.8% or higher.

  • Versatile splicing options: Splice to reels with different web widths, coatings, and weights—ideal for short runs and fast job changes.

  • On-demand splicing: Splices can be made on the fly without stopping production. The CD-N non-stop unwinder easily handles rest reels, with no restrictions on reel diameter. 

  • Smart integration with your press: If your press supports it, Contiweb equipment can signal the press ahead of a splice—allowing print heads to lift in time. It can even detect splices made by the paper mill.

  • Ergonomic reel loading: Motorized lift arms move up and down so reels can be loaded from ground level—no crane needed.

  • Additional advantages include fewer errors during splice preparation, less risk of web loss due to time pressure, reduced paper waste, smoother startups, and energy savings through faster changeovers.

Features

  • Horizontal festoon for zero-speed splicing.

  • Lap splice as standard; butt splice available as an option.

  • Motorized arms for lifting reels on and off the loading platform.

  • No reel shafts required.

  • Compatible with all web inkjet presses.

  • Supports paper weights up to 350 g/m² (18 pt).

  • Maximum winding speed: 330 m/min (1080 ft/min).

  • CD-N non-stop unwinder available in 22" (560 mm), 30" (770 mm), 42" (1100 mm), and 61" (1550 mm) versions.

CD-N non-stop unwinder

The CD-N is a horizontal zero-speed splicer featuring fully automatic splicing and a standard integrated infeed system.

The proven Contiweb zero-speed festoon design brings the running web and the new web to a halt during the splice cycle while the press is fed from the integrated festoon. Performing the splice at zero speed minimizes all dynamic forces on the web. The operation is therefore very forgiving of variations in splice preparation, such as operator skills and web quality. The splice can be made at all reel diameters, offering maximum flexibility for changing paper type or web width easily, including the smallest rest reels.

The lift arms of the Contiweb equipment can move up and down, allowing the reel to be loaded from the ground. This operation is ergonomic, and requires no lifting crane.

Also included as standard on the CD-N are high-specification festoon and guide rollers for maintaining optimum web tension control. Infeed functions and web guidance can optionally be controlled remotely through the central press/printer console. Remote diagnosis via VPN is also available.

HMI and festoon Contiweb non-stop unwinder

Non-stop reel-to-reel production

For printshops running reel-to-reel workflows, Contiweb offers the CR-N Non-Stop Rewinder—the perfect match for the CD-N Non-Stop Unwinder. Together, they enable continuous production by auto-splicing reels at both the start and end of the press line. Splice preparation can be done at any point during the cycle, freeing up operator time and increasing flexibility. Partially printed reels can go directly to finishing, reducing turnaround times and manual handling.

Key benefits of the CD-N and CR-N combination:

• Fully automated reel changes—no press stops required
• Up to 25 minutes of extra production time per reel change cycle (unwinder + rewinder)
• Operator-friendly design with minimal manual tasks

Want to learn more about the CR-N? 

Easy reel loading and splice preparation

Reel loading and splice preparation for automatic splicing using the Contiweb CD-N non-stop unwinder are quick and straightforward tasks that only take 2 minutes to complete. These tasks can be easily performed in a situation safe for the operator, even while production is ongoing. The operator's involvement is minimal and involves applying a linear adhesive tape for the straight-tape splice on the paper. The time required for splice preparation is limited to the actual preparation process itself.

Here, you can find a video demonstrating the reel loading and splice preparation process. The video demonstrates the overlap splice preparation. You can watch the butt splice preparation here.

Resources

BNiD-C-Cards-290x250-1-UK

Brochure

Get a full overview of Contiweb’s non-stop unwinding and rewinding solutions, including technical specs, key benefits, and integration options.
BNiD-C-Cards-290x250-2-UK

Case Study

Seaway Printing integrated Contiweb non-stop auto-splicers, turning their lines into record-breaking operations. Watch the full story here.
BNiD-C-Cards-290x250-3-UK

Savings Calculator

Use our easy online calculator for an indication of the payback period and determine whether you can benefit from non-stop winding. 

While increasing productivity is a primary reason for many printers to invest in non-stop auto splicing equipment, there are several additional benefits worth considering.

Firstly, incorporating auto splicing into press operations significantly reduces the manual effort involved. Press operators often express enthusiasm about auto splicing as it eliminates the need for laborious lifting and repetitive tasks. This, in turn, frees up time for operators to focus on other important responsibilities. The presence of non-stop auto splicing equipment can also make the job more appealing to potential new hires, contributing to the overall workforce attraction.

Furthermore, the CDN non-stop auto splicer delivers consistent and reliable joins between paper reels, minimizing the occurrence of failures and web breaks. This improvement in join consistency, compared to manual reel changes, leads to reduced waste in terms of slab and core material. By achieving more precise and dependable splices, the non-stop auto splicer helps optimize material usage and minimize waste generation.

Therefore, even if paper reel changes are infrequent, investing in non-stop auto splicing equipment can enhance operational efficiency, reduce manual labor, attract new talent, and improve overall waste management, ultimately contributing to a more productive and streamlined printing process.

The Contiweb CDN non-stop auto splicer has lift arms that can move up and down, allowing the reel to be loaded from the ground. This operation is ergonomic, and requires no lifting crane. Depending on the model, also no reel shafts are required.

The splice preparation for automatic splicing is a quick and straightforward task that only takes 2 minutes to complete. It can be easily performed, in a situation safe for the operator, while production is ongoing. The operator's involvement is minimal and involves applying a linear adhesive tape for the straight-tape splice on the paper. The time required for splice preparation is limited to the actual preparation process itself.

The Contiweb CDN non-stop auto splicer allows you to splice over to papers of different web widths, coatings and weights. This is very useful for short, fast-changing jobs. It is also easy to use rest reels.

The Contiweb CDN non-stop auto splicer is designed to create an overlap splice by default when joining two reels of paper. However, certain webfed inkjet printing presses may not accept the thickness of an overlap splice. In such cases, the CDN can be equipped with butt splice technology. This option allows for a thinner splice, addressing the compatibility requirements of these specific printing presses.

The illustration below shows two butt splices (left) and two overlap splices (right).

Overlap vs butt splice diagram – Contiweb non-stop unwinding

The Contiweb CDN non-stop auto splicer can handle paper reels with a diameter of up to 1,270 mm (50 inches) and a maximum weight of 1,600 kg. The minimum paper web width is 300mm. The maximum paper web width depends on the model.

Spare parts for Contiweb non-stop auto splicers are conveniently available in the Contiweb Parts Webshop. Sign up for an account and gain free access to Contiweb machine manuals and parts books, saving you valuable time by filtering your search for specific machine parts.

Plus, explore our Uptime Kits, specially curated with essential components to minimize downtime in the event of breakdowns, ensuring you have the necessary parts readily available in your own facility. Streamline your maintenance and keep your operations running smoothly with Contiweb.

Trusted by

  • Abeka
  • Quad
  • CPI
  • Rotomail
  • Rodona
  • Elcograf
  • Bradford & Bigelow
  • Grupo Print Laser
  • Laballery

Trusted by

  • Abeka
  • Bradford & Bigelow
  • Clays
  • CPI
  • Elcograf
  • GGP Media
  • Kyburz
  • Laballery
  • LSC
  • Grupo Print Laser
  • Quad
  • Rodona
  • Rotomail
  • Symeta

Would you like to know more?

If you are interested in Contiweb's non-stop unwindings solutions and you would like to know more, then please don't hesitate to contact us!

Your contact

Rob Bosman
Sales Director
+31 6 51 20 27 55
sales@contiweb.com

Rob