太陽機械製作所 has developed a pressure-sealed postcard finishing machine using aqueous post-gluing. The machine is designed to address market challenges by delivering low running costs, reduced environmental impact and one-person operation, enabling anyone to achieve stable production.
The pressure-sealed postcard production market is facing growing demand for high-mix, low-volume, short-lead-time production, while labor shortages and reliance on skilled operators have become apparent challenges. Issues with the conventional process, which uses pre-glued paper, include paper costs, storage periods and declining peel strength over time.
太陽機械製作所 focused on an "aqueous post-gluing process" that applies aqueous glue to standard paper. The company had previously developed finishing machines in this field, but suspended development temporarily because demand did not expand. As the spread of digital printing created an environment suited to producing high-mix direct mail, the company resumed its challenge.
Development began with the production of a testing machine, followed by verification of the glue-drying conditions in the drying oven and the pressure conditions during bonding, one by one. Based on interviews with production sites, the company established 3 development themes: "skill-free operation," "shorter setup times" and "stress-free operation."
The new machine is called the "TPM-type aqueous post-gluing pressure-sealed postcard finishing machine." By applying aqueous glue to standard paper, it achieves both low running costs and reduced environmental impact. The machine is designed to improve production operations by enabling anyone to process postcards with consistent quality while shortening setup and adjustment times.