NEW ORLEANS — 3M introduced the new Auto Flying Splice roll prep station for the newspaper industry, along with a new splice tape.

The Auto Flying Splice can be used as a stand-alone offline prep station or can be integrated with a newspaper’s roll handling system. The system is designed to work with 3M’s new Repulpable Newspaper Splicing System 9993, a splicing tape that allows newspapers to splice with a single strip of tape rather than with a pattern.

3M displayed its new Auto Flying Splice roll prep station, which works with its Repulpable Newspaper Splicing System 9993 tape. Photo by Chere’ Martin

The splicer automatically lifts the paper from the roll of newsprint, cuts it, applies the splice tape, then removes the upper liner on the tape and applies the lifted paper to the splice, all in approximately 30 seconds. It can handle a roll of newspaper 30 inches to 50 inches in diameter and a width of up to 54 inches.

3M’s tape consists of separation layer sandwiched between two adhesive strips coated with 3M’s Splicing Adhesive 913.

The separation layer is designed to easily separate during the splice. The separation layer can also be printed on, reducing the need to dispose of copies that are part of the splice. The tape comes in widths of 1.5 inches and 2 inches. It will have a thickness of 0.06 inches after the splice, which will help reduce bounce, maintain registration and reduce potential blanket damage, according to 3M.

The tape can reduce paper waste by as much as 95 percent, 3M said, and is environmentally friendly. It can be used at high speeds with belt- or core-driven reelstands. The tape can also be used manually, without 3M’s auto prep station.