Independent corrugated box producer BoxWay Packaging has followed investment in in print capacity after Andrew Woollard brought the business last year, with investment in finishing capacity.
At the end of last year, the company installed the first Hanway aqueous inkjet press for corrugated at its Exeter plant. Now that factory is receiving an Eterna die cutter, supplied by M&K Trading, and a Kongsberg C44 cutting table.
A further Kongsberg has been installed at the Peterlee plant to produce samples alongside a five-colour Weipong rotary die cutter which was part of last year’s investment. And at the third site in Telford, the four-colour Bobst flexo flatbed printer die cutter is to be refurbished.
The three sites will share investment in an Artios CAD design software which will be networked across the three operations. Each also receives a Siegwerk ink kitchen and X-Rite colour control system. The aim is to be able to shift work between sites without loss of quality and with consistency.
“This investment builds nicely on the first phase which we announced in September last year. It further supports our customer by allowing us to respond even faster to their needs with our increased capacity, widening capability and innovative products,” says Woollard.
These include shelf ready packaging and displays, ecommerce packaging where corrugated can play a role in the opening experience.
BoxWay was formed following Woodard’s acquisition of the three former Saica plants. Saica is aiming at higher volume packaging for larger customers. BoxWay instead serves small end users and the owners of regional brands which may be more open to new ideas for corrugated, including digital printing. With the latest round of investment, due to be fully operational by September, the company is confident it will be able to handle the shortest of runs, even personalised packaging, up to medium run lengths for all types of customer.
“The market is very much geared toward rapidly delivered short run high quality and converted product,” says a spokesman. “Local entrepreneurs need boxes as their businesses grow and want to work with local suppliers.”
