Harrison Packaging is on course to install the UK’s first Koenig & Bauer Rapida 106X at its Stockton on Tees factory early next year.
The investment, the largest in the 140 years Harrison Packaging has been in operation, follows the longest decision process the company has been involved in. “The process started before lockdown,” says managing director Mike Baum. “Fortunately we had all the trials on the machines before that. Some outside forces have since forced a delay to the decision.”
Part of the conversation has been around the configuration of the machine. It is ten units long with eight printing and two coating units with both conventional and UV drying. Baum is not disclosing how these are arranged. He does explain that after printing with conventional inks the press will dry the sheet, apply a primer and add a high gloss UV varnish.
Baum says: “We have been looking at market trends and seeing what will happen in future. We have been keeping an eye on digital, but while digital has been pushing the boundaries in terms of sheet size and speed, litho has been been introducing even more technology to be competitive. We looked that less than 5% of our work would be suitable for digital printing as the crossover to where litho becomes viable has got lower.”
The company also looked at options of fitting a cold foil system inline, though decided against it. A retrofit would be possible. “We do quite a number of jobs that are a mix of cold and hot foil, so there is a requirement but not enough to justify that investment,” he says. “There is still a gap between hot and cold foils and the majority of customers still want hot foil.”
Investment in the press follows on installation of a Bobst die cutting platen and Zund cutting table to be followed by platesetter. That is part of bolstering the front end offering he says. More will follow, perhaps including a large format inkjet press for mock ups and proof of concept.
The new machine is replacing a six-colour Komori Lithrone G40 and will run alongside a seven-colour plus coater Rapida 105 purchased in 2008. “When the press reaches the levels of output we expect, we anticipate removing another of our older presses,” he says.
“Our five-year plan is one of significant growth and this press will create sufficient additional capacity to ensure Harrison maintains the levels of flexibility and response we have become known for. We are very excited to see the new machine installed and look forward to working with the team at Koenig & Bauer to maximise the potential for this ‘game changing’ press’.”
The press includes a maintenance package which includes self lubrication for most of the machine, only two grease points for each gripper bar instead of six and new longlife bearings in the delivery.
The full range of makeready and quality control aids are fitted, including QualiTronic Colour Control and PrintCheck, SIS indeed and integration to production workflows and MIS. “It is the most heavily specified press we have ever bought. We think we can start to enter certain new markets,” Baum adds. Currently the company supplies customers beauty, healthcare, food and beverages for the likes of Asda, Taylors of Harrogate and Mars Food.
