Simply Cartons is in the middle of the apparent chaos caused by removal of one press and its replacement by a new machine as the first of two Koenig & Bauer B1 Rapidas is installed at the Nottingham carton printer. The second press will arrive on the coat tails of the first.
The machines being installed are a six-colour double coater and a seven-colour “plus one” press where an eighth print unit sits between two coating units. It is a configuration that Simply Cartons has pioneered in the UK, one that expands the options on coating possibilities and so the impact provided by the finished carton.
Once the £6 million investment cycle has been completed, Simply Cartons will be operating three Koenig & Bauer machines, two six-unit and one eight-unit presses.
These will feed into Bobst die cutters and folder gluers, extended last year though installation of an ExpertCut and Visionfold models. A further platen is under consideration for later this year according to the company.
The investment is geared towards capturing more of the luxury packaging sector. To this end Simply Cartons made its investment plan public at the Packaging Innovations show in Birmingham last week and had earlier attended Packaging Week in Paris, frequented by brands specialising in cosmetics, couture, drinks and more.
Chief executive Craig Mather says: “We needed to continue to look to the future and further potential growth with our existing and very loyal customer base. To ensure we can continue to provide the best service and support to our customers we must be at the forefront of technological advances, packaging trends and environmental change. Working towards this goal, we have invested heavily in the latest technology and sustainable practices within the business.”
The company has covered its roof area with solar panels and is able to offset carbon from board and production through the World Land Trust. The new machines are expected to be 30% more efficient than those being replaced and include the latest drying quality inspection systems to reduce energy draw and also waste sheets, both with a reduction in waste levels.
“We understand the requirements of our customers and this helps to drive key decisions within the business such as this investment. Working with Koenig & Bauer over the last few years has enabled us to push the boundaries of what is possible today, while ensuring our commitment to the environment for everyone’s tomorrow,” says Mather.
The company installed its first Koenig & Bauer press in 2017 quickly followed by a second and has continued to run a Speedmaster for the last few years. This has now been retired.
The new machines includes continuous running through automated pallet handling. They will be mounted in 925mm high plinths (previously 900mm) giving a few more sheets in both feed and delivery. Maximum sheet thickness is 1.2mm.
