Colonial Carton Adds Third Bobst Alpina II

CLAYTON, N.C.—Folding carton manufacturer Colonial Carton recently purchased a new Bobst Alpina II 75-A2 folder/gluer. This is the third Alpina folder/gluer Colonial has added to its full-service folding carton facility in the past two years. In addition to many other productivity enhancing features, including a Cartonpack GT, Colonial’s newest Alpina II will be the first in the US configured with the Bobst AccuBraille rotary Braille embossing system.

“We are continually looking for ways to improve our efficiencies, control costs for our customers and provide quality products and services that not only meet, but exceed expectations,” says Joe Elphick, owner of Colonial Carton. “Our latest purchase is another step in that direction. Not only will it increase our capacity, but it also provides additional capabilities that will allow us to create a greater value for our customers’ current and future needs.”

Colonial’s AccuBraille system offers many advantages over the traditional Braille embossing methods. Unlike embossing in the diecutter which can require multiple dies and counters, the AccuBraille system uses only one male die, custom-made for the order, and a single universal female tool. No matching counters are required and the tooling costs are a fraction of traditional dies. Make-ready takes place off-line and set-up of the device can be accomplished in fewer than five-minutes. The system automatically synchronizes to the cartons for perfect registration on every carton and can emboss very close to folded or cut edges.

The AccuBraille system can be added to any new generation Alpina or Mistral folder/gluer. Providing product information in Braille on packaging is a growing trend in many markets and the number of industries and manufacturers adopting this practice continues to grow at a steady pace. Pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and the music industry (CD jackets) are the current leaders in this arena. Product information in Braille on pharmaceutical packaging is now mandatory in Europe under the EU directive 2001/83/EC and indications are that this trend is migrating to North America as well. Some European brand owners have already begun to require this feature on their packaging bound for, or produced in the United States.

“Maintaining our position as a technology leader is one of the ways we stay ahead of the competition,” says Elphick. “And being the first in the United States to embrace and offer the efficiency of this process helps us strengthen our position and create additional value for our customers.” In addition to the new Alpina II installation, Colonial Carton is currently expanding their facility by 40,000 sq. ft. giving them over 115,000 sq. ft. of design, manufacturing and warehouse space. “We’re growing our facilities to stay ahead of, not keep up with, our needs,” says Elphick. “Our business grew by over 40 percent last year and we are on track for substantial double digit growth again this year.”