Ultimate Packaging Partners with Kodak

LA HULPE, Belgium—Ultimate Packaging, one of the UK’s leading independent flexographic print suppliers to the food industry, is achieving significant success in the packaging sector using the KODAK FLEXCEL NX Digital Flexographic System. The company recently won the Gold award at the European Flexographic Technical Association (EFTA) awards for ‘Best First Time Entrant’ for a project undertaken for Young’s Seafood and a Silver accolade for ‘Promotional Print’ for Kodak USA.

Located on a greenfield site at Europarc on the outskirts of Grimsby in the UK, the 60,000 sq.ft. Ultimate Packaging factory was designed and built with input from leading supermarket chains, retailers, and food manufacturers, and in cooperation with experts in industrial hygiene, environmental management, quality assurance, and production efficiency. In setting these high standards in manufacturing excellence, technical standards, and certification, the company has adopted the latest innovations in print and converting technology.

Ultimate Packaging spent the past twelve months working closely with Kodak to develop, test, and integrate the FLEXCEL NX System into its systems and production lines. Ultimate Packaging is focused on expanding its customer base in the food processing sector. Chris Tonge, sales and marketing director at Ultimate Packaging states, “Currently around 70 percent of our output is for the fresh produce industry. This means we are working in an arena of competitive design, immediate decisions, and extremely tight deadlines. We have developed a range of ULTI-FRESH® films, designed to increase the shelf-life of fresh produce.”

Tonge explains, “With Kodak’s innovative technology we are committed to converting brand owners away from the traditional gravure process by demonstrating the ability to produce cost-effective, photographic print and multiple designs with flexography using the FLEXCEL NX System. We’ve already introduced our first commercial range of 30 designs for one of our existing branded customers. Designed specifically with flexible packaging in mind, KODAK DIGICAP NX Screening takes FLEXCEL NX Digital Flexographic Plates to a new level. Additionally we have developed a brand new ink system. Kodak’s technology has helped to make huge ink efficiencies possible and also expanded the color gamut.”

The FLEXCEL NX System has enabled Ultimate Packaging to reach high levels of quality print in the demanding food packaging sector. This is maximizing their business opportunities. Tonge continues, “We are pushing the boundaries of flexo print with the FLEXCEL NX System. We are driving increased revenues through differentiated print, reducing costs through production efficiencies, and increasing sustainability through reduction in printed substrate waste. With FLEXCEL NX Plates, Ultimate Packaging can enable brand owners to finally achieve the print quality and consistency of rotogravure with all the convenience and flexibility of flexography.”