Koenig & Bauer Customers Praise Their Investments in Post-Press Finishing Equipment

• Omega Allpro folder gluer increased efficiency and met tight deadlines at TigerPress
• Single pass production of unique carton styles at Ellis Paper Box with its Omega folder gluer
• The Koenig & Bauer 106K die cutter at Ingersoll Paper Box has achieved production run speed gains of 30-40% and a reduction of make ready times of 20-25%
• Lithographic Industries reports that its Optima 106 die cutter has significantly increased its throughput and led to enhanced client satisfaction due to its superior technology

Printers are finding it necessary to invest in their finishing department to remain leaders in their field. While prepress and press equipment usually takes center stage in a printer’s arsenal, post-press equipment such as die cutters and folder gluers, are playing an equally prominent role. Koenig & Bauer customers are seeking the latest automated equipment and have found innovative post press solutions. Investment in capital equipment, such as post-press, depends on a thorough evaluation to receive the maximum return on their investment. These leading printers, among many others, have chosen Koenig & Bauer post-press equipment to exceed their production goals.

“In our first six years of entering the post-press marketplace we have seen tremendous growth not only with existing customers but new customers as well,” says Tom Fitzgerald, director of post-press products. “With a focus on offering the best service and support along with our leading-edge technology, our customer base is increasing dramatically each year. Repeat orders prove the versatility and flexibility of our equipment. Our technology evolution is expanding with the launch of the new CutPRO Q 106, a high-speed flatbed die-cutter, which is equipped with new and unique features that will yield greater productivity for our customers. Our popular folder gluers offer automated set-up and processes that allow them to be more operator friendly and more intuitive for fast makeready and ease of use.”

Increased efficiency and meeting tight deadlines

TigerPress, an East Longmeadow, MA, printer, addressed its customer’s needs with faster turnaround and increased its productivity with the purchase of a new Koenig & Bauer Omega Allpro folder gluer in early 2020 before COVID. “The timing could have not been any better,” says Reza Shafil, president of TigerPress. “During COVID, we experienced an increase in our packaging department. With the new folder/gluer, we could keep up with the higher demand, and limited work force during the pandemic. The new folder/gluer increased our efficiency and allowed us to keep up with the increased folding carton demand and to meet the tighter deadlines with less labor involved.”

Single pass production of unique carton styles

Ellis Paper Box was the first North American printer to install the Omega Allpro 90 folder gluer. Dave Ellis, its president, was attracted to the folder gluer because it could handle a wide range of substrates from cartonboard to corrugated, is extremely versatile, and capable of producing the most complex range of carton styles, which minimizes makeready and maximizes productivity.

“The Omega Allpro folder gluer plays a very important role within our organization,” says Ellis. “It gives us the flexibility to manufacture all styles of cartons including straight line, auto bottom, and four- and six- corner. The Koenig & Bauer team worked closely with our team to customize the folder gluer so that it can produce unique, value-added styles. These would typically require at least two passes but the Omega Allpro has reduced it to a single pass. The machine is very quick to make-ready and produces extremely high-quality results.”

Achieving double-digit production run speed gains and a reducing makeready times

Ingersoll Paper Box (IPB) invested in a high-speed Koenig & Bauer Optima 106K die cutter to boost its production and efficiency. It complements its Koenig & Bauer Rapida 106 seven-color 41-inch fully-automated printing press, which gave IPB added capabilities, faster production speeds, and broadened its customer base.

“When comparing the Koenig and Bauer 106K to the press it has replaced, we have achieved production run speed gains of 30-40% and a reduction of makeready times of 20-25%,” says Sarah Skinner, Ingersoll’s president. “Couple that with the ease of use and operator satisfaction, the Koenig and Bauer 106K has been a solid addition to our company line-up.”

Ingersoll produces billions of custom boxes of packaging for customers in such industries as pharmaceutical, consumer goods and food packaging—all with a commitment to quality control and continuous improvement. It is always seeking to expand its capital investments in newer and better equipment to ensure that it maintains its reputation as a trusted supplier of paperboard packaging. The Optima 106K flatbed die cutter supports that mandate. The Optima 106K provides Ingersoll with high quality, high productivity, easy handling, and fast preparation. This newest generation of Koenig & Bauer blankers is equipped with new tooling technology to do sheeting in a fast and easy method. It is capable of handling paper, cardboard, plastic and corrugated boards up to 1.5mm.

Significant increase in throughput, enhanced client satisfaction, superior technology

Lithographic Industries, a privately-owned, third generation packaging printer located in Broadview, IL, chose to invest in its business by adding a Koenig & Bauer Optima 106 die cutter after thoroughly investigating what was competitively offered in the marketplace.

“We depend on equipment that is operating smoothly and efficiently with minimal downtime,” says Louis A. Ebert, president of Lithographic Industries. “The superior technology from the Koenig & Bauer Optima 106 die cutter has significantly increased our throughput and led to enhanced client satisfaction. Our die cutter has completely eliminated variability right from the start. It registers the sheet perfectly. Additionally, it has reduced waste and increased our productivity, which is especially important as the need for more capacity has grown.”

Source: Koenig & Bauer

The preceding press release was provided by a company unaffiliated with Packaging Impressions. The views expressed within do not directly reflect the thoughts or opinions of the staff of Packaging Impressions.