As the company moves forward with its ‘Smart’ factory concept to automate the manufacturing of corrugated boxes, Zhejiang Dashengda Packaging has taken delivery of three new BOBST machines – an FFG 8.20 DISCOVERY and two e-LINE die-cutters.
One of China’s biggest manufacturers of corrugated and paperboard packaging, Zhejiang Dashengda Packaging Co Ltd is based in the Xiaoshan Economic and Technological Development Zone in Hangzhou. The company has over 700 employees and daily production capacity exceeds 1.2m sqm, with products supplied to customers in a wide range of sectors, from drinks and tobacco to home appliances and logistics.
Dashengda is continuously adopting new technologies that allow them to increase automation in production, resulting in higher efficiencies and the establishment of a fully digitalised ‘Smart’ factory. As part of its ambitious Intelligent Manufacturing strategy, the company has made a significant investment in more Bobst equipment for its converting department.
In addition to primary and secondary paper packaging products, Dashengda also provides customers with full design support, guidance on recycling and online platforms for the life cycle of packaging solutions. The customer base includes big multinationals such as Panasonic, Samsung, China Tobacco, Huarun Beer, Wahaha Group, Supor, SF Express, and Zhejiang Haikang Group, amongst many others.
Production driven by data
With a range of Bobst hot stamping and die-cutting machines already part of the production setup, Dashengda has now added the 8.20 Discovery along with the two e-Line die-cutters to expand its capacity and further meet automation targets.
The 8.20 Discovery a user-friendly, high-productivity box-making solution, which can process up to 18,000 corrugated boxes per hour. The flexo folder gluer is a robust machine combining automation, accuracy and quality in one package to offer low total cost of ownership. Handling single and doublewall corrugated board of 1.2 to 8mm in thickness, the Discovery prints and converts sheets in sizes up to 830 x 2180mm. It also boasts ultra-quick setting up times, or order changeover during the run, of just two minutes with Rapid-Set, while the Posilock® system allows for fast mounting of die-cutting tools.
With the Bobst Maintenance Management & Productivity Control (MMPC) system, the Discovery gives Dashengda full control over the process and access to vital production data. The packaging manufacturer sees data-driven innovation as core to its ‘Smart’ manufacturing system, which has been developed to remain competitive in the global corrugated packaging market, where growth of more than 4% annually is forecast.
“We offer a leading manufacturing service guarantee and are constantly striving to optimise and improve our offering through investment in advanced technology, process capability and technical strength,” said Sun Jun-Jun, Vice President of Dashengda. “Our lean management system gives us a competitive advantage and we only invest in machines that we know can match or exceed our very high expectations.”
Technology brings solution
The two new die-cutters were manufactured and supplied to Dashengda by the Bobst Group company Eterna (Shanghai Eternal Machinery Co., Ltd). Designed to improve efficiency and eliminate manual handling of the sheets, the e-Line model is a fully automated solution that offers all functions from loading to palletising in one integrated production line.
“With Bobst automation in our factory, boxes can be produced and delivered to our intelligent warehouse literally without ‘touching the ground’,” explained Sun. “In addition, we have found that the design of scoring profiles for different types of flutes is an important feature as it avoids issues with corrugated sheets bursting.”
“When a leading company like Dashengda chooses Bobst, it once again validates our strategy and position in the market, and we are very honoured to be their partner,” said Olivier Robin, Sales Director of Bobst Lyon. “Our customers understand that automation, connectivity and data are core to future growth, and together we pioneer the most innovative technologies that is taking packaging production to the next level.”
