Kartonplus has installed a Xeikon 3500REX digital press at the heart of its new operation. The folding carton company based in Enschede in the Netherlands was set up as a subsidiary of Labelplus, a leading label printing company in the region. Kartonplus has been fully operational since March 2021.
The Xeikon 3500 investment at Kartonplus is housed alongside two Xeikon CX30 digital presses in production at parent company Labelplus. Driven by Xeikon’s X-800 digital front end, the Xeikon 3500 folding carton packaging press is designed for versatility and productivity. Operators have full flexibility from this top performing dry toner press, printing with an extended colour gamut on a wide range of board types up to B2 at exceptional speeds.
The emphasis at this family run business is sustainable efficiency and customer service. Both Labelplus and Kartonplus operate as separate businesses, but are housed in the same building. Father Bertjan Lempsink runs Labelplus and brothers Tom and Bas Lempsink run Kartonplus. Bertjan states, “We have seen continual business growth since we moved to Xeikon as our digital supplier. Digital printing fits perfectly with our business model. When we saw the rising demand for folding cartons, we set up Kartonplus. Now we can refer our Labelplus customers to Kartonplus. We also have large warehouse facilities stocked with an extensive range of paper, board and label materials. The Xeikon 3500 digital press is already running at full speed at Kartonplus and with an image resolution of 1200dpi, the quality of the product is great. It is no problem at all for us to deliver complex orders with a fast turnaround. We can print one million different bar codes in one run with this press.”
Sustainable digital production
The Lempsink family see digital production as the sustainable option. By ordering what is needed and no more their customers can reduce their costs. Brand owners can switch designs and still be sure of a top quality product with a fast delivery. Kartonplus has also made a number of sustainable choices in its manufacturing operation. For example, the printed material being used on the Xeikon 3500 five colour digital press is coated with a water-based dispersion varnish. “This solution is more environmentally friendly than a UV-dried coating,” Bas Lempsink explains. “In addition, our customers can opt for matt or gloss coating and spot colours can also be added In addition to CMYK.”
The Kartonplus portfolio of folding cartons is diverse. The Enschede-based packaging printer can produce boxes with a variety of closures including auto-lock with flap and lid, euro pendant with flap closure and a sprinter or lock box. Other products such as letterbox boxes, sleeves, hangtags, blister cards and candy boxes are also available. Kartonplus distinguishes itself from its competitors with its use of high-quality board in weights of 220, 260, 280 and 300gsm and a special frozen product weight of 510 mµ, which translates into a grammage of 305gsm. According to Bas Lempsink, the great advantage of having both companies under one roof is that their customers can place orders for labels and boxes in one go and the combined order can also be delivered at the same time, in the same shipment. Bas Lempsink concludes, “We are constantly reviewing and improving our equipment to ensure customer satisfaction. The installation of the Xeikon 3500 at Kartonplus means we can offer a fast response and the highest quality products.”
