Weedon PSC, the UK-based independent manufacturer of corrugated packaging and Point of Sale displays, has installed a new high-speed digital printer which breaks new ground in the manufacture of environmentally-friendly packaging.
The machine, a Hanway HighJet 2500 REVO Pro, is the first of its kind to be installed in the UK – it was sold and installed by Hanway’s UK and Ireland agent, GTS Europe. It is a fully automated machine, with an automatic feeder, stacker and full tunnel dryer, but what really sets it apart is the fact that it uses water-based ink. This not only makes it safe for food contact, but the packaging it produces is also easily and fully recyclable.
The machine has been installed at Weedon PSC’s factory in Hednesford, Staffordshire, where it will help to meet rising demand for e-commerce, personalised packaging and POS displays. It can print digitally to almost litho print quality and the company can add a high gloss finish too, if required.
The machine is ideally suited for a range of work. It increases the viability of smaller runs, both for packaging and also for the production of display stands. Samples can be run off economically, as well as small runs of similar display stands advertising different price points (for example, £ and €). The printer also offers opportunities for the personalisation of small runs of packaging for e-commerce retailers, for example, for marketing offers or competitions. In addition it can print onto a wide variety of substrates, making it suitable for the production of posters, or banners.
Peter Weedon, Weedon Group Operations Director, commented, “We were looking for the right digital printer technology that would be easy to run, offer good levels of output with high quality print and, most importantly, provide a sustainable packaging solution.
“Although this is a UK first, Hanway have sold over 300 multi-pass digital printing machines globally and the REVO Pro has a proven track record. The machine stands out from the competition in so many ways but, with our high standards of sustainability, what particularly appealed to us was its use of water-based inks. For many of our customers, traditional UV inks are no longer a real option. This printer takes us another step closer to a fully sustainable manufacturing operation.”
“We are delighted to have installed this complete line at Weedon PSC,” explains David Williams, Managing Director, GTS Europe. “Thanks to its compact footprint, it was quick to install and training began within a short time-frame. The fact it uses water-based inks is a real game-changer for digital printing in general and we are sure that Peter and his team will see a rapid ROI and allow them to further enhance their offerings to the growing customer base.”
