Herbert Walkers, the West Yorkshire, UK-based specialist in printing for the packaging sector, has invested in new equipment for the third time in six months, this time with a Signature ELITE 110CS4/6- AutoSet folding carton gluer, supplied by Lloyds Print Services.
The investment comes as Herbert Walkers scales up its capabilities in response to a sustained increase in demand from across the food and beverage, cosmetics, confectionary and gifting sectors. The new machine is now operating in addition to the company’s two existing folder-gluers and is helping to enhance efficiency with much faster make ready times and automated saving of completed jobs to enable rapid pre-programmed re-runs.
Ambitious Growth
Mike Lammas (pictured left), Managing Director, Herbert Walkers, comments, “With so many brands and retailers re-shoring their packaging requirements to the UK, an increase in demand for folding carton packaging across the sector and our enviable reputation in the marketplace, we are experiencing exceptionally high demand for our expertise. It’s important to us that we maintain high quality standards and a responsive service as we continue to grow and this investment is part of that commitment.
“Our investment in the new Signature Elite follows the delivery of our new BOBST foiling machine and two Xerox Iridesse digital printers last year, reflecting our focus on ensuring we have the quality machinery required to offer a rapid turnaround and industry leading quality standards across every aspect of our turnkey print offering.”
Fast Machine
The Signature Elite enables set-up of basic cartons in just two to three mins. With a speed of 700 m/min, it is one of the fastest folding carton gluers on the market and, depending on the carton design, it is capable of producing 225,000 cartons per hour.
The machine’s advanced electronics calculate the position of each section of the machine when the operator inputs the dimensions of a new carton, setting the job up automatically to achieve optimum results. The machine then stores the set-up for every job, enabling any repeat of the carton design to begin running even faster next time around.
Lloyds Print Services has supplied the Signature Elite with a Baumer hhs gluing system, providing full quality control, glue detection, tracking and ejection, which ensures any substandard cartons are rejected, guaranteeing that only perfect product is delivered to Herbert Walkers’ customers.
Lammas continues, “This new machine will be ideal for both repeat projects and for more complex, bespoke cartons. If the Signature Elite cannot produce a carton, it cannot be done, so this new investment will play a central role in our ability to keep innovating for our customers and responding to their creative projects. With full fault monitoring and management reporting, it will also support smooth and efficient operational management, aligned to our existing ISO certified management systems.”
Simon Lloyd, Lloyds Print Services adds, “I am so pleased that Herbert Walkers have purchased the Signature Elite AutoSet, it is one of the most advanced machines on the market and the future of carton gluers world-wide. Without a doubt, it will future-proof Herbert Walkers folding carton gluer department for decades to come.”
