A new large format Koenig & Bauer Rapida press will be a key component at Cartamundi USA’s East Longmeadow, Massachusetts manufacturing facility, which produces 30 million board games a year. The Cartamundi Group continues to invest in the 1.2 million-sq-ft facility ever since it purchased it in 2015 and has increased staffing by 13.5% to 480 employees. Known for producing popular board games under contract for a leading toy and board game firm, the facility and pressroom are required to produce game boxes that are color consistent throughout long and short runs and printed with the highest quality to attract purchasers and collectible owners on crowded store shelves.
Specialty items, such as movie versions of all types of games, as well as well-established games require the highest degree of color management. Cartamundi has added Koenig & Bauer’s QualiTronic ColorControl for inline color control with touchscreen on its new large format press. This system measures every sheet for constant print quality over the whole length of a run. The inline color control also provides detailed reporting and measurement documentation to pinpoint the accuracy of each sheet as it is printed — critically important for game boxes that need consistent color across store shelves.
The Cartamundi pressroom is also driven by fast makeready and quick turnaround in order to efficiently produce the large volumes of work. Management’s two immediate goals are to generate new business from existing clients and add new customers. In order to be competitive, the firm is taking advantage of Koenig & Bauer’s technology and incorporating its DriveTronic SIS sidelay-free infeed and fully automated plate changing system on the incoming Rapida press. This system will boost production, making it even more efficient and profitable, as well as furthering faster turnaround, and increasing output. Ultrafast makeready will be enjoyed due to simultaneous plate changing.
