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Chesapeake to Invest in New Digital Carton Production Technology

Chesapeake Corp., U.K., this past week announced plans to invest in some revolutionary new digital carton production equipment that will ensure it "continues to lead the field in fast-response packaging solutions." Chesapeake noted that the equipment will further extend its digital capability, already well established for label production, "helping to drive even greater reductions in lead times and delivering tangible benefits to customers."

In addition to new digital printing presses from HP Indigo and Landa, Chesapeake is also planning to install a digital finishing capability, enabling the company to become the first packaging manufacturer to offer a fully integrated digital solution for the production of folding cartons.

Dougie Potter, Chesapeake's technical services director, said that "over the next 12 months, the installation of this new state-of-the-art equipment, linked to innovative front-end order handling, will provide a fantastically effective solution for quick-response, small-order quantities. It will also help to reduce product inventory and obsolescence."

Chesapeake also has signed an agreement to invest in the latest digital carton cut-and-crease technology from Highcon, including the Euclid digital press unveiled at the recent Drupa exhibition, which, the company notes, is the world's first completely digital production cutting and creasing machine. The system removes the need to use a die for production by implementing new polymer and laser technologies instead, reducing machine setup time to minutes.

"We have been following the progress of the Highcon technology for some time," said Dougie Potter, "and were impressed by the machine's performance, live at Drupa. We believe the addition of this unique digital solution will not only complement our existing equipment, but will—crucially—offer hugely enhanced flexibility to better serve the current and future needs of our customers."