Interest growing in digital print finishing for packaging

Brandtjen & Kluge hosted its second Kluge User Group meeting on May 12 in Schaumburg, Illinois, with 32 attendees discussing a wide range of topics concerning maintenance, make-ready, set-up and production. The agenda included a technology update on laser cutting and integrations to digital workflow, an assessment of the cold foil process and user-led best practice networking sessions. Participants also reviewed case studies of challenging projects in both folding and gluing, and foil stamping, and were encouraged to bring topics to the meeting that were current and meaningful to their applications and operations. This resulted in topics such as the challenges of digital print media, tactics for reducing make-ready in all applications, automated equipment adjustments and new technology opportunities being discussed. 

‘It was reassuring to see the strong interest in digital print finishing, especially in packaging applications,’ said Aumann. ‘We are committing a lot of resources to the development of digital printing finishing solutions and it is great to see our best customers confirm that our strategy aligns well with their needs.’

Following the meeting, Kluge User Group meeting members attended the three-day IADD*FSEA Odyssey Technical Conference, where Kluge conducted two presentations in the TechShop with live demonstrations on its EHD foil stamping, embossing and die-cutting press and ComFold folding and gluing system. The Kluge EHD presentation discussed eight specific ways to help optimize performance and production, while the ComFold presentation examined the advantages and procedures of a digital workflow for the production of short runs of folding cartons. 

Troy Summers, of Trade Print Finishing Company in Salt Lake City, Utah, described the Kluge User Group meeting as ‘the highlight of my time at Odyssey’, and said: ‘Not very often do you have that much knowledge and experience in our industry in one room. Everyone was very open and helpful with all of the subjects we covered. I am looking forward to the next one.’

‘I thought the diversification of owners, operators and managers was a really positive environment,’ added Rick Wolfe from TPS Enterprises of Newton, Illinois. ‘I have personally been all three, so it worked for me. I thought the round table and open forum allows people from different parts of the country to discuss pros and cons of their unique ways of doing business.’

Brandtjen & Kluge is a fourth generation, family-owned manufacturer of specialty print finishing and converting equipment. Headquartered in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, Brandtjen & Kluge markets equipment through a direct sales force in the USA and Canada, and has a well-established network of industry-qualified distributors to provide global coverage.

The next Kluge User Group meeting will be held again prior to the IADD*FSEA Odyssey Technical Conference in 2017.

Read more about the markets for both digital flexible packaging and folding carton printing in Labels & Labeling issue #4, 2015, and in-depth coverage of the digital label and package printing markets in Labels & Labeling issue #3, 2015, which you can read online here