Highcon intros digital carton finishing

Israeli folding carton converting technology specialist Highcon is pushing its Euclid high-speed digital cutting and creasing machine as an innovative solution that will eliminate the need for conventional dies and herald the arrival of a new direct-to-pack market.
 
Highcon said it is a company dedicated to streamlining the converting process to meet the numerous challenges facing folding carton manufacturers and their brand owner customers.
 
The company was founded in November 2009 by Aviv Ratzman and Michael Zimmer, both highly experienced professionals in the digital print market, working initially with Indigo N.V. and latterly HP. Highcon is a private company with key investors including Landa Ventures, the investment company owned by the Indigo N.V. founder Benny Landa, and Israbieg, the largest die supplier in Israel, as well as other print industry players.
 
The result of the extensive development effort is the Highcon Euclid. This revolutionary machine uses precision laser optics and polymer technologies to transform cutting and creasing from an analogue to a digital workflow, streamlining the finishing process.
 
The machine will combine the patent-pending DART technology to create the digital crease lines with a unique high-speed and high-quality laser cutting solution. The result is the world’s first production speed digital cutting and creasing machine, Highcon said, which does not require a die. The Euclid is designed to handle sheet sizes up to a maximum 760 x 1060mm and output from both conventional and digital presses. Stock thicknesses are up to 550gsm and a thickness of 0.6mm.
 
Highcon said its digital converting solution dramatically increases speed to market, eliminates costly production steps and reduces the carbon footprint of packaging production. Moreover, the implementation of this new technology will drive numerous new packaging opportunities for converters, packaging printers and brand owners.
 
Chris Baker, Highcon vice president of sales and business development, said: ‘We have been developing our product with input and advice from a number of top converters around the world to ensure we meet the market needs. We are confident that this technology will change the face of packaging finishing.’
 
‘Over the past two decades we have witnessed key areas of the supply chain becoming digital, but packaging finishing has remained analogue,’ said Aviv Ratzman, Highcon's chief executive officer. ‘Converters and their customers have been unable to benefit from the speed and flexibility that digital solutions could provide to finishing. But this is about to change.’
 
Speaking of Highcon's game-changing concept, Benny Landa said: ‘I believe that Highcon will do for the folding carton market what Indigo did for print - and the industry will be changed forever.’

The Highcon Euclid will be officially launched and demonstrated at Drupa 2012, Germany in May next year.

See the January issue of Package Print Worldwide for an exclusive interview with Drupa show director Manuel Mataré and previews from key exhibitors at the show.

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