Heidelberg winning global business with Diana folder gluers

Heidelberg has reported global interest in its Diana series of folder gluers as international package printers look to increase their flexibility, raise production speeds and reduce costs.

 

Heidelberg said a number of packaging converters from European and overseas markets have installed folder gluers carrying the Diana name, and are reporting success.

 

Italian packaging printer Cartotecnica Grafica Vicentina has installed a Diana X 115. It serves publishing companies as well as enterprises from the food and electronics sectors, and operates three folder gluers from Heidelberg: a Diana X 115, a Diana Pro 94 and a Diana 165.

 

In comparative testing with a competitor's product, the Diana X scored high in the production of sophisticated folding cartons.

 

Belgian packaging firm Flanders Printing has installed a Diana X 115 version CC plus Diana packer, which it uses in the production of folding cartons for bakeries and confectionary products.

 

The fully automated production of big boxes with the Diana X 115 CC including tray erector, autoset and packer enables a high degree of flexibility and quality.

 

UK printer Quantum Print & Packaging also works with a Diana X 115 folder gluer, the first delivered into the UK.

 

Quantum is planning to grow its business by 20 percent, and Heidelberg said the investment in the folder gluer represents a “huge step towards the company's efficiency goals”.

 

All gluing work can now be handled in-house, and Quantum production director Peter Thomas said he is expecting greater flexibility, higher production speeds, simpler setup, shorter make-ready times and the ability to offer more individually styled cartons and packaging product with the Diana X 115.

 

Fellow UK converter Falconer Print & Packaging was the first company in UK to take delivery of a Diana X 115 folder gluer with a Braille unit to meet the demands of its pharmaceutical customers.

 

The incorporation of an integral Braille module means Braille can be applied anywhere on the carton and on various axes.

 

Even with the Braille unit running, Falconer’s Diana X 115 can still produce at speeds of over 100,000 cartons an hour.

 

Global packaging group Chesapeake has invested in new equipment for its Leicester plant in the UK, including the purchase of the first new format Diana X 80 folder gluer in the UK, which was officially announced at Drupa 2012.

 

It is also buying a Diana packer and is beta testing the Diana Braille module and inspection control module.

 

Chesapeake operations director Jon Drennan (pictured, left) said: ‘The format of the Diana X 80 folder gluer has opened the doors to Heidelberg in our sector.

 

‘The launch of something this new and innovative was an exciting proposition and the supplier's willingness to engage in some collaborative development was a distinct advantage.’

 

Elsewhere in the UK, Offset Print and Packaging recently installed a Heidelberg Diana X 115 after intensively testing alternative options. It will offer the converter straight-line and crash lock constructions.

 

Offset Print director Vince Brearey said: ‘Speed is the key in this volume-based sector.

 

‘This facility will enable us to be much faster and the choice of the Diana X provides further guarantees to our customers of improved lead-times, more consistent quality and a more competitive price.’

 

US customer Proteus Packaging has likewise invested in a Diana X 115 and a Diana packer.

 

With the installation, Proteus aimed to make the most of its step up to the fast, efficient production of short- and long-run folding cartons for the pharmaceutical, food and other markets.

 

The company claims to have even exceeded its expectations with the equipment, with COO Tim Wayman saying: ‘The performance of both machines has been a revelation.

 

‘We are able to handle a greater number of high-volume jobs faster and with greater efficiency than ever before. In addition, our output is up, and our per-piece costs are down.’

 

Canada’s Jones Packaging has installed a Diana 45-3 gluer to increase the finishing quality of their small-sized pharmaceutical and confectionary folding carton work.

 

Jones Packaging has increased its productivity by a minimum of 35 percent. Also, the folder gluer's sturdy construction, ease of operation and easy access to all machine components were key factors for purchasing the Diana 45-3.

 

Heidelberg said the standards of quality for packaging printing are continuously growing, with sophisticated design and premium-quality finishing increasingly in demand.

 

Diana folding carton gluing machines offer high productivity and the ability to manufacture a wide and varied carton design portfolio, the equipment manufacturer said.

 

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