Combination of digital and flexo equipment enabling ICO to streamline production and deliver swiftly
Italian carton producer Industria Cartone Ondulato (ICO) has launched a newly optimized business model with the ability to deliver orders within hours, thanks to the successful integration of the HP PageWide C500 digital corrugated press into its production workflow.
Today, ICO is operating a single-pass post-print HP C500 alongside its flexo press, as it moves to transforms its business toward a more agile production model. The press was installed in late November 2019 at its Pianella headquarters on the southeast coast of Italy.
ICO is now able to offer its customers faster turnaround – from design to production – with delivery times reduced up to 40%.
The offset-matching HP C500 corrugated press is now allowing optimization of workload at ICO. This is achieved by moving projects requiring short runs, expanded SKUs and rush jobs to the HP C500, thereby freeing the flexo press for long static runs, while ensuring seamless conversion between analog and digital.
“Thanks to ICO’s digital transformation, we are now able to offer customers faster time-to-market and flexible production batches, while keeping quality consistency across printing solutions,” said Stefano Di Mattia, newly appointed General Manager at ICO. “Digital print allows us to answer to shifting needs from our customers, who witnessed their supply chain undergoing to strong stress moments, with sudden contractions and expansions, also as a consequence of the COVID crisis and further mutations in procurement models”.
“Since the start of the pandemic, ICO has been operating uninterrupted to support the supply of essential goods for the Italian economy, aided by the continuous supply of inks and parts by HP alongside remote support using HP C500 Control Tower technology”, added Di Mattia.
Business growth plan with digital
Founded in 1952, ICO has grown steadily over the years to become one of Italy’s leading privately owned corrugated business, now employing over 250 people and operating at four plants.
Today, ICO is aiming to differentiate itself by focusing on the shortest lead times, fast response and efficient logistics – giving superb service to its brands.
Identifying the changes in the consumer market, ICO chose a growth strategy based on the HP C500 with its true HP thermal inkjet water-based inks to ensure safe packaging for its packaging orders, half of which are supplied to the food industry.
Digital printing capabilities is providing greater agility and flexibility for ICO’s customers throughout Italy, including major and small brands requiring smaller quantities and short delivery times. Moreover, digital technology enables a fast response to modifications in box graphics, sizes and branding, therefore reducing inventory for the brands.
ICO is also taking advantage of the HP C500 print quality to move to higher-value, high-quality printed corrugated boxes and displays.
ICO’s complete digital transformation
Company transformation started in 2018 with the installation of the Agnati (now Qcorr) Quantum” corrugator, the first worldwide machine shaking up traditional corrugating technology, allowing unprecedented process control and double wall sheet printability.
In June 2020, ICO completed the installation of the automated warehouse with controlled atmosphere that grants inventory control in a very efficient way – giving even a better service to its clients.
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