Machine manufacturer KAMA, in partnership with Fujifilm Graphic Communications Europe, presents a streamlined workflow for the efficient production of digitally printed folding cartons (F65, Hall 8a) at Interpack 2023.
Joint live demonstrations showcase the production of high-quality straight-line and crash-lock boxes: from digital inkjet printing on Fujifilm’s B2 sheet-fed Jet Press 750S High Speed Model (and on the 6-colour Revoria PC1120 press) to efficient nearline finishing on the KAMA ProCut 76 Foil Packaging Edition.
The KAMA flagship with ten applications and latest features is tailored for the growing market of small print runs such as pharma packaging, folding cartons for beauty, healthcare and confectionery with multiple SKUs, food, non-food or packaging for regional brands - and brings high-quality finishing with it.
“In digital packaging printing, it is crucial to maintain the advantages of digital printing such as small batch sizes, variety and speed-to-market also in the finishing stage and to implement the subsequent process profitably,” explains Bernd Sauter, Managing Director of KAMA GmbH. “Productivity here is primarily a matter of short throughput times. That is precisely why we have further developed our portfolio with even shorter setup times and more automation.”
“All-in-one”: From printed sheet to finished packaging
The Dresden-based machine manufacturer and specialist for short-run finishing presents the Servo Generation of the ProCut 76 Foil Packaging with the latest AutoRegister AR3 and the tool-free inline blank separation system KAMA SBU. The highly automated die-cutting and embossing machine takes over the complete finishing process from embellishment with hot foil and relief to die-cutting, creasing, perforating and blind embossing, to stripping and full blank separation with a speed of up to 5,500 sheets/h.
High registration accuracy, minimal waste
Ideal for finishing digital prints: The KAMA AutoRegister AR3 on the ProCut 76 Packaging ensures high registration accuracy even for sheets printed or cut at an angle to the sheet edge. The system uses two cameras and corrects the sheet position with servo motors at full speed in the X and Y axes plus skew adjust. Also in sheet format B2+ (up to 760 x 600 mm) the KAMA solutions fits perfectly to digital printing presses and covers the full range of printable substrates (paper, cardboard, plastic up to 1,500 g/m²).
Automated stripping & blanking, minimised tool costs
A strong unique feature of the ProCut 76 Packaging is the programmable inline stripping and blanking unit KAMA SBU. The system works completely tool-free. “In folding carton production with mostly multiple blanks on the sheet, this brings significant time and cost advantages for each job,” says KAMA CEO Sauter. Windows, small cutouts, and hanger holes in the blanks are removed with compressed air. Setting up the inline stripping unit for job changes is quick and easy with the “SBU-Helper” in KAMA's JobManager software.
High-quality embellishment for premium packaging
KAMA also showcases high-quality embellishment with hot foil stamping and embossing (option) on the ProCut 76 Packaging – interesting for premium packaging, luxury brands, beauty products or confectionery. Changeover from hot foil stamping to die cutting and vice versa is uniquely fast. “We can switch the application in just five to ten minutes, so that the refined job can be further processed immediately,” says Sauter. Heating up the KAMA plate or cooling down the machine for die cutting is extremely fast at only ten minutes, which makes the use of the ProCut 76 Foil very flexible and increases its added value.
Benefits of the ProCut 76 Foil Packaging Edition in a nutshell
> Process with register accuracy in digital printing
> Automated stripping - without tool costs
> Produce folding cartons on demand with shortest time-to-market
> High-end finishing for the most demanding markets
> Network integration 4.0 via KAMA's JobManager software
Fully automated finishing – also for the pharmaceutical market
Folding and gluing into ready-to-deliver folding cartons is done on the KAMA FlexFold 52i folder gluer with record- breaking short changeover times. The nearly fully automated folder gluer drives into the positions for the next order in three to five minutes by “Auto-Move”. For GMP-certified production of pharmaceutical secondary packaging, the modular FlexFold 52i Pharma is equipped with inline KAMA-AutoBraille for the labeling required in the EU and inspection systems from market leaders EyeC and Baumer hhs as a complete solution (watch video on USB stick).
Best market opportunities
“With our packaging solutions, we cover the efficient further processing up to the deliverable folding carton with short throughput times and high quality and strive for a leading market position in the short-run sector”, says Managing Director Sauter. The KAMA Workflow supports large packaging manufacturers in the production of their previously unprofitable short print runs; smaller printing companies thus get the best conditions for entering the promising digital packaging market.
