Shere Print Sales Director Chris Tonge beside the new HP Indigo WS6600 flexible packaging press.
Yes, this is one of the first HP Indigo WS6600 bought to produce solely flexible packaging. It is located in a new purpose built Digital Centre at Shere Print, a new company set up by Ultimate Packaging who are based in Grimsby.
Chris Tonge comments: “We know digital is becoming more important and we do not want to be left behind. There is pull from customers for even quicker response and digital production will certainly help there. Until now we did not feel the technology offered high enough productivity but this is changing. We will use the new Indigo to develop new services for existing customers and explore new markets.”
Ultimate Packaging is a family owned business with turnover approaching £40 million, providing design, photography, artwork, prepress, print and conversion into the food sector.
Sharp Iris is a separate entity within the company with the facility providing a state of the art creative design and photographic studio and food stylist kitchen. Shere Print will also offer full 3D supermarket and retail visualisation services.
This is the first digital capacity at Ultimate, but even before it has been fully commissioned the company has ordered the world’s first HP Indigo 20000, a 760mm wide version designed specifically for flexible packaging. In five years the company expects 20% of the output will be digitally printed. They are looking to provide totally new levels of service, “Instant flexible packaging” as Chris Tonge puts it.
We will hear a great deal more about this innovative, forward looking organisation in the next few years.
