UK packaging converter Durham Box has installed a Zund D3 XL-3200 flatbed cutter to support expanded digital output brought about by its investment in inkjet corrugated printing technology.
This saw Durham Box become the first to install an EFI Nozomi C18000 inkjet press in the UK specifically for packaging. It had previously installed a Wonderjet WD200 to provide the business with digital capacity.
Such technology led Durham Box to purchase the Zund D3 XL-3200, a 3210 x 3200mm flatbed cutter equipped with a BHS 150 board handling system that enables round-the-clock production with minimal operator intervention or resources. With a stack height capacity of 1.5m, pallets of raw material can be moved into the loading unit and then fed onto the cutting system without further manual intervention.
The BHS 150 utilises a conveyorised transport system for unloading and stacking the cut material, eliminating the need for bridges to keep cut pieces in place and reduces the time and effort involved in separating cut parts from waste. A dual beam system sees each beam equipped with up to three different modules and enable the doubling of the material throughput with both beams cutting simultaneously.
Dan Morris, joint managing director at Durham Box, said, ‘We saw the Zund cutting-edge automation first-hand during our visit to the Zund customer experience centre in Switzerland and knew straight away this was the right investment for us.
‘We saw other digital cutting manufacturers but the Zund D3 build quality and cutting speed impressed us, especially the dual beam configuration for maximum productivity alongside the board handling system. The modular cutter concept the D3 has to offer was also a positive for us because it means we can adapt our Zund cutter to new requirements at any time, making our investment future proof for upgrades and expansions.’
Mr Morris continued, ‘We also liked the intuitive, modular functionality the D3 offers compared to a conventional die-cutting machine; jobs can be set up extremely quickly which means we have the flexibility of having short-run capabilities on the Zund with minimal downtime.’
Durham Box predominantly manufactures corrugated packaging for both small SMEs and large multinational companies. The Zund purchase is part of an on-going factory expansion and recent acquisition of the property next door, with the 10,000sqft unit enabling the installation of the Zund cutter.
Mr Morris concluded, ‘The Zund D3 digital cutter compliments our recent digital printer purchase, giving us a complete workflow process. Through our investment in Zund, we have now become a one-stop-shop for corrugated packaging and high-quality large format print finish.’
