Pictured above, James Williams, Managing Director, Curtis Packaging.
UK-based folding carton specialist, Curtis Packaging, has invested in a new die-cutting machine from BOBST as part of its continued focus on delivering first-time right premium quality solutions for customers in the cosmetic and skincare markets.
Curtis Packaging is a family-owned business, employing 87 people at its south London site. The company is a pioneer in creating sustainable packaging for premium brands including Neal’s Yard, Charlotte Tilbury, UPL and Sacred Elephant.
A NOVACUT 106 E was installed at the company’s 20,000 sq ft site in Redhill, South London in December 2019 to replace an existing die-cutter that was adding complexities to the production line. Managing Director, James Williams and his team were keen to resolve issues quickly and called upon Bobst, a company they had partnered with in the past.
“With Bobst, you always know what you are going to get and we have always held great affection for the company,” said Williams. “The build quality of the Novacut is clear to see; it’s well built and crucially, it is operator-friendly. Quality is our number one priority. The markets we operate in demand it and we are committed to delivering. Volume is less critical for us and I guess that is what sets us apart from competitors. We do a lot of short-run work so when choosing our new die-cutter, down-time, make-ready and set-up times were vital points to address.”
Novacut 106 E combines versatility, flexibility and productivity without compromising product quality. The die-cutter is operator-friendly thanks to its advanced HMI, ‘Sphere’, which enables a simple set-up process and Centreline® system that allows quick and easy settings for job repetitions and changeovers. Its high level of automation delivers more uptime, increased precision and reduced workload for operators.
Less than three months since installation of the die-cutter, the benefits have already been noticeable for Curtis Packaging.
“Installation was quick and seamless. The training we received as part of the investment is valuable to our operators to ensure they are achieving optimum performance,” said Williams. “The quality that we need is there and it is running faster than the previous machine so we have seen an increase in productivity. That wasn’t a requirement for us but the fact it is happening is an added benefit that we weren’t expecting. The stand-out feature is its ease-of-use; we now have two operators who enjoy running the machine. It does exactly what they need it to do and that is a hard thing to quantify.”
Craig McGowan, Bobst Sales Area Manager, added, “This installation was all about high quality, low volume and the Novacut 106 E meets these needs perfectly. Curtis Packaging has invested in a reliable and robust asset that has been built to last. Its high degree of automation ensures all die-cut work is accurate and of a high quality, helping Curtis to meet the requirements of customers, particularly those in the luxury personal care market where standards are rigorous.”
