Encase investment in Scotland

UK-based corrugated manufacturer, Encase, have kicked off 2018 with the confirmation of a new machine order with GTS Europe for a Solarco Boxmatic 23DCPE-D. Manufactured in the Czech Republic, Solarco’s equipment is designed for short run box making, allowing huge flexibility on the types, size and styles of cases available – many without expensive tooling.

For Encase, this should allow access into new markets from e-commerce to micro-breweries while at the same time provide efficiencies on their current in house production. The Boxmatic is an automatic machine for production of corrugated boxes, trays, partitions and cut-out parts with the option of additional die-cut (e.g. for hand holes) and includes a smart flexo print unit. It can also simply cut and crease a corrugated board both crosswise and lengthwise. The production of basic slotted boards (especially series FEFCO 02xx, FEFCO 03xx etc.) is possible from single-wall and double-wall corrugated boards. Under certain circumstances, it can also handle triple wall board.

Richard Walton, the Group Managing Director said; “The Solarco project demonstrates our continued commitment to our East Kilbride sheet plant following the recent purchasing of the land and buildings. The investment is another boost of confidence to the Encase Management Team from the Board and Shareholders and offers our business north of the border the opportunity to expand into growing market sectors.” He went on to add, “the project is on the back of a recent strategic investment programme to enhance print and die-cutting capabilities at our Banbury and Leeds plants – with further investment to come at both those sites during 2018.”

Alan Kyle, General Manager of Encase, East Kilbride, said, “The machine procurement represents significant investment in the East Kilbride site and further highlights the Encase Group’s commitment to manufacturing in Scotland. The Solarco will open us up to short run markets through existing contracts and will be enhanced and supported by our new social media campaign, due to be launched shortly. We feel the use of the Solarco smart flexo printing unit will be of real value and benefit to our customers”.

Mike Hartley – Group Sales Manager, said, “Encase has been assessing changes in the Scottish market for quite some time. We are au-courant to the shift in the need for short run boxes across industry sectors such as electronics, fish markets, e-commerce and general manufacturing. We see growth opportunities from embryonic and small entrepreneurial business from micro distillers through to new B2B e-commerce traders. In order to meet these market demands, and whilst keeping an efficiency eye on ensuring current work mix is more productive, we viewed and considered various machines. The target was to find the potential to offer genuine flexibility on size of cases, varying strength of materials, print options, die cut add-ons and multi-out options for divisions and pads. We are delighted to have secured the Solarco Boxmatic 23DCPE-D from the Czech Republic based manufacturer. The machine will enable production from small e-commerce book wraps to giant pallet boxes; with conventional short run regular cases sandwiched somewhere in the middle. Solarco embraced the challenge to push the boundaries on the flexibility required. We genuinely believe this investment will offer both short and long term benefits to our business in East Kilbride and to the Encase Group as a whole.”  

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