Firstan orders Bobst equipment for new 80,000 sq ft packaging plant in the UK

REDDITCH, UK, Oct. 13, 2009 (Press Release) - Firstan Limited, currently based in Bar Hill, near Cambridge, England has ordered three BOBST VISIONCUT diecutters and an EXPERTFOLD gluer, all of which will be installed at its new 80,000 square feet plant in nearby Godmanchester, Huntingdonshire. The new plant will go live in January 2010.

Paul Hartwig, Production Director of Firstan, said, "The new plant will give us more space, a better workflow, and improved facilities for our staff. At the same time we are going to take the opportunity to increase throughput in both cut and crease, and in folding and gluing. With customers requiring shorter and shorter runs, efficiency has become even more important, especially in terms of changeover times. The new BOBST equipment will reduce our setup times significantly and will also allow us to increase running speeds."

The three VISIONCUT machines are 106 LE versions which are size 3b diecutters (ISO: size B1) and will replace existing machines. Each VISIONCUT features BOBST's optical lateral register system which uses camera technology to register the sheet edge, or the print itself, to the diecutting tools, so reducing stops in production and improving diecutting quality. Each VISIONCUT also features BOBST's Quick Change concept for fast, easy job changeovers.

The EXPERTFOLD folder-gluer is a 110 CS version for straightline and crashlock carton folding and gluing. The machine runs at 450 metres per minute and features computer setting, BOBST's patented blank aligner for fast set up with zero waste, and BOBST's patented flipper ejector for maintaining product integrity and quality at full running speed. The line will add additional capacity to Firstan's folder-gluer department.

Firstan are a leading independent manufacturer of pharmaceutical packaging, folding cartons, food cartons and other packaging solutions. Firstan is primarily focused on supplying into the pharmaceutical, healthcare and retail sectors with an extensive blue chip client list including world leaders in pharmaceuticals and all major UK Retailers.

Paul Hartwig said, "We looked at the entire package we needed - the equipment, the tooling, the training, and the support, before we decided on a supplier. BOBST offered us a real partnership that will see us well into the future. Already some of our staff have been over to Switzerland to see the machines in action, and BOBST have put together a substantial pre- and post-installation training programme for us. We intend to get every drop of production possible out of these new machines."