Esko launches digital cutting table for non-stop production
Esko, one of the leading global suppliers of integrated solutions for the packaging, labels, sign and display industries, has launched the Kongsberg C66, a digital finishing table designed for short run production of corrugated applications.
The Kongsberg C66 is one of the largest digital cutting tables for heavy-duty corrugated production. It was developed based on market demand as part of Kongsberg’s robotics program. Its combination of size, speed and precision on heavy-duty rigid materials such as corrugated cartons make it a flexible alternative to conventional die cutting equipment for short run corrugated productions of packaging and POP displays.
The Kongsberg C66 can run at 100m/min. It can handle either manual multi-zone production of large 2.2m x 3.2m (87in x 126in) sheets or single-zone production of large 2.5m x 4.8m (98in x 189in) corrugated sheets. This makes it suitable for the production of protective packaging with a maximum sheet size of 2.5m x 4.8m, corrugated containers made from HD double-wall or triple-wall corrugated and packaging and POP displays. The Kongsberg C66 is also capable of processing other materials required in the protective packaging environment, including foam cushioning materials.
Multi-zone production
The Kongsberg C66’s (w) 3210mm x (l) 4800mm work area supports both large-format and multi-zone production. Its Carbon Composite Traverse is extremely rigid, enabling high speed, fast acceleration, high quality creasing with minimal deflection. It also delivers up to 40 per cent higher performance than other three-metre wide XY finishers. It allows the Kongsberg C66 to run at full production speed on much larger material without losing accuracy. The larger Kongsberg tables can be set up for MultiZone production, which maximises production efficiency by ensuring non-stop material processing. While one zone of the table is in action, an operator can set up the other zone by clearing the finished piece and loading a new sheet. While the operator works and prepares one zone, the machine works at the other zone, with automatic zone-change based on a operator handshake.
Driving functionality
The i-cut Production Console (iPC) drives the table’s functionality, and includes capabilities such as camera control, machine set up, tool recognition, calibration and tool adjustments. Designed to guide and support the operator, it incorporates a number of logical, user-friendly features including an icon-based graphical interface with colour-coded alerts and updates. Combined with Device Manager it offers the ability to follow production progress from a distance. Operators can prepare one job while producing another. The i-cut Production Console also allows estimation of cutting time based on job characteristics for more efficient scheduling.
“The Kongsberg C66 was designed to meet market demand for larger format solutions for finishing rigid materials,” explains Tom Naess senior product manager, Esko.“It boosts productivity and, when combined with robotics, ensures non-stop production. This allows for fast, efficient completion of heavy-duty packaging and shorter runs without compromising on quality. By moving shorter runs to the Kongsberg C66, operations can eliminate the time and cost associated with conventional diecutting solutions that become unwieldy when dealing with short runs and compressed cycle times.”
Cartonéo invests in first system
The first operation to install the Kongsberg C66 is the French printing and packaging specialist Cartonéo. The 100-year-old multi-site group serves a broad range of markets and sectors including food, automotive, cosmetics, wine and spirits, publishing, and pharmaceutical.
Edmond Perrier, Cartonéo’s CEO, said, “This investment followed our decision to invest in a digital printing press, to cost effectively manufacture large format printed packaging and displays in a variety of run lengths. The new press has enabled us to win several key contracts, which is why we also added the integrated production solution to complete the work to a high standard. With both, we are now very busy and competitive in the market for short run production of display materials.”