Posted on :Friday , 5th July 2024

Recently, two new Master M6 inline flexo presses with oneECG and DigiFlexo automation were added by the Nairobi-based converter.

Platinum Packaging has incorporated two automated Bobst Master M6 inline flexo presses with oneECG technology, departing from its prior operational approach. This calculated investment was made by the Kenyan flexible packaging expert to streamline its operations and production floor.  

The Nairobi-based business specialises in offering clients tailored solutions for all of their labelling and flexible packaging needs. The company supplies brand owners in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), agrochemical, pharmaceutical, automotive and construction industries. It is one of the top producers of packaging in Eastern and Central Africa. With 580 tonnes produced year, it is able to constantly adjust to the changing needs of packaging.

When Platinum Packaging was first founded in 2019, it focused only on gravure printing, using equipment such as a Bobst NOVA RS 5003 press in addition to a NOVALAM S 550 solventless laminator.  

As CEO Hasit Patel and his group started the reconstruction, they saw a chance to evaluate their business and explore creative, fresh approaches. As part of this, it expanded its collaboration with Bobst to incorporate two brand-new Master M6 inline flexo presses that have DigiFlexo and oneECG automation installed.

"The fire presented us with a chance to reconsider our strategy and implement additional Bobst technology to tackle some of our primary issues, primarily extended setup durations stemming from colour synchronisation, elevated setup waste, and sluggish time to market," states Patel. He continues, "This last piece of the puzzle has truly augmented the capacity of the other presses." "The introduction of the Master M6 presses has been instrumental in improving our efficiency for short runs, thus optimising our wide web and gravure presses for more extensive runs as well as ensuring uniformity across all our output," he says.

The Master M6 presses' integration with the current equipment has greatly increased Platinum Packaging's production capacity. Specifically, Bobst oneECG (Extended Colour Gamut) technology has been instrumental in achieving significant gains in productivity and adaptability, as well as superior print quality, quicker job changes and increased prepress effectiveness.

Colour reproduction is uniform and reproducible thanks to oneECG technology, which digitalizes colour matching with a wider colour gamut and eliminates the need for expensive and frequently wasted spot inks. "We've seen significant reductions in downtime, significant improvements in productivity and significant savings on waste of materials and time thanks to oneECG," says Patel.

"OneECG has disrupted our processes," he continues, "since it is uniform and interoperable across many applications and technologies, allowing for more effective setups and quicker task completion. Our procedures have been greatly accelerated by digital colour matching, which has improved consistency and business continuity. Additionally, substrate waste has been reduced to less than 30 metres thanks to the automated setup process, and task modifications can be made quickly. Because of this, I consider the M6 powered by oneECG to be among the most innovative technology of the past few years.

The assistance provided by Bobst throughout this major project has been crucial to optimising the potential of oneECG. The changeover has gone well and smoothly because of Bobst Application Technical Director Daragh Whelan. Expert in flexo printing with a focus on oneECG for labels and packaging, Whelan collaborates directly with clients to increase productivity and assist operators in understanding the nuances of an extended colour gamut workflow. As Platinum Packaging expanded and completely digitalized the colour matching process with oneECG, he also helped to set up a new prepress department within the company.

"Daragh has provided us with invaluable support throughout this endeavour, enabling us to shift management and optimise usage in order to get the best results from oneECG of the Master M6 presses along with the rest of our technologies," said Patel, praising Bobst and Whelan's technical assistance.

With DigiFlexo automation and oneECG printing, Bobst Master M6 technology has set a new record for Platinum Packaging and allowed the Kenyan firm to reposition itself in the market with an improved value proposition. Customers who own the brand can now take advantage of enhanced order flexibility, including shorter lead times and MOQs (minimum order quantities), while still receiving great colour consistency and quality.

"This strategic partnership with Bobst was not just a choice, but a necessity and it has been truly transformative," says Patel in retrospect. We have been able to increase the range of products we provide, especially in the food business, by offering printing and converting services with inline capabilities, including shrink sleeves, thanks to the sophisticated MASTER M6 flexo machines.

"But more than that, this evolution represents a paradigm shift in our approach," he says in his conclusion. Through the implementation of Bobst's oneECG approach, we have initiated an ongoing process of enhancement. It has boosted our clients' trust in Platinum Packaging by enabling us to service them more nimbly and quickly in the face of unforeseen needs.