Stora Enso enters the digital age at the ‘Gallop’

In addition to the Xerox iGen3 digital press, the Gallop inline system incorporates an Epic Cti-635 varnishing unit with acqueous and UV-coating options (also from Xerox) and a new Kama 580 x 400mm sheet size diecutter. A new stacker-conveyor unit handles the material flow from the varnishing unit to the die cutter. Whilst the iGen3 has a running speed of around 110 pgs / min, this system will output closer to 40 pgs / min handling substrate weights of up to 350gsm. The system will make its first appearance at Drupa (Düsseldorf) next month, and is expected to be fully commercialised towards the end of this year. Neither Stora nor Xerox is prepared to commit to sales targets over the next twelve months, but the likely installation price is expected to be around €1m.

‘The integrated solution offers clear advantages for brand owners and any packaging supplier equipped with this technology,’ says Stora Enso Digital Solutions md Pekka Tommola. ‘The die cutter is designed to match the iGen3 in sheet size and capacity, and enables the quick changeover required for short-run applications. As the world’s first fully integrated solution for digital printing and acqueous coating, its primary target sectors will be pharmaceuticals and food where a high degree of product security is now essential.’ This is by no means Stora’s first entry into the digital arena, having hitherto worked closely alongside Lier-based Xeikon on the development of shortrun CD cases. Xerox has had the folding- carton market in its sights for some time, and has already installed a number of iGen3 systems with European packaging converters. The twinning of technologies and market experience shared by both parties augurs well for an acceleration of interest in digital production possibilities expressed by a broader prospective customer-base. Small batch sizes are particularly prevalent within the pharmaceuticals industry due to the heavy focus upon patient-pack compliance in variable translation formats. According to Stora Enso, production via the Gallop will reduce industry-standard delivery times down from two weeks to two days. In addition to better regulating supply chain logistics and inventory control, such a rapid lead time will be seen as a\ major benefit for pharmaceuticals companies looking to cut time to market for new products after having gone through a long drawn-out regulatory approval process.

These same short-run and variable data advantages will also give the Gallop system a ready entrée into the cosmetics, media products and customised gifts markets.