UK-based Benson Group's Benson Box installing Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 106 at its folding carton plant in Bardon, England, this month, will replace a B1-format press; the new press has six printing units running UV inks, dedicated in-line coater

Debra Garcia

Debra Garcia

BARDON, England , April 1, 2013 (press release) – The latest press install at Benson Box, the Bardon, Leicestershire, headquarters of the Benson Group, one of the UK’s leading privately owned printed folding carton manufacturers, is now well underway, with a Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 106 on schedule to be adding its substantial firepower to the company’s press line-up by during the month of April.

The latest press install at Benson Box, the Bardon, Leicestershire, headquarters of the Benson Group, one of the UK’s leading privately owned printed folding carton manufacturers, is now well underway, with a Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 106 on schedule to be adding its substantial firepower to the company’s press line-up by during the month of April.

The new 18,000sph B1 press unveiled by Heidelberg at Drupa last May, is the first press purchase since managing director Mark Kerridge and commercial director Nick Benson led a management buyout of the company at the end of 2011.

“Our first Speedmaster XL 105 marked a step change in performance with improvements in quality, makeready and running speed. Its 46 million sheets a year output has been matched by the second machine. With the various improvements on this latest model, the Speedmaster XL 106, we anticipate an even higher output still. The Bardon site already generates a £50m turnover but with this additional capacity it could see further growth still,” says Mr Kerridge.

The machine is specified with six printing units running low-migration UV inks and is configured with a dedicated in-line coater. In keeping with the plant’s environmental focus, the new press will run alcohol-free from day one. This latest addition will replace a competitor’s B1-format press.

The build process has been going smoothly since delivery of the main units, with space being available in the Bardon production hall for the new press without the need to remove a current production unit. “With 20 million plus cartons being printed here every week there is little room for adjustment in our production routine,” said David Midgley, Operations Manager at Benson Box. “Our current suite of presses need to be running their regular 24/6 print schedule whilst the new machine is being assembled and fine tuned, but it will be a great bonus for us once it has been bedded-in and is in full production.

“Training on the new configuration is scheduled to begin on April 3rd. This will bring our press teams up to speed on the very latest enhancements to this version of the press.”

The XL 106 features Prinect Axis Control, a spectral measurement device that includes the ability to scan in and store company specific Pantone colours, which is ideal in a brand sensitive sector. Logistics, the automatic delivery of pallets to the press and removal of finished work pallets from the press, adds to the production efficiency and fits with the company’s focus on lean manufacturing.

“The spec matches the requirements of our particular markets and, being consistent with previous installations, continues to build on the site’s ability to respond flexibly to our very dynamic market place. The ability to produce any job on any press enables this site to print over 1,250 individual jobs each month,” says Mr Kerridge.

“For our customers it means we can deliver a world class performance, providing continuous improvements in quality, service and cost competitiveness. The continuous drive to deliver “more for less” to the consumer is even more important in the current economic climate.”

About Benson Group

Benson Group is one of the UK’s leading privately owned printed folding carton suppliers, producing packaging product for both the food retail and healthcare industries for a wide range of UK and European customers.

The business manufactures packaging product at four production sites covering in excess of 400,000 sq ft. Benson Group continues to grow and expects to achieve annual sales for the current financial year in excess of £120 million. Food product manufacturers are the main customers at Bardon and for the company’s two North East facilities in Newcastle and Gateshead. The fourth site in Crewe serves healthcare and consumer care markets. In recent years, investment in new plant and equipment across the four sites totals in excess of £22 million. The group employs in excess of 900 personnel across all four production sites.

Benson Group creates packaging for many well-known companies, brands and retailers. Key account clients across the Group include Two Sisters Food Group, Reckitt Benkiser, Greencore, and Samworth Brothers. The company is an approved supplier for all of the UK’s leading retail chains. Food and healthcare packaging is exported to customers in countries throughout Europe.

For further information on the Benson Group visit the www.bensongroup.co.uk web site.

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