Millvale Limited has enhanced its inhouse lamination services with investment in a B2+ Foliant Mercury 530SF laminator from Intelligent Finishing Systems.
The Evesham family-run trade printer specialises in the design and manufacture of wholesale printed cartons, solid board boxes and trade packaging for a wide range of market sectors. High profile end customers include Harrods, Harvey Nichols and Fortnum & Mason.
The decision to invest in its lamination capabilities was made to support increased customer demand for direct food contact packaging.
Managing Director Mark Raxter states: “We keep 100% of work inhouse. We first dipped our toes in lamination six years ago. Since then volumes have increased. We used to complete average runs of 800 or 1,000 and now we have more and more around 10,000. We needed a system that could manage bigger workloads, run faster and handle a wider range of materials.
“Customers are asking for direct food contact packaging, too, and that requires us to be able to run a wider range of substrates.”
Raxter also chose the 25mpm B2+ Mercury 530SF heavy-duty industrial laminating system, because of its ability to handle tighter registration: “We needed a system that could handle tighter registration. More customers are looking to maximise print on the sheet and we wanted to be confident that the lamination would be spot on.”
Another plus was the Foliant Mercury’s Heidelberg suction feeder. He explains: “As we have a Heidelberg press we know how to set up the feeder quickly and correctly. It makes production a lot easier. We can get work on and off the laminator quickly and that ensures our workflow is as smooth as possible.”
“It has delivered,” states Raxter. “It has been good. We don’t have a sales and marketing team. Our work grows through word of mouth and this system will help us continue to offer the service that people recommend.”
