Futureprint has developed its in house carton production capabilities with the addition of a Petratto Metro Folder Gluer from IFS.

The investment is the first major spend for the Northampton firm following its merger with Print Projects in November.

Both companies offered carton production services but outsourced the gluing process.

With the combined demand the team decided to look at how to bring the process inhouse. It also took the opportunity to consider how it could streamline operations, retain greater control and make cost and time management improvements.

Max Bishop, Commercial Director, explains: “We had been offering carton production for a number of years but the time was right to bring it inhouse. We had a number of regular jobs of 10,000 and 20,000 pieces as well as short runs of 500 that we would manage by hand. The Petratto can complete everything which frees up the team to work on other things.”

The Petratto Metro Folder Gluer is designed for special converting and printed jobs. Its open and modular structure supports greater flexibility while its digital management system provides a responsive interface with the other elements and attachments of the system. Jobs and sheet movement are controlled from the console. It manages a wide range of applications from presentation folders and envelopes to multimedia packaging, straight line boxes, cartons, and table tents.

“We liked it because it was a starter machine in terms of the features,” explains Max. “It does what we need it to. It is easy to operate and has a small footprint. It is modular, too, and so can expand as we do.

“From what we have seen so far it ticks all the boxes. It handles the work we have now and will allow us to grow in other areas in the future. We also don’t have to factor sending work out into our turnaround times and can be more flexible with the work that comes in.”

He adds: “The IFS team was very helpful. We had online demos and went to see a system at a local company.”