SML Corby has installed SML Group’s 15th Horizon RD-4055 worldwide. Supplied by Intelligent Finishing Services the system was chosen to unify RFID tag and label production and increase productivity.
SML Corby is part of the global SML Group, headquartered in Hong Kong, China. Its mission is to be the leading branding and business solutions partner of brand owners and retailers worldwide. The organisation has operations in 30 countries worldwide.
The Horizon RD-4055 was identified by SML’s head office as the part of its global procurement strategy established to ensure global production quality is consistently maintained.
SML Corby works with numerous household names including Next, Tesco, Matalan, Burberry and the Arcadia Group. It produces short to medium runs on an HP Indigo and two Konica Minolta Bizhubs.
Julian Wall, operations manager at the Corby plant, says the decision to invest was prompted by three drivers: “We were winning more and more orders for RFID tags and labels and our flatbed system was very labour intensive. Also, we had a fire in July and moved into a temporary building. Since then we have been phasing in new systems.”
He continues: “We predominantly service UK businesses and manage a lot of short run work that needs to be turned around in 24 hours.”
The RD-4055 is designed to meet the growing demand for short run die-cut products. Running at a speed of up to 6,000 cycles per hour, it can die-cut, crease, perforate, slit, hole punch and round corner in one process for digital and offset printed sheets up to 0.5mm.
Its repeat-register function enables the running of multiple up imposed applications with a smaller die to reduce die cost (Up to 5 repeats in a single pass).
Wall adds: “We are now far more efficient, and turnaround is faster. We have tripled capacity. It is more cost effective too. The cutters are cheaper, the set up time is faster and there is less material wastage. And because this is the 15th in the group we have colleagues in Germany and Barcelona we can quickly call to ensure we are achieving consistent results. It is an all round win.”
