Chesapeake signs for Highcon Euclid digital die-cutting machine

The packaging business, which signed for the Euclid during the machine's debut trade show appearance at Drupa, said the machine would complement the group's conventional finishing equipment.

According to Chesapeake technical services director Dougie Potter, the company had been following the progress of the Highcon technology for some time and was "delighted" to see it in action.

"We believe the addition of this unique digital solution can complement our existing equipment and offer more flexibility to better serve the needs of our customers," he added.

The Highcon Euclid is the world's first completely digital production cutting and creasing machine and removes the necessity for production of a die by implementing new polymer and laser technologies to carry out the creasing and cutting.  

Setup time is reduced to minutes and will allow converters to be far more responsive to their customer demands.

The machine wields precision laser optics and polymer technology to streamline and migrate the die-cutting and creasing process from analogue to a digital.

Highcon's Euclid uses the company's patent-pending Digital Adhesive Rule Technology (DART) to crease lines direct from digital data, which helps cut set-up times.

Multiple lasers and precision optics are then used to cut the sheets up to a maximum size of 760x1060mm and up to a maximum weight of 550gsm.

According to the manufacturer, the Euclid can handle runs from a single unit up to 10,000 items on a maximum thickness of 0.6mm.

Nigel Tracey, who joined Highcon as sales director in May, said the technology had been a hit throughout Drupa.

Converters from all over the world came to see this revolutionary product, including the leading suppliers in the industry. With shipments starting at the end of the year we are ramping up to meet the very welcomed demand," he added.

The Euclid becomes one of Chesapeake's latest investments, which also include the UK's first new format Heidelberg Diana X 80 folder gluer.