ACA in Serviform die-making bender UK first

(L-R) ACA's Dara Changizi and Billy Rowan with Partwell's Nick Myatt
(L-R) ACA's Dara Changizi and Billy Rowan with Partwell's Nick Myatt

ACA Print Finishing & Packaging Solutions has bought a Serviform LineA die-making bender machine – the first of its kind in the UK – to boost its capacity and competitiveness.

The Italian designed and built device was supplied by Partwell Group and installed at the Glasgow-based firm’s 3,716sqm factory earlier this month.

The machine will enable the company’s formes operation to continue to meet customer expectations for quality and quick turnround formes, delivered to all parts of the UK.

Director Dara Changizi said: “This machine is designed by an Italian company that produces formes itself and has developed equipment which it sells worldwide to other die-makers.

“The LineA was launched last September and there are five sold globally and we are the first in the UK. It is faster than any previous Serviform model and it will give us an increased capacity and a competitive edge. We welcome its arrival.”

The LineA’s broaching unit uses a broaching wheel rather than a needle and the nicking module has six wheel sizes on a spindle.

A complete set of special cartridges allows the creation of special rules such as punched revolver nicks. The machine can bend 1.5pt, 2pt, 3pt and 4pt material up to a height of 32mm.

The device uses Serviform’s SDDS control software, which has been developed for ease of use and its ability to interact with existing networks.

ACA offers around 70 different finishing processes. It has BRC double-A packaging certification and ISO 9001 quality accreditation, and its other services include foiling, gluing, varnishing, laminating, folding, stitching and binding as well as supplying blocking dies and laser formes.

Over the last 12 months the business has invested in a raft of new kit including an Autobond Mini 105 with double heated roller for lamination, a B&H foil cutter 1450, a UPG D1200 double-station carton erecting forming machine, and a Sakurai MS102A UV varnishing machine plus automated pre-press, wash up and coating.

For its formes operation it has also recently taken on a Lasercomb CLS 2115 laser cutter and a Lasercomb ProPertinax CMC matrix/counter maker.

Pre-pandemic ACA had a turnover of £4.6m. It has worked throughout the coronavirus pandemic and while there has been some downturn in volume from commercial print customers, its packaging side has stayed strong.

In December the company took on Jeremy (Jes) Crossley as its new business development manager.