Due to be up and running by the end of February, the press will significantly increase print capacity at Sirane’s Telford site.

The company said the machine will also offer significant advantages in its drive for increased sustainability.

Chief commercial officer Peter Ralten said: “Sirane’s already the UK’s largest producer of flexible packaging pouches in the UK, and this new printing press from Bobst will allow us to build on that position, and move forwards.”

The new machine is designed to deliver the most efficient performance for printing on all materials – including traditional flexibles – as well as on Sirane’s own recyclable paper-based Earthfilm and recyclable RePEat structures.

Bobst has also customised the press to the company’s needs, ensuring it is compatible with its water-based print technology as well as its Amethyst print technology.

The press has a dual technology drying tunnel with the smartHeat recovery system. The smart Graphic Positioning System, smartGPS, meanwhile, “will dramatically reduce” the amount of material used during the setup of a print job.

There is also a ‘catwalk’ on top of the press with a viewing window so the print can be viewed immediately after the printing stations instead of waiting for it to appear towards the rewinding station.

The smartGPS system and the catwalk viewing window will together significantly reduce the amount of material wasted while setting up the press to print a job.

Sirane print manager Andy Peevor said: “After extensive trials it is great to work with Bobst again. The fact they can customise this press to make it run our Amethyst technology is fantastic. During the latest trial the press exceeded our expectations.”

Amethyst print – named after the site where the Bobst will be housed – is a print technology that allows Sirane to print multiple designs with multiple repeats as part of one print run, and without the need to charge for printing plates.

Sirane has four main divisions: food packaging; horticultural; medical and healthcare; and lab supplies and services. The company has three sites in Telford, with additional manufacturing in Guadalajara, Mexico; Hranice, Czech Republic; and Dallas, US.