German machine manufacturer Kama has launched what it calls the world’s first folder-gluer for short-run folding cartons, the Kama FF 52i. Marcus Tralau, chief executive at Kama, says, “Our concept, to be one of the first manufacturers to present solutions for short runs, which is a mega trend in the industry, has been highly successful, “Our innovations, that bring greater efficiency to the finishing of small and mid-sized runs, including small runs for digital packaging printing, have been very successful in the market. The three-year development phase for the FF 52i is now paying off.â€
Short run folder gluer: the Kama FF52i
Unveiled at drupa, the new machine has sold out, with Kama finishing the show with full order books. Presenting the folder gluer as a serial model, Kama showed the changeover to the next run of straight-line boxes in five minutes, using an almost fully automatic set-up. He company offers inspections systems for the machine at various levels all the way up to a real 100 per cent inspection for the pharmaceuticals market. Tralau says, “Together with the die cutting and stamping machine DC 76 ASB, which thanks to its AutoRegister is able to finish digitally printed sheets with tenth-of-a-millimetre precision, we cover the entire post-printing folding carton production workflow. “Fast changeover, which thanks to the FF 52i is now also available for folding and gluing, is the key to profitable short runs. I know of no other comparable solution for finishing digitally printed folding cartons in the required quality. Folding cartons, individualised and with various designs, will soon be setting new accents in the packaging market.†Other Kama technology at the show included the ProCut 76 Foil die-cutting and finishing machine with servo technology and new hot foil stamping systems with friction rewinder, delivering 5,000 sheets per hour. Features include a servo-driven feeder and a second, fully functional touch panel on the machine’s delivery side.
