Continued Investment at Benson Group

July 2008

Benson Group, based in Bardon, Leicestershire, has announced further news regarding equipment investment throughout its food packaging facilities in the UK. The Bardon site is to have its computer-to-plate equipment upgraded to the latest Screen PlateRite 8800 II thermal laser platesetter from Fujifilm, whilst further planned Bobst cutting and creasing equipment installs are currently taking place at Crewe, Newcastle and Gateshead.

The fully automated PlateRite 8800 II platesetter is a high productivity B1+ thermal device capable of producing up to 42 press-ready B1 plates per hour. "The move from manual to fully automated B1 plate production has been driven by the need to increase platemaking capacity. Since 2000 the Bardon site has trebled in size from £10 million to £30 million, whilst average run lengths have fallen from 14,000 sheets to 10,000 sheets. Consequently our demand for CtP plates has more than quadrupled. We clearly allowed for growth in our plans back in 2000 and have done so again with this investment in CtP technology," said Mark Kerridge, Benson Group Managing Director.

The new platesetter will be running Fujifilm's Brillia HD LH-PJE plates. This is a thermal CTP plate compatible with most thermal (830nm) platesetters and approved for 1 to 99 per cent at 200lpi conventional and 300lpi hybrid and FM screening. The plate has a sensitivity of 120mJ per square centimetre and offers improved handling. It is available in all major sizes and gauges.

Another Benson Group First!

Further Bobst finishing equipment is being installed in the company's food operation for window patching, alongside die-cutting equipment with the latest optical register systems that ensure perfect cut-to-print register.

A new window patching device, fitted to a Bobst Alpina 110, is being installed at the company's Bardon facility, and represents another UK first for Benson Group. This machine will provide for the inline application of soft acetate windows during the gluing process. It is an early production model, and effectively a beta test machine. "We are always happy to be a testing ground for new innovations," said Mark Kerridge. "If we can see a production advantage in a new concept we will try it. This installation puts us at the forefront of the market in window patching, and by bringing two processes into one we are aiming for productivity improvements and cost effective production." The installation of this ground breaking machine follows the recent installation of the UK's first Bobst AccuBraille system at the company's Crewe factory.

At the same time, Integrated Packaging has taken delivery of a Bobst SPanthera 106 die-cutter. This will replace an older machine, and is aimed at reducing a bottleneck in production by providing shorter make-ready times and faster production. A Bobst 104ER die-cutter is also being installed at PDG in the North East. Again this will replace an older machine, and will be the third 104ER at this site.

Commenting on this latest round of investment, Managing Director Mark Kerridge, said: "We constantly seek new and innovative solutions from our equipment suppliers in order that we can continue to further increase our own efficiencies. We are aware that there are a number of our competitors within the printed carton sector that are producing good work, but not necessarily in the most efficient or cost effective way. Our philosophy of continuous investment is aimed at ensuring that we have the right tools to do the job, thus enabling us to produce work on time, with maximum efficiency, and at a profit. We believe that we are of little value to our customers if we do not make a profit. It ensures that we stay in business, and can continue to supply them with high quality, cost effective packaging products."