In the last 18 months, new high-performance Heidelberg Speedmaster XL printing presses have been installed at three Körber sites. This is how Körber is responding to its continuing strong global growth in the folding box business for the pharmaceutical industry. The newly installed 10-color press with perfector and double coating unit complements the state-of-the-art machinery at the Körber plant in the Czech Republic. "The latest machine technology is crucial for even faster, more flexible and more productive folding-box production. This will enable us to shorten set-up times, reduce waste and offer even greater product diversity thanks to the UV technology and the two coating units," explains Joachim Hoeltz, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Packaging Materials in the Körber Pharma Business Area. Thanks to intelligent assistance systems, employees are relieved of many routine tasks and supported in the operation of the machines. "In this way, we can increasingly call up the maximum output of 18 000 sheets per hour and further reduce set-up times for orders," says Andreas Kellner, Head of Production at Körber's Czech site. In addition, thanks to the ten presses with perfector units, the system is also able to fulfil special customer requirements such as printing with many spot colours, combining different types and country variants as well as inline reverse side printing.
The challenges facing the industry are immense: "Expiring patents are increasing the cost pressure on pharmaceutical manufacturers. At the same time, the trend towards personalized medicine is reducing batch sizes and increasing packaging diversity. Consequently, very large pharmaceutical manufacturers in particular are producing less and less for stock," explains Joachim Hoeltz. Körber's packaging experts have responded promptly to these developments with product innovation and the digitalization and automation of processes. The supply-on-demand service for short runs, for example, enables very short delivery times of two to five days, for orders extending from 100 to 5000 sheets.
In addition to expanding its printing capacities, Körber is also enhancing its post-press capacities at the Czech site. A die-cutting machine and a Bobst folding-box gluing machine designed for versatility and 100% camera inspection will support Körber's pharma customers in their desire for greater functionality and 100% quality control of packaging.
All the printing, die-cutting and gluing machines at Körber’s various international sites are virtually identical and equipped for combined operation. "In this way, we can meet the special requirements of international customers throughout the world uniformly from all our locations at short notice," explains Joachim Hoeltz. For Körber’s packaging specialists, one thing is certain: The current investments are helping to make it possible to deliver at all times whilst simultaneously meeting customers’ extraordinarily rigorous demands in terms of quality and product safety. Hoeltz is also convinced: "With state-of-the-art equipment, we are increasing the attractiveness of our locations for highly qualified, committed employees." The interplay of know-how, technologies and processes on which Körber relies will secure our pharma customers’ future competitiveness and security of supply and make a decisive difference for them.
