UK-based corrugated packaging manufacturer Caps Cases is now successfully running the world’s first EFI Nozomi 14000 LED single-pass UV LED inkjet press.

Printing at speeds up to 100m/min, the EFI Nozomi 14000 LED press is designed to deliver high uptime and reliability, with durable performance in heavy industrial production, direct-to-board on nearly all flute types. The corrugated packaging press also boasts superior colour registration and Nozomi presses’ award-winning imaging quality in a 1.4m-wide format targeted to fit converters’ production space requirements.

Caps Cases is a corrugated cardboard point-of-sale and e-commerce packaging specialist. The company’s managing director, Trevor Bissett said, ‘The Nozomi is an exciting technology that we have been watching for a number of years. It is the first solution that has been suitable for us both in terms of the physical space that the machine demands, and in the quality that it can achieve. We will be able to alleviate some of the bottlenecks we have in our current process in ways that have not been possible with digital until now.’

The Nozomi LED 14000 is available in a range of configurations to complement packaging converters’ individual needs. Following consultancy from EFI, Caps Cases has opted to start with a five-colour set-up – CMYK+W – with the ability to add orange or violet inks at a later stage. Caps Cases’ new digital production workhorse is driven by the EFI Fiery NZ-1000 blade server digital front end (DFE) on the latest Fiery FS500 platform. Caps Cases also runs the EFI Fiery JobExpert software, which features intelligent automation technology that can save valuable job set-up time, automatically choosing the right colour and imaging settings to ensure correct results.

Caps Cases’ investment is in keeping with the company’s strong focus on customers’ needs. From Bissett’s perspective, this is a forward-thinking move aligned with a strategy to meet or exceed clients’ important multi-SKU and versioning brand requirements using superior high graphics production capabilities. ‘We are definitely seeing increasing numbers of branding change requests, and this machine will be a real feather in our cap when it comes to pitching to new and existing clients.’

Having debuted earlier this year, Evandro Matteucci, vice president and general manager, packaging and building materials, EFI Inkjet, noted, ‘The response to the Nozomi 14000 LED has been incredible, and it validates what we came to understand during the research and development process, as well as through ongoing dialogue with our corrugated packaging customers. There is an essential need in the market for a highly productive, reliable, and versatile industrial packaging solution designed for more compact production lines.’

The first North American installation of the Nozomi 14000 LED model is soon to follow at Complete Design & Packaging, a US-based converter adding its second Nozomi press.

Mr Matteucci continued, ‘We are thrilled that Caps Cases has become the first business globally to invest in and install the latest evolution of EFI’s breakthrough Nozomi platform. We are looking forward to supporting Trevor Bissett and his team as they increase productivity, alleviate bottlenecks, and deliver more value to their brand owner clients using the outstanding graphics quality and flexibility of our award-winning single-pass UV LED inkjet technology.’