Bobst kit aids blister cards firm Castle to boost capacity
Blister cards specialist The Castle Colour Press has boosted its packaging production capacity by 50% thanks to investment in two Bobst post-press lines.
The Norwich-based firm also produces cartons.
The Castle Colour Press sales director Brian Blackshaw said: “The investment in two Bobst machines has allowed us to tackle volume orders in a much more efficient way and has made it possible for us to take a bigger position in high volume markets, particularly food.
“With our previous operating model we had difficulty competing when it came to longer run work. 
Now, with the Bobst lines bedded in, we are proving to be highly competitive on longer runs. So this is an exciting development for our business.’’
According to the blister cards firm, key to the company’s change of capability has been a Bobst Expertfold 110 carton gluer.
This line features 450 metres per minute running speeds, quick setting and a blank aligning unit that ensures consistency of folding at all speeds, the firm said. Its configuration allows the company to fold and glue straight-line, crash-lock bottom and four-corner cartons.
‘Impressive running speeds’
Blackshaw explained: “With our previous gluing capacity we often had to interrupt longer runs to meet call offs.
“The Bobst Expertfold combines shorter set up times with impressive running speeds and with its in-line QA features we are able to produce up to a million cartons at a time without missing a beat. It means we tackle long runs with ease while also giving existing shorter-run customers a quicker turnaround of their work.”
The blister cards firm said that the second Bobst line contributing to the large capacity increase is an Expertcut 106 LER blank separating die-cutter. The line has replaced a B2 sized BOBST and marks a shift to completely size B1 production at The Castle Colour Press.
Blackshaw said: “Now we are able to print everything at optimum size on our three B1 Komori presses it’s had a very favourable impact on the productivity of our print department – they can print fewer sheets, in a shorter time, yet yield the same number of units.”
