International food service packaging provider Southern Champion Tray (SCT) has installed a new Koenig & Bauer (KBA) Rapida 106 41-inch seven-color press at its facility in Mansfield, Texas, US, to support continued growth.
Image: officials from KBA and Southern Champion Tray. Photo: courtesy of Koenig & Bauer AG.
Southern Champion Tray is engaged in production and distribution of paperboard packaging products for the bakery, food service and custom retail markets.
The new press is expected to complement the SCT’s existing Rapida 106 seven-color press which was installed several years ago at the facility.
In addition to supplying cartons to multiple states in the Southwest region of the US, the Mansfield facility transfers products to the Chattanooga, Tennessee area for national distribution.
Southern Champion Tray COO Brian Hunt said: “Our customers are demanding higher-end graphics, shorter run quantities, and faster turnaround. We’ve solved these demands by ensuring that our new Rapida 106 is running at its maximum press capabilities to print our cartons and improving make-ready speeds—all of which are game changers.
“The new Koenig & Bauer ColorTronic ink control system has made a big difference in reducing our make-ready times. Our new digital printing system is a great solution for small volume items and matches well with the capabilities of our Rapida 106.”
The packaging has also broadened its capabilities to further expand warehousing of its customer’s packaging.
SCT Mansfield facility general manager John Simpson said the new press will not not provide new automated features that add speed and efficiency to SCT’s output but also provides consistency and getting up to color much faster using color management system,
Simpson added: “We expect a 20% overall improvement in OEE (overall equipment effectiveness) on this new machine.
“There’s no doubt that this machine runs well at rated speed. We intend to take full advantage of this improved efficiency and tout its unique features to our customers. Internally, we’ll be seeing improved efficiency in make-ready and run speeds that will improve our cost competitiveness.”