Highcon adds Beam, Pulse, Euclid III and more in move to portfolio proposition

Highcon was formed in late 2009 and presented itself to the market at drupa 2012 with the Euclid digital cutting and creasing system. It has now moved to a multi-product proposition, and its full line-up will be presented at drupa 2016. Attendees at a pre-drupa event this week (March 7-10) were given an introduction to its extended offering, including Pulse, a B2 unit, and Beam, which has a top speed of 5,000sph.

Pulse, effectively a smaller version of Highcon's established Euclid platform, can handle sheet sizes from 320 x 457mm (12.5 x 18in) up to 530 x 750mm (21 x 30in). It can process up to 2,000sph. Multiple additional options are available, such as integrated digital stripping. The Highcon Beam is intended as a finishing machine for mainstream production, and can run B1 sheets at up to 5,000sph. It can handle a wide range of substrates, including 2mm E-flute corrugated board. The platform for Beam has been largely redesigned, from the in-feed and registration to the cutting section, which features three 1kW lasers, in order to handle a wider range of substrates at higher speeds. The UK's Glossop Cartons, one of the first to invest in a Highcon Euclid, has been confirmed as the beta test site for Beam. A third Euclid model has also been developed. Highcon’s proprietary DART technology, by which the creasing rule is created, remains at the heart of all of the company's machinery, from Pulse to Beam via the available Euclid models.

Aside from hardware developments, Highcon's expanded offering includes software and technology to deliver the value proposition attached to short runs. Highcon Axis is a 2D to 3D platform that enables packaging manufacturers to add online ordering capability to the services they offer. Highcon is also introducing a 3D Modeling Package.

To reflect the growth and changes in the company, Highcon has already introduced a new company vision, accompanied by a new logo and a new-look website.

Read a comprehensive preview of label and package printing and converting technology to see at drupa in L&L issue 2, 2016.