Catapult upgrades Nilpeter presses with Digital Shadow technology

Nilpeter has updated all eight of Orlando, US-based Catapult Print & Packaging’s Nilpeter FA-Line presses with new hardware and software to fully integrate Nilpeter’s Digital Shadow technology.  

This upgrade allows Catapult to collect and analyze the data needed to maximize the advantages of this technology. 

The scale of the project was immense. Taking all eight presses offline simultaneously for upgrades required meticulous planning and execution. Nilpeter deployed teams from both Denmark and the US to carry out the installation, demonstrating the strength of the collaboration between the two companies. Despite the complexity, the project was delivered on time and to specification, marking another milestone in the long-standing partnership. 

Catapult, which entered the market in 2018, has made a name for itself by doing things differently—offering faster, cheaper, and higher-quality products while staying ahead in terms of technology and data-driven decision-making.  

Commenting on the collaboration, Lewis Cook, co-founder and CEO of Catapult, said: ‘Working with Nilpeter has always been a natural fit for us. Their dedication to pushing boundaries and delivering advanced solutions matches our own ambition to transform the industry. This recent upgrade with the Digital Shadow solution is a game-changer for Catapult. It enhances our ability to make data-driven decisions, automate processes, and optimize performance. Ultimately, this means better, faster, and more efficient solutions for our customers.’ 

The Digital Shadow technology enables Catapult to monitor key metrics such as machine uptime, energy consumption, and waste reduction in real-time. The data-driven insights empower Catapult to enhance production efficiency and sustainability while maintaining the premium quality their customers expect. 

Carsten Clemensen, chief technology officer of Nilpeter, explained the purpose and benefits of the upgrade: ‘The integration of the Digital Shadow into Catapult’s FA-Line presses is a perfect example of how digitalization can revolutionize production. Catapult can now access real-time performance data, run virtual simulations, and identify optimization opportunities with precision. This not only improves operational efficiency but also strengthens the partnership between our two companies. For Nilpeter, it’s another step in proving how our solutions deliver tangible value to customers like Catapult.’ 

The next phase of the collaboration will see the installation of Nilpeter’s advanced Vison Camera system on Catapult’s presses. This high-speed register system is designed to maintain perfect colour registration, even when working with ultra-flexible materials commonly used on the Nilpeter FA-26 and other FA-Line machines. The Vision system ensures precise registration during both acceleration and deceleration.