Bakers adds Digicon 3000 for its flexible packaging division

Baker Labels has expanded the finishing capabilities of its digital pouch production facility, BakPac, with a Digicon 3000 from ABG and Edale to its continued commitment to invest in new equipment and technologies.  

The Digicon 3000 is a wide-web digital finishing and converting machine, offering web widths between 400-762mm. It was designed and manufactured in partnership between ABG and Edale, specialists in flexographic print, web transportation and post-print converting. This is the first UK install of this design for the flex pack market. 

Baker Labels’ Digicon 3000 will run in conjunction with a HP Indigo 20000 digital press to provide a complete single-pass printing and converting line for short-run flexible packaging. Features include a dual-function unwind station, flexo/hybrid gravure print station, water-based lamination, cold foil, slitting and rewinding.  

Phil Smith, general manager, BakPac at Bakers, said: ‘The Digicon 3000 was the natural choice considering our ongoing relationship with ABG and our other Digicons. As we look to grow the BakPac division, the Digicon 3000 will help us introduce added value features to our flexible packaging, such as extra coatings, spot varnish and cold foil embellishments. We’ve included the optional gravure coating system, which will enable us to run some development chemistries so that in the future we can offer new coatings and effects.’  

Delivery, installation and training on the press was executed expertly by the Edale engineers and the team at Bakers during the third week of January. The BakPac facility within Bakers had been extended over the Christmas break to accommodate the new press by adding approximately 1000 sqft to the digital pouch factory floor and an additional floor above to contain all the press services.  

The half million-pound investment is an exciting start to Bakers’ 50th year of business, with more to come later in the year.  

Steve Baker, managing director, said: ‘Expanding our flexible division just a couple of years after launching BakPac shows the positive growth and demand for high quality, fast turnaround, short to medium runs of digitally printed pouches and flow wrap. The Digicon 3000 allows us to push into new markets and add even more value to jobs.’  

Matt Burton, global sales director at A B Graphic International, added: ‘As a long-standing ABG customer, we are proud of the strong relationship we have with Baker Labels. And as we can offer a varied range of finishing equipment that makes us the go-to choice for our customers, the fact that Baker Labels now have an ABG Digicon 3000 and thermal laminator is a great testimony to the value we can bring to flexible packaging.’