Eticod moves towards higher levels of sustainability with Bobst

Polish label converter Eticod has invested in the fourth Bobst Master M5 featuring highly automated technologies and UV LED curing, helping to reduce energy consumption and ensure consistent, high-quality production.

The current production floor is home to four Master M5 in-line flexo machines, two equipped with traditional mercury lamps and two utilizing advanced UV LED curing technology. Supplied by Rotary, Bobst’s agent in Poland, the machines produce labels for many types of markets, such as food and beverage, beauty and personal care, as well as automotive, oil and various industrial sectors.

‘The incredible versatility of our Bobst Master M5 machines allows us to print a huge variety of labels, including multi-layer and highly embellished labels, but also shrink sleeves and many other kinds of applications, in both short and long runs,’ said Aron Huć, co-owner and vice president of management board at Eticod.’

‘Bobst technology enables Eticod to produce beautiful designs and complex labels while also reducing waste,’ added Huć. ‘Our operators can control the press digitally, while the in-line inspection system identifies errors and automatically locates faulty labels on the re-winder. And that all happens in one single pass, which saves a lot of time.’

Through several eco-conscious initiatives, Eticod is continually developing according to this sustainability agenda. The modern facilities, built in 2015 with extra thick walls for insulation, are entirely lit by energy-efficient LED lighting. None of the 11 printing presses are fitted with chillers. Instead, the energy created by the machines is cleverly used to heat the building; even the tarmac in the car park is warmed up during the winter to stop the snow from settling.

‘Of course, a key area for making our business more sustainable is through the printing process itself, which is why we specified our two latest Bobst M5s with UV LED curing,’ said Huć. ‘We also work with our customers to create the most eco-friendly solutions for them, offering different types of substrates and embellishment options.’

As Eticod has experienced, the Master M5 fully digitalizes the production workflow. With reduced downtime and low waste in the process, coupled with energy-efficient and fast LED curing, this technology offers a more sustainable flexo operation.

‘This substantial upgrade to the capabilities of our Master M5 means that we can adapt to meet evolving customer demands, allowing us to expand into new applications like shrink sleeves and BOPP. Whenever we have wanted to upgrade any of our presses to cover an even wider range of applications, Bobst has offered us amazing support, helping us to find the right solution,’ concluded Huć.

Click here to learn more about Eticod and here to see the video interview with Aron Huć.