Winpak seeks zero-error approach with BW Converting systems

Canadian flexible packaging specialist Winpack has invested in Baldwin’s Guardian OLP offline proofing and inspection system, along with its Guardian PQV 100 percent inspection system to cut inspection times and costs and elevate the quality of its products.

Winpak, based in Winnipeg, Canada, with 12 manufacturing facilities in North America, is renowned for its commitment to innovation and sustainability. Specializing in a diverse range of packaging solutions, the company serves critical sectors such as dairy, protein, food and beverage and healthcare.

The combination of Baldwin’s Guardian OLP and PQV systems – including Winpak’s upgrade to the recently introduced PQV 4.0 – has equipped Winpak to conduct thorough inspections, whether comparing file-to-file before press runs or analyzing press samples against approved artwork, ensuring that every product meets Winpak's stringent quality standards. In fact, the new system's flexibility and precision were particularly beneficial for Winpak, given the complexity and variety of its packaging.

Guardian PQV 100% Print Inspection provides complete print quality verification from pre-press through production, reporting and archiving. It can set up a repeatable process and automate the printing job process, taking the stress out of managing the previously complex tasks. New and improved scanning technology can detect errors and faults with micrometer precision and give you a detailed report for correcting the mistakes.

Guardian OLP verifies that the files used for production match the customer-approved master file 100 percent. By comparing any pre-press file or scanned press sample to the customer-approved original the software automatically locates and highlights any differences in print quality.

Baldwin’s director of sales Greg Kallman said: ‘What's really unique is the depth of technology that Winpak is employing in this facility. This has revolutionized the way Winpak operates, drastically cutting inspection times and costs, and elevating product quality to set a new industry standard for efficiency and reliability. Moreover, the system's impact extends beyond the technical, affecting Winpak's operational dynamics, customer relations and sustainability measures.’

‘It saved us thousands of dollars,’ added Jim Imburgia, director of innovation at Winpak Control Group. ‘It had a profound impact on the business. We cut our deliveries in half. It made our company much better.’