imageData becomes first UK customer to invest in fully automated packaging solution from CMYUK

Print Solutions

Leading print specialist imageData has further enhanced its production capabilities through its strategic investment with a Jwei Jcut, cutting and creasing system with automatic packaging feeder stacker from CMYUK. This is the first installation of its kind in the UK, and the business has agreed to act as a customer demonstration site, where potential customers can view the system in a live production environment.

The automatic packaging feeder stacker is an advanced system designed for streamlined material handling in short run digital packaging and free standing display unit production. It feeds printed sheets from a stack, up to a weight of 5 kg with a maximum feeding thickness of 22 mm, cutting them on a vacuumed 2500 x 1600 mm conveyorised bed, and then stacking the finished panels onto a pallet. It is fully automated, which requires virtually no manual handling, resulting in a much faster and smoother workflow.

The equipment has already delivered substantial operational efficiencies at imageData. Lee White, operations director, said: ‘The primary advantage of this machine is the automation. It eliminates the time consuming manual tasks that frees up operators to engage in other processes, which, in turn, coincides with cost saving and resource optimisation.’

Before investing, imageData had already upgraded its digital printing capabilities. However, its manual labour intensive cutting processes needed to be modernised to keep pace. With rising customer demand and increasing market pressure, improving capacity and efficiency – without compromising quality – became essential. The company required a technology solution that would integrate seamlessly with its existing production set up and deliver measurable productivity gains.

imageData has three digital cutting tables in-house and gave serious thought to alternative leading manufacturers when looking to invest. The Jwei however, with a recommended price tag of £160,000, stood out as a far more affordable option without compromising on a quality finish.

The automatic packaging feeder stacker is compatible with a wide range of materials and cuts a variety of cardboards. With a multifunctional tool head, it comes with 12 tools as standard including an electric oscillator, drag knife, and plotting tools. It offers a maximum cutting speed of up to 1500 mm per second and handles a loading height of up to 750 mm.

While the brand was relatively unknown to the company, imageData’s well established trusted relationship with CMYUK – based on previous successful equipment purchases – provided the trust and confidence needed to proceed with the purchase.

‘Our trust in CMYUK played a crucial role in our decision,’ said Lee. ‘Its consultations helped us understand the capabilities and reliability of the Jwei equipment, and the competitive price point compared to other manufacturers made it an attractive investment.

‘We have had alternative leading manufacturers for years, so we know what they are capable of. You know what sort of service you are getting for your money, which is a big thing. It is easy to get equipment in, up and running, but machines have moving parts, so there will always be challenges down the line.  There are always going to be breakdowns, so it is all about the after service as well. We have bought print equipment from CMYUK in the past, so the relationship, trust and support is all there.’

The implementation process involved a learning curve during the first six months, but the proactive approach to address any challenges with speed and total commitment ensured successful integration. Lee describes the level of care and support as ‘astounding and genuine’, in particular  the way in which both companies’ engineers demonstrated exceptional dedication to ensuring optimal machine performance.

The device is used for cutting display boards, corrugated boards, Correx and small runs of free standing display units, plus headers on any semi rigid materials.  While the business has die cutting facilities, the speed and automation means that much more of this type of work is being processed through the new system. 

‘With our current facilities, the operator is required at the machine whole time – feeding it, off loading it, staying with the job from start to finish. But with the Jwei, once it is set up and running, it pretty much looks after itself. I would say in most cases – you only need to return to change the pallet. It is a classic case of the 80:20 rule, the 80% of the time that the operator would have spent at the machine can now be used elsewhere in the factory. It has freed people up, reduced the risk of damaging printed material through much less manual handling, and helped us boost output without any compromise on quality,’ said Lee.

Another standout feature is the ‘Back Scan’ capability. ‘On our existing cutting tables configuration, the operator has to place each sheet on the bed, register it, then flip it over in a case where it needs to be cut and creased from the reverse side before cutting can begin. The whole process has to be done sheet by sheet, every single time. In comparison, the Jwei uses a back scanner that reads the printed guides from underneath, so there is no need to turn the sheets over. It then automatically cuts and creases it, saving a huge amount of time and effort,’ said Lee.

The machine has been seamlessly integrated into the workflow and is sited next to the company’s EFI Nozomi 14000 SD digital press. Installed last year, the Nozomi was purchased to ramp up the company’s sign and display volumes and joins two EFI Vutek Q5r UV-LED roll to roll printers supplied by CMYUK .

Lee concluded, ‘Staying ahead with technology is crucial in our industry. Our investment in the Jwei automated packaging feeder stacker through CMYUK demonstrates our commitment to embracing innovation that delivers tangible benefits for both our operations and our customers.’

Pictured: (left) Craig Walker, finishing manager, imageData, with Stefan Agar, mechanical finishing supervisor, imageData.