Packaging giant Orora Group will pump another $30 million into its innovation fund, bringing the total to $75 million.
The company showed off a range of new kit to clients at an innovation expo in Oakleigh, Victoria, including Australia’s first EFI Nozomi C18000 digital corrugated board press.
The Nozomi was front and centre at the event, and is already up and running, printing in CMYK plus orange and violet; white is expected later this year.
According to Brian Lowe, group general manager for fibre at Orora, the massive press is just one example of Orora’s drive for innovation.
“It has the most sophisticated digital printing capability available in the world today for corrugated boxes,” Lowe said.
Aside from the Nozomi, the expo featured a wide range of new packaging equipment, which Orora intends to integrate into its production processes.
These include the Highcon Euclid III laser cutter, capable of processing 1500 sheets per hour without requiring dies or formes; the BCS Boxer, which can create a variety of boxes from flat sheets and is ideal for e-commerce applications; the Limitronic Limitag V6 Customprint in-line digital printer and UR10 industrial robot, which can print variable data on constructed boxes; the Accu-Label orbit labelling station, which produces produce labels that can adhere to even wet or fuzzy fruits and vegetables; and a Ghelfi tray erector that creates “no-crush” trays which are stronger than other containers while requiring less raw material.
According to Nigel Garrard, managing director and CEO, this focus on innovation is a key element of Orora’s strategy, and the expo gave the packager an opportunity to connect with its customers and communicate this message.
“By continually investing in our business, we are able to provide customers with total packaging solutions along the entire value chain, from design to manufacturing, and everything in between.
“This is one of the reasons we increased the Orora Global Innovation Initiative by $30 million to $75 million, as it fosters a culture of innovation within the business and supports investment in the latest machinery, enabling us to develop advanced packaging solutions that will directly benefit our customers,” Garrard said.
