Packaging print shop Quantum Print & Packaging in Willenhall, England, recently became the first company in the UK to take delivery of a Diana X 115 folder gluer. "This investment helps us optimize the production process and represents a huge step towards our efficiency goals," says Managing Director Chris Holmes and continues "the arrival of the Diana X 115 marks the end of any outplacement of gluing work". The company hopes that this machine will boost its current GBP 2.3 million turnover (over EUR 2.6 million) by 20 percent. Quantum Print & Packaging employs 32 staff and produces a wide range of folded cartons in short to medium runs on a five-color Speedmaster CD 102 with coating unit and a two-color GTO 52. The company manufactures stock boxes, blister cards and point of sale and display packaging for a broad customer base nationwide.

"We were particularly impressed with the specification of the Diana X and its excellent reputation. We also know that Heidelberg will provide outstanding service and comprehensive support," adds Holmes.

"The Diana X gives us greater flexibility, higher production speeds, simpler setup, shorter makeready times, and the ability to offer more bespoke, individually styled cartons and packaging products," confirms Production Director Peter Thomas. Quantum Print & Packaging holds quality and environmental certification in the form of ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 respectively. The company is also in the process of installing a management information system (MIS). In the future it also intends to utilize the electronic presetting options of the Diana X 115.

Benchmark for confectionery and foodstuffs market segments
The Diana X 115 has proved very successful since its European launch in 2009, with more than 20 machines sold on this market. Packaging printers in Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy, Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania, and Poland are showing a great readiness to invest at present. In 2010 alone, packaging printers took delivery of seven Diana X 115 folder gluers.

The modular design of the Diana X 115 enables an extremely broad range of applications. The machine plays a key role in two market segments in particular - in the confectionery segment with complex universal machines, some of which are equipped with turning modules. And in the foodstuffs segment with fast, high-performance lines, usually in conjunction with pile turners, feeders, and packers. Heidelberg is now the market leader in Germany in this peak performance class - and the Diana X 115 sets standards here for state-of-the-art equipment thanks to its high productivity, accurate folding quality, and minimum makeready times. On the basis of their market success, production capacity at Heidelberg for folder gluers has recently been doubled.

High modularity for individually styled cartons
The Diana X 115 was developed in close cooperation with leading folding carton manufacturers and launched at drupa 2008. The machine was taken into series production at the start of 2009. Its high modularity paves the way for bespoke and customized configurations. As a result, the Diana X enables an almost unlimited range of cartons and offers flexibility and opportunities for growth in the future, as individual modules can be retrofitted at any time. Over 200,000 cartons per hour can be processed at speeds of up to 650 meters per minute. What's more, the fully automatic Autoset changeover cuts makeready times dramatically. Further advantages include maintenance-free servo drive technology, a state-of the-art safety concept with light grids, and a roller bar and transportation concept that increases flexibility and accelerates setting processes. The cutting-edge blank removal system ensures that even complex cartons can be ejected reliably at full speed.