Superior, gearless, sleeved, central impression flexo printing press will be installed in Canada 

To maintain its fast growth and to offer maximum flexibility to its customers, a new KBA-Flexotecnica EVO XD eight-color flexo press is on order and will be delivered to Seydaco Packaging Corp., an innovative packaging firm located in Mississauga, Canada, later this year. 

“The entire flexo web-line including the new KBA-Flexotecnica eight-color CI plus two downstream units as well as double roll stands with auto splicer and festoon and flatbed diecutter with rotary stripper, belt askew, and delivery will be unique in North America,” says David Seychell, president of Seydaco. “Flexotecnica is known world-wide for its superior, gearless, sleeved, central impression flexographic printing presses. We’re excited to be operating one of these fine presses in our facility. It will be miles ahead of anything in its class considerations.”

Seychell says that the installation of the KBA-Flexotecnica press will complement its sheetfed arsenal, and will allow them to offer competitive long-run carton production possibly for export markets. Plus the new press will continue to support Seydaco’s motto of flexibility and assist the sales staff with additional resources that they can offer to potential customers in the consumer package goods market. The new KBA-Flexotecnica press will boost production at the Seydaco facility providing two sheetfed printing press lines and two high-speed diecutters plus the new flexo web line giving the firm the capability of handling sheets and rolls. 

Seydaco and its sister firms, Groupe Ecco,a folding carton manufacturer based in Quebec; Miramont Labels, based in Quebec; and National Carton & Coating, a mid-to-large volume manufacturer of custom printed folding cartons, stock chipboard boxes, and mailers based in Dayton, OH; all pride themselves on offering maximum flexibility to all of their market segments including a wide variety of folding carton and pressure sensitive label services. That, says Seychell, is its main differentiator from its competitors. Whether a customer requires small, medium or long run capabilities, low key and high value-added carton capabilities, multiple substrate availability, and the added geographical reach for sales and deliveries, Seydaco and its sister firms offer the flexibility to do it all.

Once the new press is installed, Seydaco’s intention is to use the KBA-Flexotecnica press to support mid- to long-run requirements at all Seydaco related locations. Initially, the firm will target paperboard foodservice packaging requirements, which is where Seydaco and Groupe Ecco are already well positioned. Through invitations and demonstrations, the firm also intends to attract private label owners and consumer packaged goods companies.Seydaco will also be exhibiting at private label shows, consumer packaged goods shows, and food service shows. The firm is also preparing an invitation for its target customers to learn more about the firm and its capabilities and send test jobs to be produced after the KBA-Flexotecnica/Zerand line is installed. 

“The EVO XD will allow us to develop new skills and expertise in longer run orders, and one-pass printing on the front and back of substrates,” says Seychell. “Throughout the history of Seydaco, Groupe Ecco and National Carton & Coating, we have used only sheetfed equipment and sheeters. Our only exposure and experience with flexo printing/in-line diecutting and flexo plate materials is at our Miramont facility where we use a 13” flexo press to produce pressure sensitive labels.”

While flexo printing is new to Seydaco, its partnership with KBA is not. The firm currently operates two six-color KBA Rapida 105 41-inch press, a seven-color KBA Rapida 105 41-inch press, and one 10-color KBA Rapida 130 press with two coating stations---all equipped with UV coating/curing. Its press operators, says Seychell, like the ease of operation on the presses and the consistency and quality of the results. Its printing departments, says Seychell, are constantly meeting and exceeding estimated overall speeds.

It was four years ago when Seychell began thinking about acquiring a flexo press to augment his sheetfed production. In early 2013, he found a new location that was suitable to house both the sheetfed operation and the future KBA-Flexotecnica equipment along with roll storage and other equipment requirements. “We inked a 15 year occupancy lease for a 115,000 sq ft building,” says Seychell, “giving us a dedicated 45,000 sq ft for the new flexo equipment and supporting ergonomic options. We have now completely settled in this new building. In anticipation of the extra carton blanks intended to be produced from the KBA-Flexotecnica CI press line, we have already increased our gluing capacity with an additional Bobst gluer and an automatic case packer. We are continuing to automate the gluing packing lines with additional conveyors and eventually a robotic skid loader.” 

During the next six months as the firm awaits the KBA-Flexotecnica press, the entire sales staff at all companies and all locations is being cross-trained and empowered to sell all of its existing and upcoming capabilities and represent all the companies. The manufacturing team will decide where the work gets produced, considering individual company strengths, and of course, cost of transport to destination.

“The past two years have been exciting for our company,” says Seychell. “In 2014 my vision was to finalize all the options of the Flexotecnica CI web press line and to establish a presence in the U.S. By January 2015 I had finalized the purchase of the entire web line, and in early April 2015, I was also successful in buying National Carton & Coating Co., near Dayton OH. It is a great location with excellent warehouse capacity. I’m sure that 2016 will be equally exciting as we ramp up the new KBA-Flexotecnica into full production mode.”

Seydaco Packaging Corp. is a privately-held corporation specializing in the manufacturing of stock and specialty paperboard products. Headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, Seydaco has become one of the largest suppliers of critical high-quality graphics for leading manufacturers of cake, pie, pastry and pizza cartons.