Companies join forces to solve time-to-market and automation challenges in short-run folding carton packaging.

Fujifilm and Tilia Labs are pleased to announce collaboration for North American J Press market.

Ottawa, Canada – Tilia Labs, Inc. (tilialabs.com), leading developer of planning, imposition, and Artificially Intelligent software solutions and FUJIFILM North America Graphic Systems Division engage in a new distribution partnership in North America. Fujifilm will sell Tilia Labs’ CAD-based nesting and imposition technology to complement its J Press digital printer for short-run packaging and commercial print applications.

Effective immediately, the agreement means Fujifilm now represents Tilia Labs on three continents and becomes the Tilia Labs’ largest global distribution partner.

“For our customers, it’s about bringing a unique solution to the challenges presented by short run packaging. To be profitable in this area, manufacturers must find ways to automate the CAD layout and imposition process that is typically very time consuming and manual,” comments George Folickman, Director of Sales for Tilia Labs. “Our combined solution enables these manufacturers to leverage the J Press platform for shorter runs and faster turnaround that otherwise wouldn’t be profitable.”

Tilia Phoenix planning and imposition software uses AI technology to reduce waste and optimize production in all print segments including packaging, labels, commercial, and wide format printing. Its AI-generated layouts eliminate the need for template-based imposition, instead dynamically adapting to manufacturing requirements and constraints.

Tilia Phoenix populating an existing die
For folding carton and commercial printers, tilia Phoenix offers several powerful features like inventorying die layouts, automatically nesting and populating dies based on quantities, and imposing traditional commercial print work.

For those with both digital and conventional capabilities, tilia Phoenix Imposition AI quickly evaluates the most cost-effective way to run a set of jobs taking into consideration press costs, ink coverage, make ready, change overs, and converting.

Tilia Phoenix can be integrated into Fujifilm XMF or other workflows and MIS systems to deliver faster estimates, reduce prepress time, and minimize waste.

According to Fujifilm, the print quality of the J Press 750S surpasses offset, effectively producing detailed images, vignettes, small font text and easy to read barcodes. The J Press prints 3,600 sheets per hour, for both static and variable jobs with a maximum sheet size of 23” x 29.5” (585mm x 750mm) running both coated and uncoated standard offset stock. The J Press handles typical folding carton stocks from 8-24 point, as well as offset stocks as thin as 60 lb. text, and output can be easily converted with diecutting, embossing and foiling applications.

“Our relationship with Tilia Labs plays an important role in how Fujifilm offers a full solution for both packaging and commercial customers in need of the best production inkjet press on the market and the desire to bring in first class solutions to enhance the value they bring to their customers,” said Ed Pierce, product marketing manager for FUJIFILM North America Graphic Systems Division “Tilia Phoenix is an incredibly valuable tool by delivering job planning and imposition at lightning speeds and simultaneously reducing material and overhead costs.”