Chicago, Ill. – Colbert Packaging Corporation, a leading manufacturer of custom folding cartons, labels, inserts and paperboard specialty products, today announced that it has installed Zünd G3 L-3200 cutting systems in its production facilities in Lake Forest, Illinois, and Elkhart, Indiana. With this equipment investment, Colbert has answered the industry’s call for rapid turnarounds on production samples and short-run folding carton jobs.

“Business transformation continues to be spurred by a global economy, omnichannel commerce, geopolitical challenges, shifting consumer trends and social media proliferation. The pressure to remain relevant and outpace the competition is greater than ever before. We’ve seen it across every industry,” said John Lackner, president of Colbert Packaging. “Our ability to turn on a dime with new packaging solutions gives our customers the edge they need to stay ahead of the curve.”

Complementing the installation of the Zünd cutting systems is the implementation of the latest Artios CAD software, enabling a faster, more efficient design process. “This software is the driving force behind the creativity that occurs before cutting can begin. This latest Artios version available gives us great shortcut features and other efficiencies that put us in another realm competitively,” said Darrick Gordon, Colbert’s Illinois-based production designer.

Other key features of the Zünd G3 L-3200 include its ability to multitask by working on multiple zones, and its ability to accept a wide range of materials, including E-Flute, F-Flute and other paperboards. These cutters enable Colbert to fulfill jobs ranging from a handful of samples to small production runs at a fraction of the cost of traditional production processes. Lead times have significantly reduced on these types of projects as well; some prototyping jobs can now be turned around in a matter of hours.

With the Zünd cutters in their equipment arsenal, Colbert is not only able to offer to customers accelerated time-to-market, but also an expanded services portfolio that opens doors to new opportunities. Pharmaceutical companies can expedite clinical trial launches. Brand managers can capitalize on printed prototypes for market testing, and to confirm viability for downstream production. Consumer packaged goods companies can use versioned and seasonal packaging to diversify product lines. Agencies can experiment with designs and assess consumer acceptance.

The investment in new Zünd equipment is also a win for the prepress teams in Colbert’s Illinois and Indiana manufacturing plants, who are enjoying efficiency gains. “It has created a night-and-day change in how we work,” said Brian Sells, an Indiana-based production designer. Sells also noted that the Zünd installation process was smooth and the learning curve was swift.

Colbert Packaging is showcasing its capabilities at Pack Expo International (Booth E-6730) and Healthcare Packaging Expo (Booth W-1047), running Oct. 14 through Oct. 17 at McCormick Place in Chicago. Likewise, Zünd can be found at Pack Expo in the PACKage Printing Pavilion in the South Hall (Booth S-4340) or on the web at www.zund.com.