Zumbiel Digital, one of the country's largest independent paperboard packaging companies and the first company to install a KODAK PROSPER 6000S Press, picked up the coveted "Digital Application of the Year" award and a “Gold Award” at the Paperboard Packaging Council's 2019 North American Paperboard Packaging Competition (PPC).

Zumbiel's award-winning submission was sleeves produced for Kroger Home Chef, which offers subscribers a rotating selection of seasonal menus and meal kits. With this frequent rotation of information to keep things fresh for its customers, Zumbiel receives 24 new graphic files for sleeve SKUs that are placed around generic primary packages weekly. With the help of its KODAK PROSPER 6000S Press, minutes after receiving the art files from Kroger, Zumbiel is printing and die-cutting sleeves at a rate of over 50,000 per hour with zero make-readies.

"It's an honor to receive this incredible recognition from our peers, and we're proud to be part of an industry that continues to play a crucial role for so many brands, large and small, across North America," said Ed Zumbiel, President, Zumbiel Digital. "Our decision to integrate the KODAK PROSPER Press opened up a new market for Zumbiel. It has enabled customers like Kroger to print on paperboard with mass versioning using a digital solution with the production capacity and print quality that can meet the standards of the most discerning brands."

Zumbiel Digital’s unique hybrid configuration of the PROSPER 6000S Press incorporates in-line die-cutting and seven in-line flexo towers for pre-coating, application of PMS colors, backside printing, and overprint varnish. The PROSPER 6000S Press is especially ideal for mass versioning of beverage carriers, pharmaceutical cartons, paper cups, and food packaging and can be installed as a standalone device or integrated into a current production line. Overall, packaging service providers benefit from a genuinely hybrid digital production device that can broaden their service offering with high-quality digital printing capabilities at production speeds with a 48-hour turnaround time.