Currently being assembled for factory acceptance testing at Rotatek’s Barcelona headquarters, the new 520-web, nine-unit rainbow split-duct press will be installed at Smurfit Kappa Security Concepts’ (SKSC’s) site in Bray, just south of Dublin.
The bespoke offset press will be fitted with all “bells and whistles,” according to Peter Thomas, managing director of SKSC, with both wet and dry plate capability, attached die-cutting, matrix removal, numbering, reel-to-reel and reel-to-pack machinery.
SKSC’s €3m investment also covers various ancillary equipment, such as an offline inkjet unit, also from Rotatek, and in-line hot-foil stamping from a yet-undisclosed manufacturer.
The partnership between the two companies is fresh – SKSC has never had Rotatek kit before – but Thomas was confident that the press would perform when put through its paces.
He said: “It provides us with the flexibility we need, and all the bells and whistles we’re looking for.
“It’s a robust piece of kit, I’ve seen it in operation. I’ve been down with the Rotatek guys looking at the systems they have, and it’s very impressive.”
The Rotatek will replace SKSC’s vintage Goebel Eco continuous press, which will be shelved as a backup for the Rotatek.
“We’ve probably had it 20 years – so it was due to go out to pasture,” Thomas said.
“It will be used as contingency backup, because it’s a good press and well engineered, but it’s time to move on and replace it.”
He added that the new press would open up real opportunities for SKSC: “We’ll be quicker, meaner, cleaner and faster – but it’s also going to allow us to open ourselves up to other markets like brand protection and tax stamps, and we can do self-adhesive labels because we can remove the matrix.
“Obviously, we’re looking to develop business ourselves directly, but we’re always looking for partners in the trade.”
SKSC employs 55 and is part of the wider Smurfit Kappa Group, which turned over €11bn (£9.5bn) in 2023. Smurfit Kappa agreed in September 2023 to merge with US firm WestRock to form global packaging giant Smurfit WestRock.
