Edale, the British manufacturer known for its tailor-made flexographic presses for the carton and label sectors, is making a significant entry into the Chinese market by securing a new deal with premium folding carton converter, KAVA. This strategic move marks a pivotal moment, as KAVA will be the first to install Edale machines in China.

At drupa 2024, the announcement was made that Jiangsu-based KAVA will install a flexo-based FL5 press and a servo-driven web-fed FDC-600 flatbed die-cutter. This combination will create a fully inline single-pass carton production system, an innovation set to revolutionize the Chinese carton production landscape.

Jiangua Wang, CEO of KAVA, emphasized the strategic importance of this investment: “As we revealed at drupa, our decision to invest in Edale technology is driven by our need to consistently push our capabilities. We have traditionally relied exclusively on offset printing for our folding carton production, but when it became clear that we needed to expand our capacity and quality, Edale’s advanced flexographic technology was the way to go. It’s bringing all the best elements of flexo to carton packaging production."

"The Chinese market demands agility and quality at speed. Our Edale FL5 press and FDC-600 die-cutter investment will give us the power to produce even intricate designs and small jobs at lightning speed," Wang added.

The Edale FL5 is designed to be the most versatile single-pass carton press on the market. It is capable of running any reel-fed substrate, from the thinnest films and sustainability-focused paper-based substrates to cartonboard. The FL5 is built for ultimate configurability, with different finishing options available, allowing it to handle various printing, cutting, creasing, braille embossing, cold foil stamping, varnishing, lamination, and waste stripping in a single pass. This innovative press allows a skilled operator to complete a single pass from raw material to finished carton in just under one minute.

When run in line with the FL5 press, the FDC-600 flatbed die-cutter uses a servo-driven constant tension web transport system to create a single-pass folding carton production line. This integration challenges traditional printing methods and sets a new standard for efficiency and productivity in the industry.

Ian Eccleston, Sales Manager, Agent Network at Edale, highlighted the benefits: "The challenges that KAVA aims to overcome are real pressure points for carton converters around the world, and classic offset printing can be a major workflow headache when multiple passes are needed. This is slowing the entire supply chain down, adding costs and stretching the workforce to capacity. We’re challenging the status quo in the carton industry with the flexographic FL5 press because these processes are completely inline, which results in a pristine finished carton in a single pass. What’s more, the addition of the FDC-600 web-fed flatbed die cutter adds even more flexibility."

"We’re delighted to share news of KAVA’s investment with drupa attendees because it puts our commitment to engineering excellence in the spotlight. You’ll never find two converters that are exactly alike, so why would their machines be? We build and configure our machines to excel under our customers’ precise requirements, no matter how niche. Add in service and support that makes a world of difference to our customers, and it’s a real formula for success," Eccleston continued.

Edale’s Chinese agent, You-Print Digital Technology Co, Ltd, has played a crucial role in supporting this new investment, showcasing the excellence of service and support that comes with its robust network of international partners.

Alex Zhang, General Manager of You-Print Digital Technology Co, Ltd, remarked, “KAVA's Edale investment project is of great significance both to the customer and us because it is the first Edale press to be installed in the Chinese market. Working closely with the Edale and KAVA teams, we are proud to have been there every step of the way.

“Together, we have experienced comprehensive technical exchanges, remote online demonstrations, customer product proofing, manufacturing factory inspections, equipment user visits, comparisons of similar products domestic and overseas and more. We look forward to witnessing the ongoing success of this project!”