Ritter orders 3rd Digital Printing Machine

In the spring of 2015, the Ritter company in Schwabmuenchen/Germany entered a new era of resource efficient production of cartridges, with the first D240 digital printer by Hinterkopf. Only 6 months later, the second D240 machine was ordered. May 2017 mar

In the spring of 2015, the Ritter company in Schwabmuenchen/Germany entered a new era of resource efficient production of cartridges, with the first D240 digital printer by Hinterkopf. Only 6 months later, the second D240 machine was ordered. May 2017 marks the delivery of the third digital printing machine type D240.
Alexander Hinterkopf, managing director of the family owned machinery company is convinced: „Digital decoration of metal and plastic packaging had it’s breakthrough point at the turn of calendar years 2016/2017!“. At Metpack 2017 trade show, the company’s digital printer D240 was the focal point of many conversations. The Eislingen/Germany based technology leaders several years ago were the first worldwide to introduce a fully digital printing machine for metal and plastic packaging industries.

„Reliability of a machine is of paramount importance to our customers“, emphasizes Hinterkopf. In order to fully utilize any production system, manufacturers are optimizing production windows. Any dysfunctional time negatively impacts productivity and profitability. Hinterkopf’s D240 passed the real life test with flying colors at packaging manufacturing company Ritter. At the Schwabmuenchen/Germany based company, the first D240 startet around-the-clock production in 2015. In the meantime, the Ritter company operates three digital printing systems type D240 made by Hin-terkopf, and plans the complete departure from screen printing. These kind of success stories have become well known in the industry. It comes there-fore without surprise that D240 digital printing takes front and center in more and more customer conversations of the Hinterkopf team.

High level of interest in China
During the first quarter of 2017, Hinterkopf sold six additional D240 digital printers to Argentina, Poland, Canada, Spain and China. At Metpack 2017, Alexander Hinterkopf had several detailed discussions with packaging manufacturers from China, who plan to convert production to digital. The trend is influenced to a significant part by pricing pressure for Chinese companies. Production costs particularly for large quantities often times are higher compared to other emerging regions. „The capabilities of our D240 digital printer provide a solution to this dilemma“, explains Alexander Hinterkopf. Cost advantages on the one side are based on the fact that no printing plates are required. On the other hand printing quality is consistent throughout the production run – waste is virtually eliminated, which further increases productivity.

Networked for quick turnaround production of large quantities
Digital advantages come in play even more when producing very large quantities. In this situation, multiple digital printing machines possibly at different production locations can be networked easily and without lengthy planning. The finished printed product is independent of machine location – container for container identical. „When customers make a short term de-cision they need one million cans, the quantity is too much for a single line to handle“, explains Alexander Hinterkopf. Without pre-planning, ten D240 machines can be networked, and „every machine delivers the same quali-ty“, emphasizes Alexander Hinterkopf. When the large quantity order is complete, production of small orders continues without any interruption, there is no changeover time. The D240 by Hinterkopf is the logical solution for challenges of industry 4.0, or its equivalent China Manufacturing 2025 – totally networked production.

Instant response to market demands
Demand for large quantities is on the decline for several years already. „Marketing departments are seeking for solutions to bring individualized products to market in a short time frame. The many meetings and conver-sations at Metpack have confirmed this trend“, states Alexander Hinterkopf. An important piece of the solution is the D240 digital printer. Hinterkopf’s digital printer does not require any physical proof or plate. The transition from packaging design to digital printer is seamless, saving time and money and thus enables cost efficient production of minimum order quantities. Seasonal products and special editions are virtually same cost as large quantities. In theory, consumers could order a single individualized piece, without affecting production cost.

In-line integration from the beginning or later
On demand production capabilities enable manufacturers to avoid overca-pacity. Inventory can be kept at a minimum. Digital printing helps to react quickly on changes in demand, and to replenish supply – when needed by means of networked production.. „More manufacturers than ever before count on variable output production capabilities “, Alexander Hinterkopf points out. This is one of the reasons why demand for D240 digital printers increased again at Metpack 2017. Often times the first D240 digital printer is planned as a stand-alone solution. „At a later time, machines can easily be integrated into existing production lines.“

About Hinterkopf
Since 1962 Hinterkopf develops and manufactures complete lines and ma-chines for high end and high volume production of aerosol cans, collapsible tubes, bottles and other cylindrical hollow containers from aluminum or plastic. Reliability, flexibility and high tech based on proprietary development characterize machine concepts from the Eislingen/Germany based company. Hinterkopf scope includes transfer machines, printing and coat-ing machines, cappers, necking-, forming and trimming machines, as well as washing machines, accumulators and custom machinery.
www.hinterkopf.de

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