Sherwood invest to reinforce commitment to the packaging industry

Sherwood Press, Nottingham, UK, has invested in a new Komori, a Lithrone S640 with coater. The press is dedicated by Sherwood to environmental packaging production

Says Jeremy Bacon, Group Chief Executive Officer “We have always been a diverse supplier, perhaps best known as a greetings card company, a market we entered in 1992, and in which we are now recognised as the UK’s market leading independent greetings card manufacturer.  In fact, only half of our turnover is in that important although mature sector. We also have a growing 35 per cent in the packaging sector – which is the field we recognise as offering us strong long term potential, in particular, food packaging.”

Says Mr Bacon; “We have singled out the food and cosmetics markets. We have also identified a clearer divide developing into high added value cartons and the more basic products.

 Continues Mr Bacon,” In expanding our packaging division, we are concentrating on the high value quality end – food-to-go, cosmetics and high end garments for example.

Continues Mr Bacon: “The on-press efficiencies of the Lithrone S640 massively reduce waste, first, through the KHS-AI fast start up system, then through the labour and time saving benefits of its very high level of automation, and also through the ability to print alcohol free.

Komori chosen on merit

Although Sherwood could be described as a Komori house, with other Komori presses including a trusted one-over-five Lithrone 40 RP the mainstay of its greetings card production line in the UK, it, nevertheless conducted a thorough investigation into all other major manufacturers’ presses before choosing the latest Lithrone.

Adds Sherwood’s Managing Director;  “Through the new Komori, we have already reduced downtime by approaching 30 per cent, and our long term objective to take this to 50 per cent seems well within reach. As a result of this and the other efficiencies built into the Lithrone, we have also increased productivity by 35 per cent.”