published on 25/09/09
Mechanical engineers have installed a new three-axis milling machine to triple capacity by producing more dies per machine cycle and cutting down-times.
The company is bucking the current trend of cost-cutting and has invested more than £400,000 in kit in the last 18 months. The CNC three-axis milling machine was installed last month.
The machine, which is additional to Kocher + Beck's existing machinery line, features a fully automated camera recognition to speed up plate loading and increase accuracy.
Kocher + Beck UK, which makes flexible rotary dies for sectors including packaging, commercial printing, envelopes and labels, said it is responding to growing demand from customers for quicker turnaround times.
David Morris, Kocher + Beck UK's managing director, acknowledged that market conditions are tough and that many companies are not investing in new kit.
'We're fortunate in pushing a policy of investing in our plant,' he said. 'If you stand still, people will catch up with you and you'll fall behind.
'We've increased capacity in the 24-hour period, but as importantly, we've [increased] our flexibility.'
The company is also planning to install a new laser hardening machine before the year-end, to further increase its capacity.
Steve Horne, the firm's sales director, added: 'Having dies that arrive on time to meet [printers'] production schedules is critical.
'Kocher + Beck recognises the importance of offering same-day despatch as printers try harder to respond to stringent turn-round demands.
'Same day despatch, a key target for 2009, has already tripled when compared to this time last year. We hope to further increase this facility – with our plant in 24-hour production it is not unusual to despatch in the middle of the night,' he said.

Read the full article at Packaging News