The new web technology, courtesy of German firm Eltromat, is set to bring significant improvements to the Corby-based firm’s work with major food and drink retailers.

It builds upon the company’s investment in a new ink dispensing facility and laboratory, as well as introducing a seven-day working pattern in to compete with major competition in Europe.

Chris Shaw, CRP Pre-Print business manager, said: "The continued investment in our Pre-Print operation underlines the company’s position as a market leader flexo pre-printed liner within the food and drink industry.

"Brand owners and box makers have the highest quality expectations for print, so our ability to provide defect free reels to box makers linked with the latest colour management technology provides absolute reassurance for brand owners."

CRP's three-camera web inspection system scans the web and reads each individual case as it is printed in real time, checking for any deviation from the customer-approved print sample, while maintaining an ongoing digital image log of any incidents in production, which can then be removed prior to despatch.

This will enable CRP to produce printed packaging that is 100% free from defects.

Shaw said: "It is not only about eliminating defects from material but about ensuring that consistency and output of the product are in line with customers’ expectations. The installation of this equipment was the next logical step in building on our recent commitment to the market for 100% defect free material.

"The way in which the cameras work is similar to an iPad in terms of there being a touch screen that allows a printer to zoom in and out of the system and look at any areas that are causing concern.

"You can set the sensitivity of the cameras and they are able to pick up even the most subtle grains that may appear in the process."

From next month the firm will also install HD screening equipment and what is reportedly one of the country’s first wide web in-line colour management systems.