The new Expertfold has joined Cardway’s older Brausse TB145 0C6 gluer at its 5,100sqm site in Alsager, near Stoke-on-Trent.

Cardway, which produces most types of corrugated packaging, had found an increasing number of customers asking for glued jobs.

“We were essentially receiving too much work for the current folder-gluer to handle, and we needed a machine that could help us cope with existing demand,” said Ben Keeler, business development manager at Cardway.

The Expertfold’s addition in late February has allowed the company to ramp up production.

“It’s unlike any gluer we’ve ever seen, it’s very quick,” Keeler said.

“It’s taking a little bit of time to get up to speed with the transitions, but it has increased our production speeds by two or three times over.”

Keeler added that wastage had dropped by half besides.

The new machine’s ability to produce complicated designs has likewise helped Cardway increase the offering it can present to clients.

This difference has particularly been felt for larger boxes, according to Keeler.

“Previously, we might have had to hand-glue boxes of this size, or even turn the job down if the volume was too big to handle,” he said, “but not now”.

The Bobst machine has joined Cardway’s stable of Emba and Dongfang three-colour casemakers and four-colour Dongfang flexo press, and two Eterna Elite flatbed die-cutters.

Cardway employs around 40-50 staff, turning over more than £9m last year.