Expected to arrive in early 2025, the 07.10 Packline follows hot on the heels of the installation of Delta Group’s larger 14.20 Packline SA at the company’s brand-new Bishop's Stortford facility in mid-November. Both machines were ordered through Finishline Machinery, UK&I sales agent for Lamina System & Bickers.

“We’ve just started using it ‘in anger’ over the past few weeks, and it’s providing a good solution from a speed and labour perspective,” said Delta Group chief operating officer Martin Shipp.

“It doesn’t matter if we’re packing one pack or 600, the machine requires no makeready; you can actually alternate between different pack sizes on the machine and continue to run, which makes it really very efficient. It’s very good.”

Even before seeing the 14.20 installed, Delta decided to order the smaller 07.10 to tackle high volumes of packs which would be too small to run through the 14.20.

Shipp added that the new Bishop's Stortford site was “90% ready”, with all production kit already functional.

The site’s £9m-plus machinery spend has included investment in an EFI Nozomi 14000SD single-pass printer, an HP Indigo 15000 B2 press, and a B1 single-pass Agfa Speedset Orca, the world’s first installed example of the machine.

The last action in the move will be relocating Delta’s office staff, who will transfer from today (29 November) along with a few final, smaller machines.

“We’re actually operational from a print and finishing perspective,” Shipp said, adding that rip-out at the old Waltham Abbey site will start on 16 December.

“It’s been a six-month process; I can’t say it’s been without some bumps and scrapes, but I think in general the staff’s commitment to the cause has been great, and they want to move and have a brand-new, shiny factory. We’re now nearly fully operational there.”