Supplied by Intelligent Finishing Systems (IFS), the device was installed at the Northampton-based company at the end of November.
Futureprint merged with fellow Northampton business Print Projects last year and both companies had previously offered carton production services, but outsourced the gluing process.
With the combined demand, the team decided to look at how to bring the process in-house to help the business streamline its operations, retain greater control, and make cost and time management improvements.
Commercial director Max Bishop said: “We had been offering carton production for a number of years but the time was right to bring it in-house.
“We had a number of regular jobs of 10,000 and 20,000 pieces as well as short runs of 500 that we would manage by hand. The Petratto can complete everything which frees up the team to work on other things.”
The Petratto device is designed for special converting and printed jobs. Its open and modular structure supports greater flexibility while its digital management system provides a responsive interface with the other elements and attachments of the system. Jobs and sheet movement are controlled from the console.
The machine can be used for a range of applications from presentation folders and envelopes to multimedia packaging, straight line boxes, cartons, and table tents.
“We liked it because it was a starter machine in terms of the features. It does what we need it to. It is easy to operate and has a small footprint. It is modular, too, and so can expand as we do,” said Bishop.
“From what we have seen so far it ticks all the boxes. It handles the work we have now and will allow us to grow in other areas in the future. We also don’t have to factor sending work out into our turnaround times and can be more flexible with the work that comes in.”
He described the IFS team as “very helpful”, with the business given online demos of the kit while it also went to see an existing system in action at a local company.
10-staff Futureprint is a third-generation family-run business that also runs a five-colour B2 Sakurai litho press, a Ricoh Pro C9100 digital printer, and Xerox machinery.
