The machine, which was supplied by Intelligent Finishing Systems (IFS) and installed around three months ago, was chosen to unify RFID tag and label production and increase productivity at the Corby site.

Designed to handle short-run die-cut products, the kit was identified by SML Group’s head office in Hong Kong as part of its global procurement strategy established to ensure global production quality is consistently maintained.

SML Corby operations manager Julian Wall said the decision to invest was prompted by three drivers: “We were winning more and more orders for RFID tags and labels and our flatbed system was very labour intensive. Also, we had a fire in July and moved into a temporary building. Since then we have been phasing in new systems.

“We predominantly service UK businesses and manage a lot of short-run work that needs to be turned around in 24 hours.”

The company had previously been using a Heidelberg platen for this type of work, which was rendered unusable following the fire.

SML Corby procurement manager Andy Paterson said: “The new machine has had a massive impact on the speed we can produce.

“We’re printing point-of-sale tickets for a lot of high-street stores and we’re now probably getting three tmes the volume out, the tickets are coming out cleaner and the set up time is quicker. It’s certainly improved our process and lead times.”

The RD-4055 runs at a speed of up to 6,000cph. It can die-cut, crease, perforate, slit, hole punch and round corner in one process for digital and offset-printed sheets up to 0.5mm.

Its repeat-register function enables the running of multiple-up imposed applications with a smaller die to reduce die cost.

Paterson said investing in new kit in-line with the rest of the group ensures consistent results for customers.

“Part of the selling promise to our customers is that SML is a group, and if you buy from one site we produce pretty much the same as any other site,” he said.

“So your end product is the same because we all work from mostly the same materials and the same equipment. We make that promise because otherwise you run the risk of incontinuity of an approved product.”

77-staff SML Corby works with a raft of household names including Next, Tesco, Matalan, Burberry and the Arcadia Group.

It produces short to medium runs on an HP Indigo 5600 and two Konica Minolta Bizhub press 1250P printers.