We have recently installed a Six Colour Gopfert rotary die-cutter at our Selby facility, which allows for the production of high quality printed, die-cut corrugated cases. This state of the art machine, with in-line gloss unit and die-cutting facility, allows you to get knock-out print definition on your corrugated boxes. The new machine is equipped with the latest in print to die-cut registration systems, hot air dryers and a complete pre-feed and out-feed system.

To ensure that we have true 'mirror' capabilities at both sites, we have recently installed a new cassette style single facer on the 2.5m corrugator at Desborough, meaning that it too can now run E flute corrugated board, an essential addition to the Rigid offering. On the corrugator side of our business, we have recently taken delivery of R flute corrugating rolls, which allows us to make an interesting fluted board that offers the strength of B flute board, yet the printability of E flute.

With a 40% increase in output at the Selby plant over the last 18 months, investments have been made in both the production and storage facilities to meet the continually high demand for corrugated fibreboard packaging. Investment in a new SupaNova 2 Multi Point Gluer have enhanced Rigid's already market-leading innovations in Retail Ready Packaging, while expansion of the roll store and finished goods areas has seen an increase storage capacity from 6,000 to 14,000 pallets.

As well as the new speciality gluer, to further enhance production of retail ready packaging, we will shortly be taking delivery of a second Latitude flexo folder gluer, a machine that will print, die-cut, fold and glue a box in one pass. This new machine, due to be installed in the first quarter of 2012 at Desborough, is similar to the Latitude casemaker we are running at Selby.

We continually strive to enhance our production processes by improving our own manufacturing and supply chain efficiencies and investing in modern state-of-the-art machinery and technology – all culminating in more cost-effective packaging solutions and shorter lead times for our customers.