A Polish converter has installed the Edale CartonLine FL6p flexographic press, supplied by Edale, a Canon company, in partnership with its local agent Graw. The high-specification installation enables the production of both folding cartons and labels on a single platform, integrating printing, embellishment and converting into a continuous, single-pass process.
With over 30 years of flexographic expertise, Graw supports the installation with dedicated after-sales service and local technical assistance. The new setup is transforming carton production by adopting a single-pass flexo model that reduces lead times, minimizes work-in-progress (WIP) and enhances competitiveness in an evolving market.
Rather than replicating conventional lithographic workflows, the converter aimed to simplify operations and build a more agile, commercially efficient production environment. The shift to single-pass production significantly reduces handling, shortens turnaround times and improves responsiveness to shorter and more complex job requirements.
The installation also reflects a broader trend across Central and Eastern Europe, where converters are increasingly adopting flexo-led production models to manage rising SKU volumes, faster delivery expectations and margin pressures.
Paweł Drobek, machinery sales specialist at Graw, noted that converters in the region are under increasing pressure to handle shorter runs, higher SKU counts and tighter deadlines. He emphasized that the system delivers faster makeready, quicker changeovers and a substantial reduction in WIP, enabling jobs to move through production more efficiently and reach customers faster.
The 10-color press is configured to support both carton and label applications, maximizing utilization across diverse job types. Inline processes—including die-cutting, foil application, screen printing and lamination—are fully integrated, eliminating the need for separate finishing stages.
This level of process consolidation drives efficiency by reducing manual intervention, lowering labor dependency and ensuring more predictable output, particularly for short- to medium-run jobs where traditional workflows are less efficient.
The press also features Edale’s EZ Foil technology, which can reduce foil waste by up to 80%, along with advanced registration control and integrated embellishment capabilities for premium applications.
Gary Roberts, head of sales EMEA at Edale, highlighted that the combination of faster makeready, rapid changeovers and reduced WIP in a single-pass workflow fundamentally improves turnaround times. He noted that this shift allows converters to compete more effectively on speed, efficiency and responsiveness, rather than relying solely on print quality.
This installation represents one of the most advanced configurations of the CartonLine platform to date, underscoring the growing demand for production models focused on efficiency, flexibility and process integration.
As converters across Europe continue to adapt to shorter runs and increasing complexity, collaborations between technology providers and regional partners are enabling a transition beyond traditional production constraints toward more agile and competitive operations.