Flexographic plates producer, Contact Originators, has invested in a third Esko CDI Crystal XPS imager and exposure solution to support its move into the flexible packaging and label markets.
The purchase takes Contact’s investment in its 32,500sq/ft site in Dukinfield, Manchester, to over £5m since moving to the facility in March 2021. The CDI Crystal XPS will be installed shortly in a dedicated production hall for flexible packaging and label plates. It is expected to be fully operational before the end of April, and provides the company with three inline flexo workflows for efficient, integrated and automated platemaking.
Steve Mulcahy, CEO of Contact Originators Group, said: ‘This investment underpins our business growth and development for 2023 and beyond. We believe it’s critical for the future of platemaking and provides greater capacity for us as we begin to gain market share in the flexibles and label markets and back up to our already established corrugated business.’ He continued, ‘This new CDI Crystal XPS represents the start of a new era at Contact. We always have one eye on the future, and we are excited to be bringing best-in-class technologies and expertise to the flexibles and label arenas.’
James Mason, Esko regional business director, said, ‘We are delighted to be the partner of choice for Contact Originators as they standardise their platemaking with 100% Esko solutions. Adding a third line of CDI Crystal XPS plate imaging and exposure hardware to an already impressive setup now enables Contact Originators to both diversify its offering and increase its productivity while ensuring the quality of the plate and resultant print quality. We are proud to be a part of this ongoing, exciting period for Steve and the team as they continue to develop, and we look forward to continuing our relationship for many years to come.’
