Шотландская фабрика KennedySmith сократила смену и снизила энергозатраты на 26% после установки новой печатной машины

Published by Markku Björkman - 8 Sep, 2026 Scottish carton manufacturer KennedySmith has commissioned a new Rapida 106 printing press from Koenig & Bauer. According to the companies, the investment has enabled the plant to produce the same volume in 3 shifts instead of 6. Energy costs also fell by 26 per cent during the first quarter of 2026. Based in Ayrshire, Scotland, KennedySmith manufactures solid-board cartons for customers in sectors including the food and pharmaceutical industries. The new press is intended to provide greater production flexibility and improve the company’s ability to handle short lead times and varying order volumes. The reported productivity and energy savings are based on information supplied by Koenig & Bauer and KennedySmith. Same output with fewer shifts According to Michiel Molenaar, Managing Director at Koenig & Bauer, KennedySmith can now achieve the same production volume with half the number of shifts previously required. Energy costs during the first quarter were also 26 per cent lower. The reduction is attributed both to the smaller number of operating shifts and to the press’s more efficient drying system. – It reflects a combination of fewer shifts and the new dryer being considerably more efficient at recirculating heat, Molenaar said. Reducing the number of shifts may deliver benefits beyond lower energy consumption. It can also reduce staffing requirements during evenings and nights while creating more time for planned maintenance. However, the companies have not published detailed comparisons of production rates or energy consumption per carton produced. Automated changeovers and print inspection The Rapida 106 is a medium-format sheetfed offset press. KennedySmith’s configuration is equipped with 6 printing units and a coating unit. Its equipment includes automated plate changes, logistics support and an integrated inspection system that compares printed sheets with digital PDF files. Deviations can therefore be identified during production, potentially reducing misprints, material waste and rework. Automation can also shorten changeover times between different packaging runs. This is particularly important in markets where customers increasingly demand smaller volumes, more design variants and shorter delivery times. Print inspection is especially important for pharmaceutical and food packaging, where incorrect wording, labelling or colour reproduction can result in entire production batches being rejected. Investment supports future growth Koenig & Bauer describes the installation as the beginning of a long-term partnership with KennedySmith. The supplier believes the press’s high degree of automation will provide the carton producer with a stable platform for expanding production. – With this level of specification, the Rapida 106 operates largely autonomously and gives the team a productive and reliable platform for future growth. We look forward to developing this new partnership and supporting the company’s continued expansion, said Chris Scully, Managing Director of Koenig & Bauer UK. The installation reflects the continuing automation of the packaging-printing industry. For producers facing demanding quality requirements and frequent product changes, shorter changeovers, integrated inspection and lower energy consumption are becoming increasingly important competitive factors. Sources: Koenig & Bauer and KennedySmith.