Graphic Packaging Opens the Global Innovation Centre

The Global Innovation Centre (GIC) of Graphic Packaging is set to transform the packaging process with an increased focus on innovative packaging, which it claims will be the first of its kind for the carton packaging industry in Europe.

The GIC has provided a space for its graphic packaging design teams where they will be able to handle projects for both food and beverage clients. The graphic packaging team says it will change the way food and beverage packaging gets developed and manufactured in Europe.

The centre has invested a huge $1 million at its UK site for very modern design and packaging solutions including the PackWorks system, Roland UV Printer, and Zund S3 M800 plotters.

The New Packaging Equipment Investment
The PackWorks system is a packaging system that helps businesses to reduce the amount of processing time and effort required to package their products. The system includes a full packaging machine, packaging products, and a computer-controlled system that automatically packages products. The PackWorks system is designed to be used with a variety of different product types which include food products, cosmetics, and electronics. The system is very modern and can be customised so it fits the need of each customer that uses it.

The Roland UV Printer is a high-speed and versatile printer that is an ideal fit for packaging applications. The machine has a unique inkjet printhead and it can print on a varied number of substrate materials, including paper, plastic, foil, metal, and glass. The printer also has a drying system that cures the ink immediately, allowing for rapid production speeds. The printer is also equipped with an advanced colour management system which means it can maintain a high-quality printed product across a wide range of packaging materials regardless of size or shape.

The Zund S3 M800 is a state-of-the-art plotter that offers a huge range of features. This machine is perfect for packaging applications, and it can handle many different types of materials, including paper, cardboard, foil, and film. The system can also create large format prints due to its size and an integrated cutting table makes it easy to trim prints to the required size.

The investment in leading print technology will allow the centre to create bespoke, industry-leading designs on several different products. The investment means that special designs could be seen on food packaging, foil containers, cardboard boxes, folding cartons, carrier bags, corrugated packaging, and pizza boxes too. The technology will also make it easy for brands to add a unique style of branding to their packaging to make them stand out.

There is a vast range of opportunities that the investment in such modern equipment will bring and will speed up the production process for partners in many industries regardless of the material or shapes that are used.

Graphic Packaging and Other Features of the GIC
The GIC is very well equipped to manage the production plans and processes of its clients. The business can get its design teams to meet with clients, including the technical production team, who can develop design concepts that fit with the company’s worldwide production capability. The marketing, technical design, and conceptual design teams all work together to develop designs that are adaptable to their customer’s needs and requirements.

According to Helene Roberts – Marketing, Innovation, and Design Director in Europe, the GIC facilitates a quick turnaround of 100% colour mock-ups for clients.

The GIC site in the UK has a 3D printer that allows the company’s designers to mock up plastic components with impulse heat sealer units, which will help the company to expand the capabilities of its carton packs.

Opportunities for growth at GIC
The centre has a food-to-go range called “Delilicious” and this is a product that shows a great opportunity for growth with new and unique designs.

The range consists of fourteen carton packaging concepts, of which seven are registered as unique designs for the company. The packaging product ranges from the conventional sandwich and wraps packs to more innovative packaging such as picnic sharing and hybrid foods like lasagne wontons. The creation of these products was done to match the results of research into the food-to-go market via a retail analysis project and customer insight.

The centre works with the GIC businesses in Chicago and Atlanta, a UK-based design studio, an R&D Centre in Colorado, and a testing kitchen facility in Spain.

The food-to-go range is guided by “PackWorks”, and this system has helped to improve project efficiency. A project that historically took months to complete can now be fully completed (from mock-up sample to final product) within days.

In addition to having a unique design, the flexible packaging will be widely recycled, and consumers will know that they are purchasing sustainable packaging that not just looks good, but also is better for the environment.

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