Whitebird, an independent boxmaker located in Hamilton, Ont., recently streamlined its corrugated packaging production with the addition of the EFI Nozomi C18000, an ultra-high-speed inkjet press by Electronics For Imaging (EFI).

The 1.8-m (71-in.) wide machine, which is one of the first single-pass, ultra-high-speed digital corrugated packaging production systems to be installed in Canada, will allow the company to produce premium, shelf-ready packaging and corrugated displays in the exact quantities its customers request. Additionally, the press will help Whitebird accelerate its design process, offering operating speeds up to 75 m (246 ft) per minute.

Additional product features include:

• compatibility with a broad range of boards, including motted, bleach, and kraft materials;
• old corrugated cardboard (OCC) recyclability compatibility;
• in-line image quality inspection system to actively manage inkjet nozzle alignment and uniformity errors; and
• high-productivity, permanent head architecture, which eliminates downtime associated with replacing consumable printheads.

“We looked closely at the single-pass offerings in the market; it was clear the EFI Nozomi press can provide versatility in the corrugated packaging supply chain and better serve customers with superior-quality, direct-to-board digital print,” said Whitebird vice-president William Heikoop.

The press was recently named a winner of the Specialty Graphic Imaging Association’s (SGIA’s) Product of the Year Awards for 2018.