Biopax, headquartered in Belfast, Northern Ireland, specializes in sustainable carton packaging, paper wrapping, and self-adhesive label solutions. The company currently provides eco-friendly packaging options to the food, beverage, and non-food sectors in the UK and Ireland. As part of its strategic growth plans, Biopax is also establishing production capabilities for sustainable packaging in Europe, India, and the People's Republic of China.
Furthermore, in 2023/24, the company intends to broaden its product range by introducing plastic-free paper cups, containers, and salad bowls. Investments in R&D and innovation set Biopax apart from its competitors, as it strives for sustainable change and plastic replacement solutions in the food and non-food packaging sector.
To support its commitment to enhancing and refining its sustainable offerings for clients, Biopax has recently invested in HEIDELBERG equipment, including a Speedmaster XL 106 and Mastermatrix die cutters. Additionally, the company is actively expanding its Belfast facility, with plans to create over 170 jobs and nearly double the size of its production and storage area. This expansion will facilitate increased investment in ultra-high volume flexographic printing and dedicated rotary converting for some of the world's leading brands.
Following thorough research, Biopax chose the Speedmaster XL 106 for its extensive operational capabilities. A spokesperson from Biopax highlighted that besides the outstanding performance and overall productivity of the Speedmaster XL 106, another crucial factor in their decision was its carbon-neutral certification, aligning perfectly with Biopax's commitment to delivering top-quality environmentally conscious packaging.
Dr. Terry Cross OBE, Chairman of Biopax Ltd., added, “In addition to the green benefits, we also realized that the Speedmaster XL 106 with Prinect Inpress Control would deliver and exceed our customers’ expectations in regards to their company branding and color management strategies,”
Biopax consulted with several seasoned printers experienced in large-format HEIDELBERG presses within the folded carton industry, drawing on their expertise before selecting HEIDELBERG as their printing press supplier. To date, they have invested £20 million in state-of-the-art HEIDELBERG technology for their 70,000 sq ft facility.
The Speedmaster XL 106 offers rapid, color-accurate makereadies compliant with Fogra 39 or the latest Fogra 51 standards. It ensures precise brand color reproduction within a tolerance of dE2.5 and consistent color across all print runs, thanks to Prinect Inpress Control, resulting in stable and accurate color and faster turnaround times for FMCG cartons. This improved technology streamlines both makeready and production processes.
“We are delighted with the results and are awaiting delivery of a second Speedmaster XL 106 press with the same specifications,” says Dr Cross. “This will offer us and our customers a high-quality product that exceeds their expectations. Our world-class design software systems are fully integrated into our HEIDELBERG production kit. This helps us to optimize our machine outputs while reducing down-time and waste. This means we can get our products out to our customers faster and deliver benchmark print and finishing quality. Our customers are continually delighted at the enhanced service, flexibility and quality of the carton products they are receiving from Biopax.”
In addition to adopting the Speedmaster XL 106, Biopax has also made investments in Mastermatrix die cutters, replacing its previously used Bobst Die Cutting machines.
This transition was prompted by the realization that the Mastermatrix die cutter offered superior value for money, increased output, and advanced features such as faster makeready times, higher running speeds, and enhanced cutting, creasing, and blanking quality, surpassing its competitors.
With extensive experience in the packaging industry, Biopax enlisted its experts to compare specifications against equipment from other manufacturers. Given that the specifications exceeded their expectations, they opted for HEIDELBERG equipment.
Declan Martin, Account Manager at HEIDELBERG, expressed pride in Biopax's choice of HEIDELBERG equipment, emphasizing that their cutting-edge printing technology solutions align with the evolving needs of their customers. He noted that the trust placed in HEIDELBERG reflects the company's reputation as a top supplier for organizations dedicated to quality and long-term success.
Dr. Terry Cross OBE, Chairman of Biopax Ltd, a veteran of the folded carton industry, has consistently invested in HEIDELBERG equipment throughout his career. He firmly believes that HEIDELBERG manufactures the world's finest printing and finishing equipment and has now committed to a comprehensive HEIDELBERG solution for folded cartons. This includes one Suprasetter 106, two Speedmaster XL 106 presses equipped with logistics and Prinect Inpress Control, four Mastermatrix die cutting machines, two Diana folder gluer lines, and one Polar guillotine, complemented by a Polar pile turner.
