The world’s fastest metal printing press - the $13 million KBA MetalStar 3 printing line - is now in full testing mode at Jamestrong Packaging’s Milperra plant in Sydney’s south-west.
With installation now complete, the MetalStar 3 is currently in the commissioning and training phase, and the company expects it will reach full production by second quarter 2017.
Print manager Tim Bright says the new press has been highly impressive.
“It's a real job-eater. All early signs of the machine confirm that it absolutely flies. Jobs that used to take us four passes can now be done with a single pass.
"With our older metal printers, we used to put about 500 finished sheets on the floor in an hour. With the MS3 press, we think - and it's only early days - that figure per hour will increase to 4000 finished sheets. That's impressive.
"If you multiply that by the hours we can have the machine in production - potentially 24-hours per day, six days per week - that's a phenomenal potential output."
Like Jamestrong's recently opened infant formula can production line at its Kyabram plant in Victoria, the KBA MetalStar 3 printer has been installed in a purpose-built facility.
Manufacturing manager Greg Bessant says Jamestrong is making a large investment in specialist staff recruitment and operator training before full production can commence.
"We have made a huge investment in the new metal printer but we are also investing in a highly skilled workforce. We have brought three full-time specialist KBA operators into the business who are sharing their knowledge with our existing operators and vice-versa. All 20 of our print staff will have completed operator training by Q2 2017."
"We're really looking forward to unleashing its capabilities. The extra flexibility it offers is going to be a huge benefit for us and our customers."
Jamestrong Packaging is the largest supplier of aerosol cans and food cans in Australasia, with head office located in Melbourne and four manufacturing facilities located throughout Australia and New Zealand.