Edale and GRAW Install High-Spec CartonLine FL6p in Poland
A forward-thinking Polish converter is reshaping how folding cartons are produced, using a single-pass flexo model to reduce lead times, cut work-in-progress and compete more effectively in a changing market.
Delivered by Edale, a Canon company, in partnership with its Polish agent GRAW, which brings over 30 years of flexographic expertise along with dedicated after-sales support and local technical service, the high-specification Edale CartonLine FL6p installation enables the business to produce both folding cartons and labels on one platform, combining printing, embellishment and converting in a continuous process.
Rather than replicating traditional litho workflows, the customer’s objective was clear: simplify production and build a more agile, commercially efficient operation. By moving to a single-pass approach, the business can significantly reduce handling, shorten turnaround times and respond more quickly to shorter, more complex jobs.
The installation reflects a wider shift across Central and Eastern Europe, where converters are increasingly exploring flexo-led production models to address rising SKU counts, faster delivery expectations and pressure on margins.
Pawe? Drobek, Machinery Sales Specialist at GRAW, said: “Converters here are under pressure to do more with less, shorter runs, more SKUs, tighter deadlines. What this installation delivers is faster makeready, quicker changeovers and a significant reduction in work-in-progress.
“That translates directly into speed. Jobs move through the factory faster, and customers get product sooner. It’s a very different way of running carton production.”
The 10-colour system is configured to support both carton and label production, allowing the business to maximise utilisation across multiple applications. Inline processes, including die-cutting, foil, screen and lamination, are integrated into a single workflow, removing the need for separate finishing stages.
This consolidation is where the real efficiency lies. Fewer process steps mean less work-in-progress, reduced labour dependency and more predictable output, particularly in short- to medium-run work where traditional workflows are most exposed.
The press also incorporates Edale’s EZ Foil technology, delivering up to 80% reduction in foil waste, alongside advanced registration control and integrated embellishment capability for premium applications.
Gary Roberts, Head of Sales EMEA at Edale, added: “This is where the economics shift. When you combine faster makeready, rapid changeovers and reduced WIP in a single-pass workflow, you fundamentally change turnaround times.
“That’s what makes this commercially powerful. GRAW has recognised that and delivered a solution that allows the customer to compete on speed, efficiency and responsiveness, not just print quality.”
This installation is among the most advanced configurations delivered by Edale to date, underlining both the flexibility of the CartonLine platform and the growing demand for production models built around efficiency, flexibility and process consolidation.
As converters across Europe continue to adapt to shorter runs and increasing complexity, partnerships such as Edale and GRAW are enabling businesses to move beyond traditional constraints and compete on a different basis.