Connect Packaging is one of the first dedicated packaging company’s in the UK to work in partnership with manufacturers HP to drive forward its digital arm through the use of a Scitex FB7600 large format digital press.

This new state of the art equipment allows Connect, which operates from a 100,000 sq ft factory in Benfleet, Essex, to expand its products and services. The company is already one of the largest independent businesses in its sector with sales approaching £10 million a year.

Connect was acquired in December 2013 by the CBS Packaging Group whose head office is based in the West Midlands. One of the first key decisions by CBS has been to back the acquisition of HP’s market-leading technology for Connect.

Connect sales director James Newton says: “Digital is the future. We have always offered a versatile and cost-effective service, but going digital is a game changer. We’re already known as the UK’s number one destination packaging company.”

The company was founded more than half a century ago and has continued to grow thanks to a cutting edge reputation. Current clients include major UK brands across the retail and leisure industries, as well as business to business with success to date largely attributed to an award-winning in-house design team.

James adds: “Our customers have always recognised our fantastic heritage and pedigree, but cost has often been prohibitive for them when placing orders for small runs of packaging materials or more specialist or artisan products. Thanks to our significant investment in digital print technology, we can continue to lead our field. Our expert designers’ work can appear on much smaller runs. This latest technology brings with it unrivalled flexibility, quality and precision and an ability to print on a wide variety of media measuring 1.6 x 3.2m and up to 25mm thick. In addition, Connect have also invested in a new Esko Konsberg high-speed cutting table to work alongside the digital press. This enhances our overall service bringing additional benefits of producing the finished article without the need to invest in expensive cutting formes, ideal for prototypes and market testing."

“We appreciate the peace of mind this investment brings that we are genuinely at the forefront of our industry. We are increasing productivity and employing more staff. Digital has been around for several years but its use is primarily within the POP, signs and display sector. We are proud to be one of the first UK packaging firms to have made this major investment and look forward to continuing to exceed our customers’ expectations through the benefits of this outstanding new technology. One of the new markets open to us thanks to our investment is small to medium sized businesses who may want to order tailored packaging for their products on a much smaller scale but where quality of print and design need to be of the highest standards."

“These are exciting times ahead with further investment to come. We are delighted to have joined forces with CBS and to work with them as we harness the potential of our state of the art equipment.”