Whitebird is Soaring to the Forefront of Innovation with an EFI Nozomi C18000 – Canada’s First Single-Pass, Ultra-high-speed Corrugated Inkjet Press

FREMONT, Calif., Sept. 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Whitebird, one of Canada’s leading independent boxmakers, will offer faster turnaround and greater versatility in high-end corrugated packaging production with a new, breakthrough technology addition, the EFI™ Nozomi C18000 ultra-high-speed inkjet press from Electronics For Imaging, Inc. (Nasdaq:EFII). The second-generation Hamilton, Ontario-based company is becoming a driver in the industry’s important analog-to-digital transformation with the award-winning press – the very first single-pass, ultra-high-speed digital corrugated packaging production system to be installed in Canada.

A new era for fast turnarounds on packaging designs
Whitebird will be able to produce premium shelf-ready packaging and corrugated displays in the exact quantities customers need with the Nozomi press – a key advantage that has been all but impossible to achieve in the past, considering the larger fixed costs and minimum run lengths required on high-graphic corrugated packaging using analog flexo and litho lamination methods.

The Nozomi press shortens the time needed to launch new designs from weeks or months to just days, which means Whitebird clients throughout Canada and the U.S. will be able to drive greater product sell-through and better marketing performance with more-targeted corrugated packaging and display advertising strategies. The new press, which is scheduled to be installed in the fourth quarter of 2018, also builds on Whitebird’s longstanding commitment to customers by adding fast-turnaround digital production to the popular same- and next-day order processing and delivery services the company already offers on inventoried items.

“Our customers know they can achieve greater sell-through with clever versioning strategies and interesting new designs, but excessive analog run-length requirements often restrict them to only using packaging that they already have in inventory,” said Whitebird Vice President William Heikoop. “We looked closely at the single-pass offerings in the market, and it was clear that the EFI Nozomi press was the best option to provide more versatility in the corrugated packaging supply chain and better serve customers with superior-quality, direct-to-board digital print.”

High-quality, ultra-high-speed, direct-to-board production
The 71-inch (1.8-meter) wide EFI Nozomi C18000 single-pass, LED inkjet, ultra-high-speed press delivers on the promise of digital production in an era where brands know the importance of using data-driven supply chain and design strategies to preserve capital and create new growth. Operating at speeds up to 246 linear feet (75 linear meters) per minute, the press can print up to 10,000 35x35-inch (890x890-mm) boards per hour two-up.

The single-pass, piezo grayscale inkjet writing system on the Nozomi press delivers accurate, high-fidelity color, including consistent reproduction on solid areas. And, the EFI Fiery® NZ-1000 digital front end (DFE) print server and production system used to drive the press provides blazing performance, outstanding color management, and the ability to produce versioned/multi-SKU work and even personalized packaging at full speed.

The press is a premier technology for high-volume digital corrugated packaging production: It has received top industry honors such as a 2018 Printing Industries of America InterTech™ award and a 2018 SGIA Product of the Year award. And, leading corrugated manufacturers in Europe, North America, Asia and the South Pacific all use EFI Nozomi presses to meet growing demand for high-quality digital production.

Additional features and benefits of the EFI Nozomi C18000 include:

• Compatibility with a broad range of boards, from F-flute to triple-wall board, and including traditional Kemi, mottled, bleach and kraft materials – with all of them printing at full press-rated speeds
• Assured sustainability with output certified for OCC recyclability and repulpability by the Western Michigan University Recycling, Paper and Coating Pilot Plant – a leading certification organization for corrugated recycling
• A 100% in-line image quality inspection system that actively manages and optimizes inkjet nozzle alignment and uniformity errors for superior imaging quality
• A high-productivity, permanent head architecture that eliminates the downtime associated with replacing consumable printheads.

“Whitebird’s executives have long seen the promise of what digital can achieve and we are excited to help them put that vision into action with Canada’s first ultra-high-speed, single-pass digital corrugated packaging press,” said José Luis Ramón Moreno, vice president and general manager, EFI Industrial Printing. “The significant advantages Whitebird’s clients will receive with the EFI Nozomi’s high-end LED inkjet technology will further improve the company’s already strong reputation as a customer-centric packaging manufacturer delivering exceptional service and fast turnaround.”

Whitebird’s new, single-pass digital corrugated press is part of a complete ecosystem for corrugated manufacturing available from EFI, with leading edge inks, Fiery DFE technology and a complete EFI Corrugated Packaging Suite business and production management workflow. For more information about advanced digital corrugated packaging production with EFI technologies, visit www.efi.com.

About Whitebird
Whitebird is a leading distributor and manufacturer of corrugated solutions, packaging, sanitation and safety supplies. Our outstanding customer service team offers expertise and reliable assistance to make customers’ experience with Whitebird the best it can be. From the moment an order is received, it is processed and delivered with respect and proper attention. We take pride in our personal service and delivery of quality products at a competitive price. For more information about Whitebird, visit www.whitebird.ca or call (800) 263-2128.

About EFI

EFI™ is a global technology company, based in Silicon Valley, and is leading the worldwide transformation from analog to digital imaging. We are passionate about fueling customer success with products that increase competitiveness and boost productivity. To do that, we develop breakthrough technologies for the manufacturing of signage, packaging, textiles, ceramic tiles, and personalized documents, with a wide range of printers, inks, digital front ends, and a comprehensive business and production workflow suite that transforms and streamlines the entire production process. (www.efi.com)

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