Apr 20, 2012. /Lesprom Network/. A&R Carton is putting into operation a completely new-style gravure printing machine from Gallus. The ICS 670 represents the ultimate efficiency in flexible folding carton processing and is equipped with 11 printing mechanisms, reverse-side printing, cold and hot foiling technology, screen printing, multiple embossing and a panel separation unit, as the company said in a press release received by Lesprom Network. A&R Carton can look back on a history of many successful years in the manufacturing of folding carton, for example for tobacco products, confectionery and FMCG. Throughout the 50-year existence of its Augsburg factory, the company has played its role as an innovative pioneer, which it is now reinforcing with an investment of Euro 9 million in gravure printing. An investment of this magnitude is unique in the company’s history. Harald Schulz, CEO & President of AR Packaging Group, acknowledges the bold step as the starting point in a new era: “We will revolutionise in particular the premium folding carton market. All current finishing stages, including stamping, are to be processed inline in only one working step. In the future, all users of premium finished folding carton will come to appreciate the unique advantages of this exclusive technology.” The potential of the machine, the idea and implementation is almost unmeasurable and will more than fulfil the extremely high demands and complex requirements of this greatly changing market. Peter Misof, Works Manager at the Augsburg factory, says of the already hard-working machine: “We have the opportunity to reduce tool costs that have previously been very high. The new technology will make the brilliant gravure printing unimaginably competitive against competing printing processes and will be of significantly higher quality. The process also shows the red line through all working steps that up to now have been separate, including all the necessary processes and machinery.” With this advance in technology, gravure printing, previously considered to be more suited to larger print circulations, will remain and become attractive even for print circulations that are becoming demonstrably and significantly smaller. A&R Carton specialises in value-adding folding carton packaging solutions, combining an innovative approach with vast experience in traditional consumer packaging. The company was founded in 2000 through the merger of Åkerlund & Rausing’s carton business and FCP. Both companies had traditions in the folding carton industry dating back to the early 1990s. A&R Carton is part of AR Packaging Group with is owned by Ahlström Capital (64%) – a private equity investment company founded in 2001 with industrial heritage from 1853 and Accent Equity Partners (32%) – a Swedish private equity company with the remainder being owned by the management.