North Carolina based trade finisher Packrite is starting off 2016 with a bang. It has just begun operation of the largest, first-of-its-kind in the world, Singleface laminator. Their new Bobst Asitrade Masterflute is able to produce sheets up to 64 x 87”. In addition to roll to sheet lamination it also features roll-to-roll capability. In addition Packrite now has the ability to precisely register front to back graphics. “There’s nothing else with both the size and capabilities of this machine anywhere else in the world, let alone North America,” according to company Chief Operating Officer and co-owner Michael Drummond. “We’ve built our business by offering the highest technology equipment and by providing services that no one else can. Front to backliner register is just one more example of how Packrite is able to give its trade customers a new capability and a new way to be even more successful with their own customers.”
With this new addition Packrite continues its strong sales growth while dramatically increasing its production capacity. For the fourth year in a row Inc. Magazine has named Packrite one of the fastest growing, privately held companies in the United States. Packrite has also been recognized as being one of the fastest-growing business it its state. In numerical terms this means that the company has seen sales increases between 25 and 30% year over year from its inception during the recession of 2008.
Packrite’s extraordinary growth is fueled by their unique position as a multi-product trade finisher for the corrugated and folding carton industries. The majority of their work comes from expanding and enhancing the services of other converters across North America. Drummond states, “Our success comes from giving our box maker customers more capabilities to enhance what they do and expand the range or products and options they can offer. We do this by allowing them to inexpensively utilize the efficiencies offered by our state-of-the-art finishing equipment. We provide a higher level of graphics for our corrugated customers and a greater structural strength for those growing their folding carton businesses.”
The Packrite investment to date has included the top-of-the-line Bobst Masterfold 130 and a Masterfold 170 folder-gluer with double Gyrobox rotation; Two Bobst diecutters including the large format Mastercut, a Kohmann Window Patcher, and a 64 inch Bobst Asitrade singleface laminator along with the recent addition of the 87 inch Masterflute singleface laminator. “Having extensive large format capabilities enables us to run more pieces with fewer machine hours, thereby enabling us to provide our customers in the trade with a tremendous cost savings. Along these lines, roll-to-roll lamination means that runs of all sizes can be done with greater efficiencies. Combined our capabilities create a win-win situation for everyone,” stated Drummond. “We empower box and carton makers to expand what they can offer their customers without the need for them to make large capital investments for just their own businesses.”
At last year’s AICC Designers Lab Packrite introduced its Digi-Rite™ line of sheets as a new product, unique to the marketplace. Digi-Rite was specifically developed for the digital printing market offering exceptional flatness and a smooth printing surface. It utilizes an HP Indigo certified substrate as recognized by the Rochester Institute of Technology’s Printing Applications Laboratory.
“As the saying goes, ‘the future is so bright I have to wear shades,’” promises Drummond. “The more and smarter ways we can serve our customer base, the more we expect to grow.”