Page 36 - Print21 November-December 2021

Packaging
A pandemic-induced pivot for family owned and operated Australian commercial print business CBS Printing has led to the establishment of a thriving one-stop-shop food packaging business. Lindy Hughson reports.
Printer pivots into packaging
CBS Printing has been providing commercial printing, design, and distribution services to the Macarthur area in NSW for
over 40 years, the company working a well worn path in the commercial print arena.
Printing is the company’s core business, with an established fleet of Ryobi four-colour UV presses and Heidelberg die-cutting machines in situ at the Smeaton Grange facility.
The advent of the pandemic, however, saw a downturn in business from regular customers who were unable to operate due to Covid-19 restrictions – a situation that was common across the entire commercial print industry. At the same time, demand was spiking for printed packaging to service the burgeoning ready-meal sector.
Until that time, the company had been supplying printed materials for packaging, but saw an opportunity to service a rapidly growing customer base of food service start-ups and
Green packaging for ready made meals is the future: Steven Wilson
small food companies who found themselves having to quickly move into home delivery and retail – uncharted territory for most of them. Included in this customer base were companies already supplying ready-meals to retail, but who now had to service increased demand for a wider range of products.
The snap decision was made to invest in an in-line DGM Smartfold 800 SL folder gluer machine to add to its fleet, which would enable CBS to convert flat printed sheets into ready meal sleeves.
in a machine that has enabled the business to enter a new market. Joshua Wilson, head of the new packaging division, explains
that beyond the packaging line installation, CBS has created a full service, end-to-end solution for food manufacturers.
“We saw a huge gap in a full-suite service for these companies, who were faced with the major challenge of entering a market that was new to them – retail – and setting up their supply chain. Many didn’t know where to start, sourcing ingredients, finding a manufacturer, finding packaging that aligned with their sustainability values, the works,” Wilson said.
CBS has established a network
of partners who can supply all the requirements for a ready-meal maker who needs the food processed, packaged, and delivered to the retailer. The company can also
assist with branding and
marketing strategies.
“From raw materials, to
“We can add this value for these clients to take the burden off them so they can focus on what they do best, creating the meals.” – Joshua Wilson
The line’s capacity is 60,000 units an hour, converting packaging for
a customer base that has grown rapidly since CBS entered the market to 166 ready-meal companies.
However, it wasn’t just putting
36 Print21 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021