Massilly NA adds Koenig & Bauer MetalCoat 470

Later this year, Massilly North America, the global metal packaging manufacturing and distribution company headquartered in Brantford, Ontario, Canada, will be installing a new Koenig & Bauer MetalCoat 470 coating line at its modern 250,000 sq ft facility employing over 200 highly skilled workers. With this investment, Massilly remains the largest user of Koenig & Bauer MetalPrint equipment in Canada.

“Our clientele includes a variety of customers in Canada, the US, and Central/South America from small producers to national co-packers, all the way to major multinational distributors and brands that require metal twist-off closures for the North American market,” said Garnet Lasby, president of Massilly North America. “To satisfy the high demands of our customers that require accurate register of spot-coated metal sheets, we chose to invest in the MetalCoat 470.”

The MetalCoat 470 is designed to combine the demand for high speed and large sheet size with the need for fast changeover. The three-roller coating application system of the MetalCoat 470 guarantees uncomplicated handling and processes for both conventional and BPA-NI coatings. The new HighEcon drying oven concept on the MetalCoat 470 automatically controls exhaust air volume, a reduction of up to 70% in gas consumption compared to an oven without integrated air purification, modified air flows within the oven, and the use of frequency controllers for all fans. Together, these features enable the handling of extremely thin metal sheets.

The upcoming free-standing coating line installation includes: a new semi-automatic pallet changer 775, new feeder 780, new MetalCoat 470, new DB 3000 drying oven 36m, new HighEcon 14000 incineration system, all connected to an existing double stacker 806-2 MagStack, and existing Inline pile turner 821.

With the significant investment of Koenig & Bauer equipment, Massilly is positively addressing a number of important areas such as a substantial increase in quality, efficiency, throughput, environmental needs, sustainability, and the ability to be nimbler and more proactive.

“During the installation of the MetalStar 3 press, we incurred an exponential increase in throughput and a significant increase in quality,” said Lasby. “With the installation of the MetalCoat 470, we expect to see a high double-digit increase – at least 20 per cent – in efficiency and throughput. Those are significant numbers for our operation.”

“We believe the new MetalCoat 470 and its coating head will provide the ultimate precision and minimise our coating consumption,” added Lasby. “Its generous sheet format of up to 1000 x 1200mm (39″ x 47″), fast makeready, and high running speeds will contribute to the optimization of our production process.”

Massilly made the decision based on its successful operation of its new Koenig & Bauer MetalStar 3 metal decorating press and its current MetalCoat 470. “We incurred significant increases in throughput and quality with the MetalStar 3,” says Lasby. “Its advanced sheet transfer technology is providing superior registration, the highest printing quality at the fastest speed, and largest sheet sizes. The faster throughput, auto wash and automated plate changes are allowing us to improve our turnaround time for printed orders, which has directly benefitted our customers.”

Looking toward the future, Lasby’s outlook calls for Massilly to offer more capacity and significant lead time for its customers, as it continues to invest in new equipment for current growth and what management expects moving forward.