Packaging giant DS Smith is set to install digital die-cutting [a fabrication process that uses specialised machines and tools to convert stock material by cutting, forming, and shearing] machinery from printing products and equipment provider Highcon within its French division.

The announcement was made following the Drupa 2024 trade fair in Düsseldorf, Germany, where the Highcon Beam 3 premiered.

The equipment manages 10 folding carton jobs with an average run length of 1000 sheets every shift.

By investing in the Beam 3, DS Smith is aiming to meet its customers' fast turnaround and supply chain challenges, as well as to offer superior packaging solutions to its core customer segments.

Highcon collaborated with BHS Corrugated to make this investment possible at DS Smith.

Armand Chaigne, DS Smith's managing director for the France and Spain consumer packaging division, commented: “Innovation is in our DNA. The implementation of the laser-cut machine Beam 3 in one of our French sites supports the growing demand for sustainable packaging solutions.”

The company recently invested €6m ($6.43m) in additional production machinery from BOBST at its La Chevrolière packaging facility in France.

DS Smith’s focus on improving its operations in France reflects the growth of the nation’s packaging market, which reached 94.9bn units in 2023 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of under 10% by 2028.