The installation is the latest effort by the Benson Group, which acquired Medica in 2005, to improve its facility in Crewe, UK to meet the exacting standards of its clients.
Installing three systems from Surfscan’s CHECKmate product line is intended to achieve this by reducing waste and downtime, improving productivity and profitability and boosting output.
Charlie McGrath, the company’s label and leaflets manager, said: “The pharma industry is demanding of its printed components and a vision system is almost a 'given' in label production. Our criteria was to find a system that could meet these exacting demands and yet have the right balance for productivity and user friendliness.
“We decided to opt for three areas using 'linescan' technology, before printing, during printing and for final inspection. We felt that Surfscan offered us the best in technology combined with the ease of use and successful integration with our equipment. Surfscan also offered a strong technical back up service and just as important, flexibility in their approach to business.”
Three techs
Medica has installed CHECKproof, CHECKrewind and CHECKpress Colour into its production line. The CHECKproof system compares print proofs with the original artwork, saving time, labour and eliminating human error.
Complementing this is CHECKpress that uses a digital linescan camera to check for random and repeating mistakes, sounding an audio and visual alarm when an error is detected.
Finally Medica has installed CHECKrewind, which operates in the final stage of the production line to ensure that no defective products are sent to customers.