Victor Dixon, VP of the New Jersey firm’s printed components business said the new press, a KBA Rapida 106, “introduces a higher standard in pharmaceutical carton supply and follows our investment in similar technology upgrades at our plants in the US and Puerto Rico.

“Our Dublin plant, which has served the pharmaceutical and healthcare market since it opened in 1989, has continually raised the bar for others to follow, and again leads its competitors with this investment.”

The press, which is capable of printing up to 15,000 packaging box sheets and medical device cartons per hour, will become fully operational early next month.

The unit features a QualiTronic full-sheet scanning camera, originally developed for currency production, which examines each sheet at full production speed, comparing it to an approved master for any inconsistencies or deviations.

Catalent added that the QualiTronic monitoring system can detect any minute colour changes and automatically adjust the press without the need for operator intervention, helping to ensure the quality of production runs.

The KBA press also features a Simultaneous Plate Changing system for rapid make-readies and a PlateIdent designed to reduce run-up waste and ensure correct sequencing during pack printing.

Catalent said that the system provides “the flexibility needed to effectively service both high and low volume jobs without sacrificing the superb quality, resolution and colour of true offset printing,” and added that its low level of consumption levels “benefits its customers through improved carbon footprint audits.”