Scatolificio DA. RA. scales up digital corrugated production with Kongsberg Ultimate 64 Auto

Strategic shift towards high-speed digital finishing

As we navigate through the second half of 2026, the corrugated packaging sector continues to face relentless pressure from brands demanding faster turnarounds, hyper-customization, and smaller order volumes. Traditional die-cutting, while still the undisputed king of mass production, increasingly struggles to absorb the setup costs and time required for these micro-runs. Recognizing this structural shift in market demand, Italian packaging converter Scatolificio DA. RA. has signed a strategic agreement to install a new Kongsberg Ultimate 64 Auto digital cutting system, scheduled to enter full operation in early 2027.

This investment is not merely an equipment upgrade; it is a calculated move within the company's broader growth strategy. By integrating Kongsberg Precision Cutting Systems' flagship technology, Scatolificio DA. RA. aims to significantly increase its production capacity while simultaneously improving operational efficiency, cutting precision, and manufacturing flexibility.

The technical edge of the Ultimate 64 Auto

The Kongsberg Ultimate series, which recently garnered industry accolades including the Red Dot Award in 2025, was engineered specifically to address the bottlenecks faced by corrugated converters handling continuous, high-volume multi-batch production. The Ultimate 64 Auto model brings formidable specifications to the production floor.

• Maximum material size: Capable of handling boards up to 3210 x 3200 mm, accommodating large-format displays and heavy-duty corrugated sheets.
• Unprecedented speed: Operating at a maximum speed of 2800 mm/s.
• High acceleration: Reaching up to 24.5 m/s² (2.5 G), which drastically reduces the time spent on complex cutting paths and intricate structural designs.

For Scatolificio DA. RA., the "Auto" designation is particularly critical. In 2026, standalone cutting tables are no longer sufficient for competitive converters; automated material handling is mandatory. The automated feeding and stacking capabilities of the new system will allow the company to maintain continuous production cycles with minimal operator intervention, directly addressing the industry-wide challenge of labor shortages while maximizing machine uptime.

Bridging the gap between prototyping and production

The integration of the Kongsberg Ultimate 64 Auto will fundamentally alter how Scatolificio DA. RA. approaches its product development and fulfillment cycles. Historically, creating structural prototypes or producing short runs required either manual intervention or the costly, time-consuming manufacturing of physical dies. The new digital system eliminates tooling costs entirely.

This capability will directly support the rapid development of prototypes and high-fidelity samples, allowing the converter's clients to test packaging performance and retail display aesthetics before committing to larger volumes. Furthermore, it opens up profitable avenues for short-run production and high-precision applications that would be economically unviable on traditional analog equipment. By reducing processing times from file preparation to final cut, Scatolificio DA. RA. is positioning itself to capture the growing segment of on-demand packaging.

The decision by Scatolificio DA. RA. to invest in top-tier digital finishing infrastructure highlights a broader industry reality: the bottleneck in modern corrugated packaging is rarely the printing press anymore; it is the finishing department. High-acceleration digital cutting systems like the Ultimate 64 Auto prove that digital finishing can now handle the rigorous demands of multi-batch industrial production. Will traditional die-cutting eventually be relegated exclusively to massive, standardized runs as digital tables continue to close the speed and automation gap? Follow The Paper for daily news, market signals and key updates from the global paper, corrugated and packaging industry. — Sigue toda la actualidad del sector en www.thepaper.ai