Edale entrusts VBR All Service with its commercial and technical expansion in the Italian packaging market

A strategic move in a high-demand market

Edale, the UK-based manufacturer of flexographic printing and converting equipment backed by Canon, has formalized a critical expansion of its operational footprint in Southern Europe. The company has appointed VBR All Service as its official distributor for Italy, a move that transcends a standard sales agreement to establish a comprehensive, localized technical support infrastructure. In the highly competitive landscape of 2026, equipment manufacturers are increasingly recognizing that selling advanced machinery requires an equally advanced, immediate service network.

The partnership grants VBR All Service the responsibility of representing Edale’s entire printing and converting portfolio across the Italian market. However, the core value of this alliance lies in the aftermarket and operational support. VBR will manage consultancy, installation, operator training, technical assistance, preventive and corrective maintenance, and the supply of genuine spare parts. This localized approach directly addresses the industry's growing intolerance for machine downtime and the logistical delays associated with cross-border technical support.

Automation and workflow integration as primary drivers

Italy remains one of Europe’s most robust and demanding sectors for labels and packaging. Converters in the region are currently navigating a complex environment characterized by margin pressures, a demand for shorter run lengths, and a persistent shortage of skilled machine operators. Lachlan Buirds, Managing Director at Edale, emphasized that Italian converters are aggressively seeking ways to automate production, reduce operational complexity, and drive overall efficiency.

By leveraging VBR All Service’s deep understanding of the local market dynamics, Edale aims to position its technology as a direct solution to these challenges. The ability to provide continuous, experienced local expertise—from the initial consultation phase through the entire lifecycle of the equipment—is a decisive factor for packaging companies evaluating multi-million-euro capital investments.

The CartonLine FL6p platform takes center stage

A focal point of this new distribution strategy is the deployment of the CartonLine FL6p platform. This technology represents a significant shift in manufacturing philosophy by integrating printing and converting into a single, continuous workflow. For specific folding carton applications, this single-pass architecture effectively replaces the traditional multi-machine, multi-stage production processes that have dominated the industry for decades.

Corrado Voghera, owner and sales manager at VBR All Service, highlighted the transformative potential of this platform for their customer base. By consolidating capabilities into a single manufacturing line, converters can drastically reduce material handling, minimize waste, and optimize both production time and operating costs. In an era where lean manufacturing and resource efficiency are paramount, the CartonLine FL6p offers a compelling value proposition for Italian packaging firms looking to modernize their shop floors.

This strategic alignment between Edale's engineering pedigree and VBR's service capabilities reflects a broader maturation in the packaging machinery sector. As equipment becomes more sophisticated and integrated, the reliance on specialized, regional service integrators becomes not just an advantage, but an absolute necessity for sustained operational success.

Partnering with established local integrators like VBR is the most viable strategy for global OEMs to guarantee the rapid response times that modern, highly automated converting lines demand. Will the shift toward single-pass printing and converting platforms eventually render traditional multi-stage production obsolete in the folding carton sector? 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