Knowledge Hub
Case Study
Eurpack specialises in producing packaging for the pharmaceutical sector. Its printing processes use inks that must be removed carefully from machinery components to maintain print quality and productivity.
Safetykleen provided an automated cleaning solution to optimise the washing of printing squeegees in the offset-printing department, as well as mechanical components in the folding, gluing and maintenance workshop.
Founded in 1912 by one of Rome’s oldest printing companies, Eurpack is now a leading European producer of primary and secondary packaging.
The company combines functional design with high-quality finishes and is a leading European supplier of secondary paperboard packaging and packaging consultancy for the pharmaceutical and cosmetics markets.
Its main production sites are in Aprilia (LT), Robecco sul Naviglio (MI) and Ascoli Piceno (AP), where it produces cardboard boxes for medicines and their accompanying leaflets.
Pharmaceutical packaging requires high-quality printing with inks applied to a range of substrates, ensuring important product information remains clear and legible.
One of the techniques used is offset printing, which provides high-precision results and is widely used for leaflets, catalogues, packaging and other printed materials.
A printing squeegee removes excess ink from the ink roller before it reaches the printing plate.
After each colour change and at the end of a print run, machine components must be cleaned thoroughly to prevent ink from drying and causing quality problems such as colour mixing or reduced print accuracy.
Eurpack wanted to improve its manual squeegee-cleaning process. It required significant labour, careful handling of cleaning chemicals, highly flammable thinners and large quantities of rags, which then had to be disposed of as special waste. Safetykleen provided a safer, more efficient alternative.
With Safetykleen, we have optimised our parts-cleaning process and significantly improved safety conditions.
Marco Fiori, Plant Manager, Robecco (MI), Eurpack
Safetykleen proposed an Aquakleen Automatic parts washer combined with a water-based, non-flammable and VOC-free cleaning solution.
The machine is large enough to wash squeegees more than one metre long, automating the process. Its internal drum rotates against heated detergent jets to deliver fast, thorough cleaning.
The fully enclosed parts washer also minimises operator exposure to cleaning chemicals.
Following a free, no-obligation trial at its Aprilia site, Eurpack carried out on-site cleaning tests to identify the most suitable cleaning-fluid replacement interval. The resulting interval was eight weeks, and the same process was subsequently introduced at the Robecco sul Naviglio plant.
We have achieved a significant improvement in parts-washing quality and a reduction in consumables and waste – a truly winning combination.
Marco Fiori, Plant Manager, Robecco (MI), Eurpack
The new parts-cleaning solution has enabled Eurpack to optimise cleaning processes for printing-machine components and improve maintenance activities.
An automatic parts washer frees operators from manual washing tasks. Once the machine is loaded and the cycle started, they can focus on other activities. The new process has reduced the monthly time spent cleaning print squeegees by more than 50%.
The dedicated machine delivers consistent results from one cleaning cycle to the next, supporting greater standardisation of print quality.
A closed, automatic parts washer reduces operator exposure to cleaning chemicals. The water-based cleaner is also classified as non-hazardous, non-flammable and VOC-free.
Replacing thinners with a water-based cleaning solution has eliminated VOC emissions from this cleaning process, reducing its environmental impact.
The new cleaning solution has significantly reduced waste, including the use of cleaning rags. As part of the Safetykleen service, waste generated through machine maintenance is collected and managed by Safetykleen, reducing the customer’s waste-management burden.
M4A Meccanica di Precisione already achieved high-quality cleaning of precision-machined components. By switching to Kleen35™, the company reduced energy consumption by 35% while maintaining cleaning…
Arriva is a leader in European passenger transport, in the UK it’s responsible for moving millions of passengers safely, efficiently, and sustainably every year. Like many, Arriva faces increasing pre…
In the petrochemical industry, plant reliability is crucial and downtime can have significant economic consequences. For EagleBurgmann Italia S.r.l., cleaning mechanical seals during maintenance and o…