LOUISVILLE, KY—Independent II, located in Louisville, KY, is a privately-owned and operated corrugated manufacturer, providing total packaging solutions to customers. Independent II designs, manufactures, warehouses and delivers corrugated and packaging that protect their customers’ products in-transit and sells them on shelves.
Domino caught up with Finn MacDonald, president of Independent II, to learn more about his business, the impact of digital printing, and the benefits realized with the Domino X630i digital aqueous inkjet corrugated press.
MacDonald began, “We’re a third-generation company and for over 60 years we’ve had the unique challenge of taking care of our customers’ everyday problems, so that they can grow their businesses. That is our DNA, that is what we do. Any time, any quantity…with innovation, service, and quality included. That is what has built a multi-generational trust between our customers and our business.”
MacDonald continued, “Over the last 15 years our business philosophy has not changed, but the landscape of our business has changed dramatically. Our customers’ products spend less time in the warehouse, and more time in retail and on doorsteps. We had to recognize and embrace this change and invest in the resources to evolve from a brown box company, to a brand and packaging company, and now to digital.
“Digital was an opportunity for us to get there faster, and to take our customers there more quickly and successfully. We now have the ability to bring that dynamic digital energy to our customers with the Domino X630i. This is a single-pass, 4-color aqueous based press designed specifically to live and thrive in a manufacturing environment. That press is user friendly, it’s supportable, and it’s expandable.”
Domino X630i is built, serviced, and supported in the US. This digital press has a small footprint 10-ft. H x 38-ft. L x 21-ft. W with a climate-controlled environmental enclosure. X630i utilizes an automated lead-edge, servo-driven continuous bottom feeder offering a max sheet size of 63-in. x 118-in. with printable area of 53-in. x 118-in. Inside the press is unique vacuum sheet transport, board cleaning, and warp inspection. Print is 600 x 600 dpi utilizing 4-colors CMYK using AQ95 water-based inks with Polymer technology that are Swiss Ordinance, Nestle & EuPia compliant.
MacDonald concluded, “Everyday digital is what we want to bring to our customers, to our market, and to our own internal operations. “Everyday digital is an opportunity for us to take existing flexo process and find efficiencies, and consistency, and more user-friendliness in the print operation. That’s where we stand today. The Domino X630i is supporting our everyday digital business with our customers, with our market, and certainly inside our own operation.”