Manufacturer of finishing equipment, A B Graphic International (ABG), has installed its DigiLite converting line at Stratus Packaging’s production site in Feytiat, France. The move will improve automation, reduce downtime and drive production efficiency, said the label and shrink sleeve converter.
Stratus Packaging has seven production sites across France and Switzerland and has worked with ABG for over 20 years. The company has more than 30 ABG machines operational across its facilities, with that manufacturer’s equipment installed at every site. The latest installation shows the continued collaboration between the companies and supports Stratus’ strategy to boost efficiency and automation in response to labour shortages.
Installed in April 2025, the DigiLite line features a newly integrated Digicon turret rewind – ABG’s latest enhancement, designed to reduce downtime and support higher productivity. ABG said the turret system enables smoother roll changes by assisting the operator during roll transitions without stopping production. It contributes to a more automated, high-efficiency workflow.
The machine includes a cantilevered 800mm unwind, a full rotary quick-change flexo unit, a semi-rotary die-cutting station and integrated waste matrix stripping. It also supports overlamination for applications such as cold foiling, super varnishing and laminate handling. Additional automation comes from AutoSlit, ABG’s automatic slitting system for rapid job changes, and iScore, which automatically sets the backscorer to reduce manual setup time. The DigiLite runs up to 90m/min, which makes it well-suited to converters seeking speed, simplicity and flexibility in digital finishing, stated ABG.
Isidore Leiser, CEO of Stratus Packaging, said adding the turret rewind to its DigiLite line made “perfect sense”, as the company was looking for ways to boost efficiency. “It’s a practical enhancement that aligns with how we work and the challenges we face,” he added.
Matt Burton, global sales director at ABG, commented: “Stratus has been a great partner for many years and their feedback has been vital in shaping the direction of our developments. The semi-automatic turret rewind is a direct response to customer needs, particularly from those managing high workloads with lean teams. It’s a great example of how we listen, collaborate and deliver meaningful enhancements.”
