With more than 50 years of experience, New Box is an Italian manufacturer recognized worldwide for its metal packaging solutions. The company employs more than 380 people across four production sites and produces a broad range of packaging products.
Emanuela Lucatello, CEO/CFO, describes their scope: ”New Box creates packaging of all shapes and sizes: tin cans, trays, crown caps... We work for leading brands that demand exceptional quality and standards. Our metal containers are sustainable packaging. New Box uses the most eco-friendly material throughout its life cycle: steel.”
The challenge of printing on steel
Printing on metal differs significantly from printing on paper due to the non-absorbent nature of the material. Ink sits on the surface rather than soaking in, making it difficult to control dot gain and drying times. Nicola Morbiato, Prepress Technician, notes that “printing on steel requires precise control for consistent results, because the reflective surface varies by supplier.”
Previously, the team had to limit ink density to prevent set-off (ink transferring to other sheets) and ghosting. While the quality was acceptable, it often lacked the image depth and brightness the company aimed for.
Advancing quality with SPIR@L and SolidTune
To overcome these limitations, New Box adopted the ECO3 Apogee workflow with SPIR@L screening, SolidTune, CtP, and Elite Eco plates. According to Daniele Dal Maso, Prepress Manager, this combination was a turning point. “For companies working with non-absorbent substrates, I highly recommend this solution,” he says. “It prevents emulsification issues and eliminates problems we faced with conventional screening.”
SPIR@L screening delivered immediate visual benefits. Its spiral dot structure provides sharper definition and finer detail on steel, while being straightforward to implement in production. “After the first test, everyone was very enthusiastic,” Dal Maso recalls.
On press, the improvements were clear. “We were able to print 200 lines per inch instead of the usual 150,” says Davide De Boni, Press Operator. “This means sharper and more detailed images, which is really satisfying when printing on steel.” The elimination of moiré, reduced ink usage, faster start-ups, and lower fountain solution consumption all contributed to greater stability on long runs. Combined with SolidTune, image brightness increased and feathering in solid colors disappeared, producing consistent, high-impact results.
A partnership that delivers results
Beyond print quality, ECO3 helps New Box streamline production. “ECO3 helps us automate and standardize the entire process, reducing waste, saving time, and ensuring repeatability across runs,” says Dal Maso. The collaboration brings together technology, expertise, and on-site support to meet the high standards New Box sets for itself and its customers.
“Together SPIR@L and SolidTune have made a real difference. ECO3 provided the specialists and expertise we needed to elevate our product quality.”
Featured products
SPIR@L
This new screening technology replaces the traditional ink dot with more efficient shapes such as spirals. This has a positive impact on print quality and results in a crystal-clear image every time without effort.
Discover
SolidTune
This new breakthrough software solution delivers savings in ink by an average of 3% in offset printing to meet demands for cost-effective and sustainable production methods.
Discover