El Paso-based Airport Printing Service (APS), conveniently located at the intersection of Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico, is expanding its capabilities to meet rising demand for short-run packaging. To support this growth, APS recently installed a new Easymatrix die cutter from HEIDELBERG – enhancing its ability to deliver fast and flexible packaging solutions for small businesses, prototyping projects, and cross-border markets.
Founded 45 years ago, APS is a family-owned business recognized for its exceptional turnaround times and expertise in commercial printing and direct mail – with a growing focus on packaging. A significant portion of the company’s work involves producing inserts and printed components that are shipped to maquiladoras – U.S. and internationally owned assembly and kitting facilities in Mexico – for final assembly and distribution. Already supplying materials that go inside packaging, APS owner Mike McCorgary identified an opportunity to expand the company’s capabilities by targeting businesses with low-volume packaging and prototyping needs, specifically focusing on runs of 1,000 to 10,000 folding cartons.
“We recognize that there are giants in the packaging industry that we cannot compete with,” said McCorgary, “but what we want is to serve the smaller brands with shorter runs that are often overlooked or turned away by these larger packaging houses.”
To strengthen its competitiveness in the packaging market, APS recently upgraded its finishing department by replacing older rotary die cutters with a new Easymatrix 106 CS from HEIDELBERG. With speeds up to 7,700 sheets per hour, the Easymatrix is APS’s first large-format (29″ x 41″) flatbed die cutter and has already delivered a significant boost in efficiency and turnaround times for larger format jobs.
Designed for commercial printers looking to expand into packaging, the Easymatrix offers an intuitive touchscreen interface, motorized cutting pressure adjustment, and quick-lock technology for dies and stripping tools. APS’s newest investment positions it to better serve its diverse customer base – including the cosmetics, health and beauty, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, food and beverage, cannabis (in nearby New Mexico), electronics, and general consumer goods industries – with improved speed, flexibility, and quality.
“We don’t have the backlog that we did before with our older die cutters,” said McCorgary. “If someone called today, we could have something in their hands next week, whereas many of my larger competitors are quoting six- to ten-week lead times.”
APS plans to fully utilize the machine’s broad range of capabilities – from cutting and embossing lightweight 7 pt. to handling heavy 48 pt. board and E-flute corrugated. In a recent project using challenging craft paper, what was originally estimated as a full week of production was completed in half the time thanks to the Easymatrix’s consistent performance and production speed.
While the technical features of the Easymatrix played a major role in the decision to partner with HEIDELBERG, McCorgary emphasized that the company’s support and service network was equally important. “I knew we were entering a market where we didn’t have a lot of experience, and I knew HEIDELBERG would provide the support we needed as we got started,” he said. “We’re geographically isolated, so getting a technician on-site isn’t always easy. With HEIDELBERG, we knew we’d have multiple options to get the service we need when we need it.”
