Last Friday, the Lower Sixth Design and Technology students visited Delga Press, a leading name in the specialist printed packaging and label manufacturing industry, based in Rochester. The visit offered a valuable opportunity to enhance the students understanding of Papers and Boards, a key topic in their A-Level syllabus.

The visit began with a presentation by Matt, the Business Development Manager at Delga. Held in the boardroom, the session provided an overview of his career in the printing industry, insights into the sector, and an introduction to the capabilities of Delga Press, part of the Meloria Group. To enrich the experience, students were given a selection of printed samples, Matt explained the various processes involved in the production of each, discussing how budget and scale of production plays a significant factor in establishing the most suitable manufacturing processes for each project. A particular highlight was learning about Delga’s work with Wild, a well-known reusable deodorant brand, which helped to contextualise the scale of Delga’s operations.

Following the presentation, the students toured the factory floor to observe the machinery and processes in action. Delga offers a complete in-house process, and it was insightful to see each stage of the production process. The tour featured a range of cutting-edge equipment, including die cutters, laser cutters, lithographic and digital printers, and an automated folding and gluing machine. The students gained an appreciation for the intricate process of colour mixing using CMYK and Pantone systems. They also observed the Scodix machine, capable of embossing, foiling, and applying spot UV to packaging, as well as a label-making machine producing adhesive rolls.

The visit offered an excellent insight into the practical applications of Design and Technology. Seeing the production of familiar items such as Wild deodorant packaging and FMCG products for brands like Aldi brought the A-level syllabus to life, connecting the theoretical topics studied with real-world examples. We are very grateful to Matt and the team at Delga Press for their time and expertise.

Mrs K Sharpe – DT Teacher