Fully Automatic CE Certified Machine Using UV Ink: The Complete Automation Guide

Updated 2026 | Goking Automation Solutions Team

A fully automatic CE certified machine using UV ink transforms corrugated printing from a labor-intensive batch process into a seamless, continuous production line — feeding board, printing, curing, slotting, and stacking without manual intervention. As packaging converters face growing pressure to reduce labor costs, eliminate setup waste, and increase throughput, fully automatic digital printing systems are becoming the clear upgrade path from traditional flexo and semi-automatic configurations.

A fully automatic CE certified machine using UV ink is a digital corrugated printing system where every production step — from board feeding and registration to printing, UV curing, slotting, and finished board collection — is automated and controlled by a centralized software system. Unlike semi-automatic machines where operators manually load each sheet or trigger print cycles, a fully automatic configuration runs continuously with minimal human touch points.

The "CE certified" designation means the machine complies with European health, safety, and environmental protection standards for industrial equipment — specifically the applicable EU directives for machinery safety (2006/42/EC), electromagnetic compatibility (2014/30/EU), and low voltage (2014/35/EU). For corrugated converters exporting to or operating within EU-regulated markets, CE certification is a compliance requirement, not an optional feature.

At the hardware level, full automation in a digital corrugated printer involves an automatic front edge feeding system that picks and positions corrugated sheets precisely for each print cycle; an inline UV curing system that instantly dries ink so the board can proceed immediately to downstream processing; and integration with slotting units and ERP systems for end-to-end workflow management. Explore all Goking product configurations to compare automation levels.

A common question among converters choosing their first digital corrugated printer is whether a semi-automatic or fully automatic configuration is the right fit. The difference goes beyond labor savings — it affects throughput consistency, error rates, and the ability to integrate with downstream processes. Here is a structured comparison:

Goking offers both semi-automatic and fully automatic front edge options across its machine series, letting converters choose the configuration that matches their current production volume and scale up as volume grows. This modular approach means you are not locked into one automation level — you can start with a semi-automatic setup and upgrade later. See the key features overview for details on available configurations.

A digital inline production line integrates three core units into one continuous workflow: the high-speed printing unit, the slotting unit, and the automatic collection unit. The corrugated board enters at one end and exits at the other as printed, slotted, and stacked sheets — ready for folding, gluing, or shipping. This is the architectural backbone of a fully automatic CE certified machine using UV ink in a production environment.

High-Speed Printing Unit

The printing unit uses digital inkjet heads to deposit UV-curable ink directly onto corrugated board. In a single-pass configuration (G-series), the print bars are fixed and the board moves underneath at speeds of 45 to 110 meters per minute. In a multi-pass configuration (J-series), the print carriage moves across the board with speeds of 500 to 1,500 meters per hour. UV LED lamps cure the ink immediately after deposition, so the ink is fully dry before the board reaches the next station. Browse single-pass machines and multi-pass machines to compare configurations.

Slotting Unit

The slotting unit cuts slots, scores, and trims the printed corrugated board inline — eliminating the separate die-cutting step that traditional flexo workflows require for simple box configurations. In a fully automatic setup, slotting parameters are set digitally and synchronized with the print job. When the operator loads a new artwork file, the slotting unit receives the corresponding slot dimensions automatically.

Automatic Collection Unit

The automatic collection unit stacks finished sheets in order, counts them, and prepares them for palletizing or conveyor transport. In a manual or semi-automatic setup, an operator must remove and stack each sheet — creating a bottleneck that limits overall throughput. The automatic collection unit removes this constraint, allowing the printing and slotting units to run at their rated speeds.

ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) integration is a key capability that distinguishes a truly automated digital printing workflow from a standalone printer. When a fully automatic CE certified machine using UV ink connects to the factory's ERP system, job orders flow directly from the order management module to the printer's job queue — no manual data entry, no file transfer errors, no version confusion.

The practical workflow looks like this: a customer order for 500 corrugated boxes with a specific artwork enters the ERP system. The ERP routes the artwork file, print quantity, board type and dimensions, slotting parameters, and delivery priority to the printer's control software. The operator confirms the job at the control panel, and the machine begins printing. As each sheet is produced, the machine reports completion counts back to the ERP, updating inventory and production scheduling in real time.

Key ERP integration benefits in a fully automatic digital printing environment:

• Zero manual data entry — job specifications transfer digitally, eliminating transcription errors that cause misprints or incorrect quantities
• Real-time production tracking — the ERP knows exactly which jobs are in progress, completed, or queued, enabling accurate delivery promises to customers
• Automatic material reconciliation — board consumption is tracked per job, supporting accurate cost analysis and automatic purchase order generation
• Scalable multi-machine management — a single ERP instance can route jobs to multiple printers based on machine availability, board compatibility, and priority

This level of integration is particularly valuable for converters running multiple production lines — the GJ-series 2-in-1 machines can operate in either multi-pass or single-pass mode, and ERP routing can automatically assign jobs to the appropriate mode based on quantity, complexity, and board type.

One-minute job changeover is one of the most cited benefits of a fully automatic CE certified machine using UV ink — and for good reason. In a traditional flexo corrugated printing setup, changing from one job to another involves removing the current printing plates, cleaning the anilox rollers and ink chambers, mounting new plates, registering the new design, and running test sheets until color and registration are correct. This process typically takes 30 to 60 minutes per job change.

In a fully automatic digital UV ink machine, there are no physical plates to change. The job switch is entirely software-driven: the operator selects the next job from the queue on the control panel, the machine loads the artwork file and associated parameters (board size, print resolution, slotting dimensions), and the automatic feeder begins processing the new job's sheets. The UV curing system requires no warm-up or cooldown — it is always ready. This software-based changeover is completed in approximately one minute.

The economic impact of one-minute changeover is most visible in mixed-job production scenarios — a converter running 10 to 20 different box designs per shift. With flexo, 10 job changes could consume 5 to 10 hours of a shift in setup time alone. With a fully automatic digital machine, the same 10 changes consume approximately 10 minutes, freeing up the rest of the shift for production.

This capability is enabled by the machine's CMYK computer color matching, which ensures color consistency between jobs without manual ink mixing or calibration. Combined with the no plate making advantage and eco-friendly, low power consumption design, the fully automatic workflow makes short-to-medium runs economically viable for the first time. Learn more about these capabilities on the core features page.

Single-pass digital printing is the architecture best suited to fully automatic high-volume production. In a single-pass machine (Goking G-series), the printhead bars are fixed across the full print width, and the corrugated board moves continuously underneath at 45 to 110 meters per minute. There is no carriage movement, no back-and-forth printing passes, and no pause between sheets — the board feeds through in a smooth, uninterrupted stream.

This continuous-flow architecture is what makes full automation possible at production scale. Because the print engine is always "ready" — with no acceleration or deceleration cycles — the automatic feeder can maintain a constant board feed rate, the UV curing lamps operate at steady intensity, and the slotting and collection units downstream can run at synchronized speeds. The entire production line behaves as one coordinated machine rather than sequential stations.

Key specifications of single-pass digital corrugated printing machines include:

For converters who need both the speed of single-pass for long runs and the resolution of multi-pass for short custom jobs, the GJ-series 2-in-1 machines provide both modes in one platform. This flexibility means a single fully automatic machine can handle the entire job mix without requiring separate equipment for different run lengths. Browse the G-series single-pass machine for full specifications.

CE certification for industrial digital printing equipment is not a single test but a conformity assessment process covering multiple EU directives. For a fully automatic CE certified machine using UV ink, the relevant standards typically include:

• Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC — covers mechanical safety: guards, emergency stops, interlocking safety circuits, and risk assessment documentation. Fully automatic machines with moving parts (feeders, conveyors, slotting units) fall squarely under this directive.
• Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive 2014/30/EU — ensures the machine's electronic systems do not interfere with other equipment and are not susceptible to external interference. This is particularly relevant for digital printers with high-frequency printhead controllers and servo-driven motion systems.
• Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU — covers electrical safety for equipment operating within specific voltage ranges, including wiring, grounding, and insulation requirements.
• UV radiation safety — UV LED curing systems must be enclosed and interlocked to prevent operator exposure. The enclosure design and safety interlocks are verified during CE assessment.

For corrugated converters, selecting a CE certified machine provides legal assurance that the equipment meets European safety standards, which is a prerequisite for exporting finished packaging to EU markets. It also signals that the manufacturer has invested in safety engineering and regulatory compliance — reducing the buyer's own liability exposure.

Goking offers fully automatic configurations across its three main machine series. Each series supports a different level of automation depending on the production architecture and intended use case:

Can I upgrade from semi-automatic to fully automatic later?

Yes. Goking offers modular front edge configurations — semi-automatic and fully automatic — that can be specified at purchase or upgraded as production volume grows. Because the core print engine, UV curing system, and control software are shared between configurations, the upgrade path is designed to be practical rather than requiring a full machine replacement. Contact the service and support team for upgrade consultation.

What substrates can a fully automatic UV ink digital printer handle?

The machine handles A, B, C, and E flute corrugated board, honeycomb board, coated paper, and kraft paper — with print widths from 264mm to 1,800mm depending on the model and configuration. The automatic feeder uses vacuum or mechanical positioning to handle different board thicknesses and flute profiles reliably.

Does ERP integration require special software?

The machine control software provides standard interfaces for ERP integration. The exact integration approach depends on the ERP system in use — common integration patterns include API-based data exchange, file-based job queue management (XML/CSV), and direct database connectivity. The technical team can assess compatibility during the pre-sales consultation.

What is the difference between UV LED and traditional UV lamp curing?

UV LED curing uses light-emitting diodes that turn on and off instantly — no warm-up time, no ozone generation, and lower energy consumption compared to traditional mercury-arc UV lamps. This instant-on capability is critical for fully automatic operation because the curing system must be ready immediately at the start of each print job. UV LED also generates less heat, reducing the risk of substrate warping on thin corrugated board.

Selecting a fully automatic CE certified machine using UV ink is a strategic decision that reshapes how a corrugated converter plans production, allocates labor, and serves customers. The combination of automatic front edge feeding, digital inline production line integration (printing + slotting + collection), ERP connectivity, and one-minute job changeover creates a workflow where the machine — not the operator — drives throughput. For converters competing on speed, variety, and short-run capability, this level of automation is no longer a luxury; it is the operational foundation that makes digital corrugated printing a viable alternative to traditional flexo.

To discuss your specific production requirements and explore which fully automatic configuration fits your workflow, contact the Goking technical team for a detailed consultation.