Comexi records substantial growth in slitting

Comexi has registered a 50 percent increase in sales in its slitting business unit in the last three years, including strong growth in strategic markets such as the US and Middle East.

Comexi records substantial growth in slitting

Specifically during 2017, Comexi noted ‘remarkable growth’ in turnover. Packaging manufacturer Wipak Group has purchased four Comexi S1 DT slitters, which join a fleet of existing Comexi slitters and laminators already installed at several production plants around the world.

Comexi said these results are related in part to the company's commitment to innovation and its development of slitting equipment that offers high added value, such as laser technology and automation. Its laser technology allows converters to differentiate themselves from the competition by providing a wide range of applications such as easy-open, windows, micro-perforations and code insertion. Comexi has been expanding its laser system, offering new options of 40, 100 or 300 watts.

Further product innovations include the Comexi S1 MS, designed for rigid or semi-rigid materials – nondeformable – and with large output reels. This machine can be used in a variety of markets and applications such as stand-up pouches, to work with tri-laminates for the coffee sector, for extrusion or the paper market.

Albert Torrent, slitting brand manager at Comexi, said the results from the past three years have ‘exceed all expectations and forecasts’.

He continued: ‘At the same time, our automation systems allow converters to increase their productivity exponentially. We are detecting that customers are increasingly interested in this equipment and, therefore, the market is moving in this direction.’

Torrent identified the following trends as shaping the slitting sector, and wider flexible packaging market: ‘Currently, runs are becoming shorter and the explosion of new market niches has led to the appearance of personalized and differentiated products: containers that extend shelf-life, which are more sustainable, ecological, easy to use and formed by more complex laminated structures.

‘Frequently converters bet on high quality equipment that provides the highest productivity and the ability to respond quickly to new market needs.

‘Converters demand machinery that can operate with many jobs and, above all, offer the shortest changeover and downtimes.’

Comexi has also reported ongoing strength in its laminating activities, with this business unit achieving record turnover for the third year running in 2017.