Bulgarian printer adds plastic wraparound labels to offering after MPS EF press investment

The EF flexo press features six UV print stations, delam/relam, cold foil, automatic register, a die-cutting station and the APC package. It is also built with servo drives, video inspection, corona treatment, and sleeve technology on each print station for the loading and unloading of print cylinders.

Installation of the press is taking place at Sira OOD’s factory in Veliko Tarnovo, followed by a week of operator training.

With its new MPS EF flexo press, Sira OOD is able to control a range of substrates while meeting high print requirements in quality and register control, MPS said. 

Originally a sheet-fed offset printer, Sira OOD entered the narrow web market eight years ago with the addition of flexo printing to grow its market share and become a more flexible supplier of labels and other products.

Today, Sira OOD offers sheet-fed offset, digital and flexo print process. At present, Sira OOD produces high volumes of self-adhesive labels found on canned foods, vacuum packaging, bottles, etc. It also produces advertising materials, cardboard boxes, books, magazines, catalogs and posters. Other in-house services it offers include design, pre-press and finishing, such as UV varnishing, hot foil, embossing, die-cutting, laminating and bookbinding.

The majority of Sira OOD customers are from the food industry, and represent main players in Bulgaria and companies abroad in Germany, France and Czech Republic.

The EF flexo press will enable Sira OOD to accommodate a growing demand for wraparound labels from its existing and potential customers. Sira OOD is also considering the production of labels with low migration inks.

Plastic wraparound labels complement Sira OOD’s current offering of self-adhesive and wet glue labels.

The sale and factory acceptance process was supported by MPS agent ISM, which represents the Dutch press manufacturer in Central and Eastern Europe.

Stefan Vasilev, technical director at Sira OOD, said: ‘The new MPS EF 340 press with APC will enable Sira OOD to enter a new market sector, and we now have an extended and more versatile capability across a variety of substrates, with superior quality.

‘Our operators are highly skilled, and the factory test proved the MPS EF flexo press is really easy to operate. We expect our new press will be running full production in no time.

‘With its APC package, user-friendly design, ergonomic handling, and clear and practical press control and management systems, our operators are very excited to work with the new MPS press. Our customers will be impressed with the print quality, range of options and shorter lead times.”

Pictured (from left): Sira OOD technical director Stefan Vasilev, MPS area sales manager Arnaud Fleuren and Vasil Hristov of ISM