Great American Packaging invests in Koenig & Bauer Flexotecnica Evo XD

Great American Packaging is a vertically-integrated manufacturer of custom printed flexible packaging that extrudes, prints and converts branded products for businesses in a wide range of styles and sizes.  Founded more than 50 years ago, it has placed a premium on expanding its deep ties with existing customers as well as focusing on new customer growth. This has helped the southern California printer experience rapid growth rate of 75 percent of the last eight years.

Greg Gurewitz, CEO at Great American Packaging, said: ‘This path has proven very fruitful. We have grown and evolved exponentially in recent years. Our firm has added technologically advanced equipment, steadily enhanced our workforce, and set our sights on new and exciting products. It is this evolution that has allowed us to a serve a larger, more complex customer base, while still caring for the loyal and dedicated customers who got us here. In the last eight years, we have grown an astounding 75 percent.’

The decision to invest in the Koenig & Bauer Flexotecnica Evo XD was made to grow the printer’s capacity, ability to process print, to improve quality in terms of better control and error detection, and to become more cost competitive.

Koenig & Bauer stated that the Flexotecnica Evo XD will become the ‘workhorse’ press at Great American Packaging. It will increase the six-color custom printed products currently being produced to eight colors as well as allow the firm to create multi-color images in both process and spot color to meet the demands of all of its customers and the ever-increasing demand for sophisticated images and branding.

Bruce Carter, president at Great American Packaging, explained: ‘The new capabilities and increase in productivity it brings will be key in delivering success in our production environment. The new press will give us the tools and resources to grow into new markets we have not yet been able to penetrate.  The Evo XD will bring us greater efficiency and productivity through increased printing widths, faster printing speeds, quicker changeovers, better quality control and process print capabilities. This competitive advantage will allow us to produce recyclable multi-layer pouches and films with sophisticated artwork in a cost-effective way.’

The press is to be installed at the firm’s 40,000 sq ft headquarters in Los Angeles.

Gurewitz added: ‘When we compared the major flexographic press manufacturers, we found Koenig & Bauer to offer the right combination of build quality, company size, technology, and commitment to the US market, sales support and value to make it the right choice for our company. It offered superior reliability paired with a sleek and functional design. We were especially won over by the cutting-edge support systems for maintenance and repair. Interactive glasses allow our print operators to connect with a Koenig & Bauer Flexotecnica technician and give them a real-time view of our equipment.’