Kimoha moves to Gallus flexo technology

Kimoha Entrepreneurs Ltd has added a Gallus EM 510 flexo line to its production plant in the Jebel Ali Free Zone near Dubai, making it one of the largest label converters in the Gulf, according to managing director, Vinesh Bhimani. The new eight-color Gallus, which joins a fleet of American presses, was chosen for its ability to handle filmic substrates that are enjoying a rise in demand in the region as packaging companies move into wraps and shrink sleeves.

Designed to run with both water based and UV inks, Kimoha’s highly specified Gallus EM 510 is fitted with a corona treater and web cleaning, chill drums, three die cutting stations (including the sheeter), a laminating station, web tension control, and auto register. Initially intended as a 410mm press, Mr Bhimani changed the specification at the last minute to allow greater productivity.

The installation, which took place in April 2006, was completed just as swiftly as the purchase negotiation, according to Mr Bhimani. ‘Once we knew what we wanted, it took only one week to tie up the deal – including the change from a 410 to a 510 width machine.’ Installed by engineers from Heidelberg Middle East, which now represents the Swiss manufacturer’s interests in the Gulf, the new Gallus is already attracting new work in the OPP sleeve and foil markets.

The Gallus joins a label division that now represents a considerable proportion of Kimoha’s output. The company’s customer portfolio includes major international clients in lube oil, fmcg, edible oil, speciality, and custom made products. With Kimoha’s present 4,000 squared meters production facilities at full stretch, an additional 2,000 squared meters are about to be added, and Mr Bhimani has a new site planned for paper conversion.

The demand for labels continues to rise in the markets of the Middle East as consumers increasingly express their choice in the retail outlets. In many areas the concept of supermarkets and self-selection is new and only now beginning to grow.  But, as it does, it brings product branding to the fore, and with it the need for quality printed packaging. 

At Kimoha, the growth in demand for filmic substrates is growing fastest of all, albeit from a lower base figure. The new Gallus will enable Mr Bhimani to tackle areas of the flexible packaging market, and produce high quality labels with added value elements. He is looking initially to grow his business by offering a wider range of premium products to existing customers, of which 70 per cent are in the UAE, and most of the remainder elsewhere in the Gulf.

‘The Gallus offers us a new level of flexibility by generating a wider product range. This unique capability will allow us to develop business in the emerging markets in Africa to the south and west, as well as Iran, Iraq, Pakistan and India, looking north and east, he explained. India is a country close to Mr Bhimani’s heart. His business life began there by coating carbonless paper in the south of the country, before he moved to Oman to package and market spices, and on to Dubai in 1988.

The move into printing labels came after attending a seminar at Labelexpo in 1993, which taught him about the growth potential of flexo printing. As a result of this visit, Mr Bhimani acquired a liking for the European technology that, in his own words: ‘exceeded our budget’. Four American machines mostly eight-color in nine years, and a mixture of web widths later, Mr Bhimani decided the time had come: to buy the best! I always believed that Gallus was the right press for us and am delighted that we’ve finally aspired to it,’ he concluded.

Photo (left to right): Kimoha 01.jpg: Kimoha’s production director, Shankar Muthukuma Rappan, is seen here with managing director Vinesh Bhimani and his brother Rajesh.