Comexi expands in CIS and Russia

Last year was Comexi’s record sales year in this area, and the group foresees this trend to continue in 2017.

Comexi said growth can be attributed to local converters having registered more orders and seeing increased average prices for packaging, which has helped local producers to develop and invest in highly efficient and productive equipment. With this in mind, Comexi expects to increase its turnover in this area by 20 percent this year in comparison with 2015.

Since 2004 Comexi has installed more than 150 new machines in these territories, including more than 60 printing presses.

Earlier this year, Russian printer Tom Ltd purchased a 10-color Comexi F2 ML flexo press. This is the fifth Comexi flexo press that Tom Ltd has purchased, and follows Dual and SL2 laminator investments this year. At present, Tom Ltd has three Comexi laminators – with two additions currently being manufactured and to ship soon –, five Comexi slitters and other Comexi peripheral equipment. ‘This new press Comexi F2 ML is a clear example of the great alliance that exists between Comexi and this important firm that has been consolidated as a benchmark company in the flexible packaging sector of Russia,’ affirmed Comexi vice president Ramon Xifra.

Other deals in the region include Tiko Plastic acquiring its second Comexi FPlus press, which becomes the fifth Comexi flexo press it has installed. Uniflex has acquired its third F4 press, a Comexi Dual laminator with video inspection and an S1 DT slitter with lasers and labelers. It has also updated its Comexi Futura holographic laminator.

Comexi area manager in this region, Rashad Ismailov, commented: ‘During these past years, clients have purchased all types of top quality presses, laminators and slitters and currently we are noticing a great interest of the offset printing CI8 technology by some of the largest companies in the area.’

Comexi also anticipates a ‘very busy’ 2018, with sales continuing to increase supported by the group’s entry into new regions like Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and other flexible packaging markets.

Comexi includes the Manel Xifra Boada Technological Centre (Comexi CTec), where the company provides support and transfers its knowledge to the various groups involved in the flexible packaging industry process. Every year, Comexi CTec programs one or two technical sessions delivered in Russian. This past September, Comexi CTec conducted the 10th edition of the Practical Maintenance Course in Russian. The next one, in February 2018, will cover lamination.