Building a better business

A print business is only as good as the parts from which it is made, according to the organizer of Gulf Print & Pack 2013, which is aiming to present the MENA region with the latest technologies and trends to create, nurture and capitalize on new opportunities. David Pittman reports on the event, which takes place at the Dubai World Trade Centre on April 8-11.

 

Gulf Print & Pack is described as the only dedicated event for the printing market in the MENA region that reaches the area’s top printers and brand owners.

 

They will visit to see a host of equipment from across the print industry supply chain, from pre-press and platemaking equipment, and management information systems, to pressroom consumables, multi-substrate presses, digital printing technology, and laser die-cutting, inspection systems and in-line decoration.

 

Package printing will form a strong part of the forthcoming show, which is taking place on April 8-11 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, with OEMs from that segment of the print industry presenting their latest and greatest systems.

 

Key supplier names from the package printing market to be seen at the show include: AB Graphic, Actega Tera, Bobst, Edale, EFI, Pantec GS, QuadTech, Sistrade, Spilker, Techkon, Tesa and XOL Automation.

 

A full list of Gulf Print & Pack 2013 exhibitors can be found here.

 

For many, the Middle East is becoming an increasingly important market. Flexible packaging machinery manufacturer Comexi says the Middle East printing market is “rising at spectacular rates”, with growth expected at 42 percent in 2015.

 

Comexi is aiming to establish itself as one of the main suppliers for the converted flexible packaging industry in the area, and to build its presence in the area with new contacts and project this year, supported by its presence at Gulf Print & Pack 2013.

 

Danish press manufacturer Nilpeter said the MENA region includes some fast-growing markets for the company, so it will use Gulf Print & Pack to present information to the region on its range of narrow and mid web printing presses for producing self-adhesive labels and flexible packaging. This includes the FA line of UV-flexo combination presses available in four web widths, the FB-3 UV-flexo press, the servo-driven MO-4 offset-based platform press with sleeve technology for both flexo and offset printing, and the Caslon print system mounted on an FA-4 platform.

 

UK press manufacturer Edale said the event is gearing up to be an important addition in its calendar due to the rapid growth that the Middle East presents. Edale’s managing director James Boughton says: ‘At this stage the Middle East is still a relatively small market for Edale, however we do not measure in terms of market share but in customer satisfaction, and we have many customers in Middle Eastern countries that have been working alongside Edale for a number of years, and are relationships in which we continue to grow together.’

 

Bernhard Grob, Edale export sales director, says: ‘Edale’s range of flexo presses and converting equipment have been welcomed in the Middle East; I visited existing and potential customers in the region on a number of occasions in 2012,  and look forward to re-meeting these people and welcoming new customers to our stand at the Gulf Print & Pack show.’

 

Others key suppliers to the package printing market will be showcasing technologies from across their portfolios, such as Bobst with Accucheck, an inspection system that is integrated into the folding and gluing process, the final part of folding carton production. Accucheck can be installed into Bobst Masterfold and Expertfold folder gluer machines.

 

Erhardt+Leimer will present its new ELTIM product line. ELTIM is a radiation-free system based on ultrasonic technology for monitoring of material thickness, weight and other relevant properties of a product during different production processes. The individual layer thickness can be measured with an accuracy of 0.5 percent down to 0.2 percent – even in combination with other substrates.

 

Press control specialist QuadTech’s stand will feature various systems for the package printing and converting industries, such as: its color quality system, which provides in-line color and ink control, comprising an in-line spectral data obtained from QuadTech’s SpectralCam, ink formulation data from X-Rite and technology from ink dispensing system suppliers; its color measurement system with SpectralCam HD, and QuadTech's patent-pending web stabilizer technology, measures color information in-line on all web-fed package materials, along with a high-resolution view of dot structure; its inspection system that inspects the entire substrate width 100 percent of the time throughout the entire press run; and the Autotron 2600 register guidance system with ClearLogic, that achieves accurate register regardless of ink, speed or substrate.

 

Working machinery will also be present on the show floor. For instance, XOL Automation will be running live demonstrations of the Fife SE-46 digital line guide sensor, as well as showcasing the B-500 die-cutting machine from Swiss manufacturer Berhalter. It represents both manufacturers in the MENA region.

 

Kodak will show the Nexpress SX3300 digital production color press, and demonstrate the features of the Nexpress fifth imaging unit that enable spot colors, gold and pearlescent effects, in-line dimensional printing, high-quality gloss, in-line watermarking or coating in a single pass.

 

Kodak will also deliver two keynote presentations at Gulf Print & Pack. The first, on the morning of April 8, will address the latest possibilities that can be achieved with flexo to enhance image reproduction, provide an extend color gamut, achieve gravure-like densities and deliver greater design flexibility.

 

It will also talk about the opportunities digital printing presents, and how printers can identify growth markets and develop a print portfolio to service a varied customer base. This presentation will be made on the afternoon of April 9.

 

Canon will also deliver keynote presentations during Gulf Print & Pack 2013.

 

Package Print Worldwide is a media partner of Gulf Print & Pack 2013.

 

Gulf Print & Pack 2013 is a free-to-attend event, but pre-registration is highly recommended. Pre-register to attend Gulf Print & Pack 2013 by 17:00 GST on April 5 to receive fast-track entry and avoid the queues at the show. Pre-register to attend here.

 

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