Acme Rolltech expands capacity

Acme Rolltech, an India-based manufacturer of flexo anilox rolls and sleeves, has strengthened its global brand recognition and introduced many new innovative products. 

Founded in 2019, the company has developed new products in the last year. 

For the label industry, it has introduced ATAC (Acme TACtile) roll. The first version was launched in 2019, and the second version, ATAC 2.0, debuted at Labelexpo Europe 2023. This product allows converters to achieve a screen-type raised effect through anilox in a single pass. 

The company has sold over 350 rolls of ATAC and ATAC 2.0 rolls combined. Other products for the label industry are AHDW and AHDW 2.0 (Acme High Density White), which have gained significant traction for its high-opacity white printing and text matter in a single pass. 

North America, Latin America and Europe are our primary targets for growth

With higher LPI values, its Advanced Channel Engraving (ACE) reduces ink consumption, attracting wide web, mid web, and narrow web customers. The company has already started selling ACE in India and is set to expand its customer base further. 

Another significant development is its CI flexo analog sleeves for the wide web industry. These lightweight, durable sleeves are now made in India. The new product was introduced in December 2023. 

New partnerships 

To enhance its global presence, Acme has appointed agent partners in specific regions around the world. Acme formed strong collaborations in key areas, particularly in European countries such as Italy, France and Germany, as well as in Latin America and North America. 

Currently, Acme has around 12 agent partners, covering regions such as South Africa, East Africa, the Middle East and Turkey. During drupa, its director Sandeep Sharma met with potential partners and successfully appointed three new agents for additional regions, two in Latin America, one in Europe. The partner in Italy will handle Italy, Germany, and France, while it also has representatives in Brazil and Colombia. 

Sharma says: ‘We are aware of gaps in our presence, particularly in Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Europe, where we aim to expand. North America, Latin America and Europe are our primary targets for growth, and we plan to establish a stronger footprint in these regions by next year.’ 

Rapid time to market  

The manufacturer has found its niche, enabling it to expand in the global market rapidly. 

‘We are a six-year-old company competing with established players who’ve been in the market for over 50 years. We face competition wherever we go, whether in China, Europe, the US, or locally in India where we manufacture. Our mark of distinction lies in our agility to adapt to local customer needs in India and globally,’ Sharma says.  

‘Beyond just selling standard anilox rolls, we listen to our customers, understand their challenges, and tailor our products with the latest technologies to meet their specific requirements. This approach earns us recognition for tackling even the most challenging tasks.’ 

While others may focus on standard anilox jobs, Acme prioritizes customization, value added services, quality, and competitive pricing. Sharma says that Acme can match or exceed European and US standards in quality and the company’s market responsiveness exceeds competitors from Europe and the US. 

The company’s biggest strength is its rapid time to market. 

‘For example, while sitting in a customer’s office in the Middle East, I provided a quotation instantly when asked. The customer was impressed by our quick response. We commit to delivering rolls within 20 to 25 days for narrow web customers, achieving a 98 to 99 percent success rate each month,’ Sharma notes. 

Capacity expansion 

Maintaining this unique selling proposition is crucial for Acme. That is why it has invested in a third engraving machine to further enhance its market speed and capabilities. 

The company’s ability to deliver rolls and sleeves fast to customers is crucial, especially as it expands into export markets where orders are significantly larger, often 30 to 40 rolls at once. Unlike domestic orders that can be fulfilled in batches, export orders require Acme to dispatch entire orders in one shipment to maintain efficiency. 

‘We are committed to preserving our unique selling proposition of speed to market, which is why we’re investing not only in new machinery but also in improving our entire production process, from pre-production to post-production,’ Sharma highlights. 

The manufacturer has also added the capability to manufacture base rolls and sleeves in-house, making investments totaling over 1m USD for this purpose. 

Previously, Acme relied on two or three trusted partners in the industry for manufacturing base rolls. However, with increased quantity, delivery times have become a concern. 

‘While we can manufacture everything in-house, we will continue collaborating with our partners to maintain consistent timelines for our customers. If we receive a large volume of orders, we may split them between our internal production and our partners to ensure efficient delivery without compromising on customer service.’ 

The new setup will be operational by August 2025. 

With this expansion, the capacity will increase significantly. Currently, Acme produces about 300 to 350 rolls per month, including both large and small rolls. With the additional capabilities, it is expected to reach approximately 550 to 600 rolls per month. This represents nearly a doubling of its current production capacity.