Edale launches North American division

In the latter part of 2004, Edale announced its American agent network with its presence at Label Expo Americas and its first installation of a Sigma into the States. Since then the company has realized the opportunities in this market and has decided to take the leap and open a dedicated division to serve North America.

‘It is a large venture, but a calculated one, and we believe that there is a real demand for what Edale has to offer,’ explained James Boughton, CEO, ‘the feedback from the last expo in America was positive with particular emphasis on the anodized cast aluminum plates and the web handling/tension controls of the Edale machines. They also noted the cognitive design and lack of “special” spare parts which forces them to purchase from us the original supplier leading to a suppliers market and high prices. We don’t believe in tying a customer in and want them to return to us because of the excellence in service, which they invariably do.’

Heading Edale America will be Karl Schmucker. Schmucker has a history in the flexography industry, working in sales for Nilpeter and IST and over eighteen years experience in all phases of graphic arts.

‘The climate in America has become stagnant with three/four main companies,’ said Schmucker. ‘Each one concentrates on a main market of cookie cutter style presses, none of them offering complete and extraordinary engineering to further advancement of press abilities. This has moved to the creativity of the printer, who uses press platforms as an artist would use a canvas and easel, to make the press into a unique profit center. Edale can partner with people to give them a different approach to presses. With our Alpha line, we can also bring high quality printing to the smallest of label printers, giving them a chance to compete with printers many times larger.’