Flint Group Printing Plates puts new production plant into operation

After a two-year construction period, Flint Group Printing Plates put its new production plant for flexo plates into operation in Willsttt, Germany. For the inauguration of the new plant on July 28 2006, Flint Group Printing Plates invited all employees who made this project a success as well as representatives of the Willsttt area. As regional representatives, the district chief executive of the Ortenau district, Klaus Brodbeck, and Willsttt’s mayor and vice-mayor, Artur Kleinhans and Tobias Fahrner, followed Flint Group’s invitation.

In his introduction, Dr Thomas Telser, president of Flint Group Printing Plates, gave a short historical overview starting from the beginning of Flint Group Printing Plates (formerly BASF Drucksysteme) to its current success. ‘A good business development made us foresee reaching our production capacity within a short time and lead to the decision to invest in a new production plant two years ago. I am pleased to be able to say today that the development over the past two years has proven us right,’ explained Dr. Thomas Telser. ‘The new capacity enables us to further develop our worldwide business and also ensures delivery to our existing customers. We also show the market our long term commitment to the printing plates business with the new production plant.’

About 300 employees work for Flint Group Printing Plates at the Willsttt site. Besides printing plates, printing inks for packaging applications are also produced there. Starting with letterpress plates, Flint Group Printing Plates has produced photopolymer printing plates in Willsttt since 1969; the first production plant for flexo plates followed in 1978. Dr. Thomas Zwez, Head of Operations for printing plates in Willsttt comments, ‘With the latest production plant we have increased our capacity by more than 30 per cent and created 30 new jobs. Naturally, before the start of construction we also checked alternative locations for the new production plant, including sites abroad. In the end, the advantages of the integration into the existing production network, the existing infrastructure and especially the presence of skilled personnel with long standing experience clearly turned the balance in favor of the Willsttt site.’

In his speech, Willsttt’s mayor Artur Kleinhans welcomed the engagement of Flint Group Printing plates at its Willsttt site and pointed out the entrepreneurial courage proven by the company. ‘Investments like the new production plant are not self-evident these days. The decision in favor of the Willsttt site also shows us that we turned the right way with the development of the Willsttt industry park, obviously offering good conditions for technology companies like Flint Group Printing Plates.’ 

The start-up of the new production plant is only one important step in turning the Willsttt site into a technology center for printing plates. It is additionally planned to transfer the R&D department for printing plates from Ludwigshafen to Willsttt by the end of the year.