Mavigrafica installs second Flexcel NX Ultra system from Miraclon

Mavigrafica has installed a Flexcel NX Ultra 42 system at its new production facility in Florence, growing its fleet of Flexcel NX systems to six and marking the company's second investment in water wash platemaking technology from Miraclon just 18 months after installing Italy's first solvent- and VOC-free platemaking system at its plant in Pioltello, Milan.

Established by Maurizio Vitale in 1997, Mavigrafica has grown from a small communications agency to become a key player in Italy's packaging design and flexographic pre-press market. The company provides customers with a complete design-to-print portfolio of services, acting as a vital link between brand owner, design agencies and packaging printers.

Mavigrafica has enjoyed a 17-year partnership with Flexcel NX Technology, having been the first tradeshop in Italy to install a system after seeing it at drupa in 2008.

'At that time, we weren't a large business, and it was a big decision to invest in what was a new technology for flexo printing. But I saw immediately that Flexcel NX plates were a game-changer,' Vitale explained. 'Today we are 50 people with a turnover of 7 million EUR, and most of our plates are produced using Flexcel NX Technology.'

Sustainable manufacturing practices are increasingly essential in the Italian packaging market and an essential part of Mavigrafica's vision. The company is certified to ISO 9001, 14001, 45001 and the newest 14064-1 (Carbon footprint) standards.

'Our customers are demanding more sustainable options throughout the supply chain. With Flexcel NX Ultra systems, we can offer them a water washable plate that's solvent- and VOC-free, reducing the environmental impact,' Vitale noted. 'Initial tests with customers confirmed that there was no difference between the on-press performance, quality and consistency of Flexcel NX Ultra Plates and Flexcel NX Plates, with the added bonus of a water wash process.'