Stork Prints and AKL announce flexo printing partnership

Stork Prints and sleeve technology supplier AKL Flexo Technik GmbH have formed a strategic partnership. The close collaboration between the two companies is expected to speed up the developments of new products and services for the world’s flexo market.

From 1st February 15, 2006, Stork Prints will represent the marketing and sales interests of AKL. The lattercompanies share a global distribution and production network, with agents and sales centers based in 14 countries around the world, while flexo printers have a single source for flexo-sleeve and imaging solutions. and expertise. 

The alliance will see technical staff from both companies pooling their research and development activities into seamless sleeves and laser engraving. This is expected to be a catalyst for further flexo innovations. The complete program of sleeves and ITR (Iin Tthe Rround) printing formees that are compatible with any printing plate, so that printers are not limited to the choice of a particular supplier of (photo)polymer material.

Mr Heinz Schild, managing director of AKL Flexo Technik commented: ’We are very excited about the opportunities brought by this partnership. It gives us full access to research and development around sleeve concepts for direct laser engraving and further expansion of our LAM sleeve concepts. Furthermore, the support of Stork’s network enables us to make our sleeve technology easily accessible to the flexo industry around the globe.’

Mr Wilfried Koopman, managing director of graphics at Stork Prints, commented: ‘We believe that development in seamless sleeves and the laser engraving process will lead to an optimal performance for the flexo printing industry. As one of the pioneers of seamless sleeves, the partnership with AKL gives us a springboard for further advancing the quality and workflow of ITR technology. The deal strengthens our belief that the single-step digital engraving process represents the future for flexo printing forme production. We are now ready to take the next step and expect flexo printers to embrace the open standard giving them greater freedom of choice.’