31 July 2012

UAE printer orders Gallus ICS 670

- ICS 670 will enable EPP to realize alternative printing processes

- New shop built to handle in-line production with room for second system

UAE-based Emirates Printing Press (EPP) has installed a Gallus ICS 670 in-line folding carton system that will be used to expand its packaging activities.

The Gallus ICS 670 will be used to produce folding carton products in a seamless process – from the roll to finished, die-cut blanks.

An ICS 670 in-line system was demonstrated on the Gallus stand at Drupa 2012. Fellow UAE-based converter Al Mawrid signed an order for an ICS 670 in-line folding carton production system at the show.

Specification

The Gallus ICS 670 heading to EPP comprises four gravure units, nine EVA platforms, a rotary embossing unit and the Gallus FCL 670 flatbed die cutter.

EPP will use HiDef flexo printing and screen printing modules on the EVA platforms. Other finishing methods such as cold foiling, lamination, hot foil embossing, or rotary hot foil embossing can also be integrated in the platforms as options.

A total of sixteen heat-set web offset, sheet-fed offset and sheet-fed gravure presses have so far been available at the printing company. In addition to books, magazines and assorted presswork, EPP also makes high-end packaging for cosmetics, perfumes, confectionery and tobacco products on behalf of world famous brands.

Gallus said the ICS 670 will enable EPP to realize not only alternative printing processes, but also a “revolutionary production and material flow concept”.

New facility

To house the new system, EPP recently built a new shop that is optimally aligned to the requirements of continuous, streamlined in-line production from the roll. The shop is sufficiently large to accommodate a second production line.

EPP's executive directors Mohamad Al Shirawi and Samuel Natarajan jointly said: ‘It was the one-of-a-kind production and process flexibility offered by the Gallus ICS 670 that was the main reason for our investment decision.

‘We chose this configuration because it allows us to cover most of our current portfolio. Thanks to its modular architecture, the machine can be expanded at any time in the future, so that we can respond to changing market needs without any problems.’

Training

EPP operators and managers undertook In-depth training in flexo and screen printing, as well as the necessary pre-press processes, at the Gallus Converting Center in Weiden, Germany, and Gallus Screeny in St Gallen, Switzerland.

Specialized theoretical knowledge was backed up by practical training on an identical machine system.

‘We'd like to say a big thank you to Gallus for the excellent training that was put on for us in Weiden and St Gallen. We learned an awful lot,’ said Thomas Jayaraj, senior production and plant manager at EPP.

EPP is based in Dubai, where Package Print Worldwide is helping organize two events to support growth in the Middle East.

Packprint Summit Middle East, taking place November 6-7, features a two-day conference addressing the latest topics, themes and trends shaping the region’s package printing market.

Gulf Print & Pack is the only dedicated event for commercial and package printing in the Middle East and North Africa. It takes place April 8-11, 2013.