Grupo Fibrafil plans packaging expansion in Peru and abroad

Grupo Fibrafil has installed Peru’s first Mark Andy Performance Series press, a P5, in a deal which will also see the US manufacturer supply the Lima based converter with two further P5s next year. One of these has been earmarked for Grupo Fibrafil’s planned new site in Medellin, Colombia, which is due to open towards the end of 2015.

Grupo Fibrafil is one of the leading Latin American producers of two agro-industrial products: shade cloth and tomato twine, which are deployed in greenhouses. The company moved into label production in 2012 with the installation of an 8-color Gallus ECS 340 flexo press.

As reported in L&L issue 2, 2012, the company was encouraged to move away from its core market – for which it produces 1.82 million square meters of products a month on a fleet of 21 machines – because of the ‘great potential for growth’ in the Peruvian label sector.

According to Nicolas Zaidan, the company’s sales manager, the granite-based Gallus press – with which he reports to be ‘very happy’ – was at full capacity within six months of its installation, running mainly pressure sensitive materials and some shrink sleeves.

Wanting to further expand its shrink sleeve market share, Grupo Fibrafil opted for a 9-color Mark Andy Performance Series P5 with a 17 inch web width. Equipped with a Teknek cleaning system, Vetaphone corona treatment, turnbar, lamination and cold foil, it can run pressure sensitive and film materials. The deal was done in conjunction with Ferrostaal, which has represented Mark Andy in Peru for the last 18 months.