Colombian converter Coditeq finds niche in reliability

Colombia-based Coditeq, printing self-adhesive labels for five years, is achieving impressive annual growth and gaining a strong reputation for reliability thanks to a software system which helps it guarantee on-time delivery to clients. Annual growth since 2010 is 14-17 percent, while the company regularly achieves months of 100 percent on-time fulfilment of clients’ jobs.

Located in Colombia’s capital, Bogota, Coditeq is a sister company to Ecuador-based label converter and coding equipment supplier Sismode. Sismode’s general director Francisco Arias founded Coditeq in 1993 to expand the Ecuadorian company’s coding equipment business into neighboring Colombia; Sismode and Coditeq are exclusive distributors in their respective countries of Markem-Imaje’s label applicators and inkjet, laser and thermal transfer coding equipment. Two years later, with the business set up and a management team in place, Francisco Arias returned to Sismode in Ecuador. Five years ago, following the retirement of the previous incumbent, Francisco’s brother Jorge Arias crossed the border to take on the role of Coditeq’s general manager.

A key part of his brief was a move into label printing. Coditeq’s label applicator and coding equipment clients were beginning to request labels too, so as not to have to source them elsewhere. Self-adhesive label printing began immediately on a full UV, 8-color Mark Andy 4300 letterpress shipped from the plant in Ecuador, with a 4-color Etirama Flexorama 250 brought in to print simple VIP labels. In 2012, Coditeq
installed an 8-color Nilpeter FB3300 with BST inspection and GEW UV
curing.

Coding and applicator equipment sales remain Coditeq’s core area of expertise, representing 80 percent of its business. But the 20 percent dedicated to self-adhesive label production – two million sqm a year divided between prime, VIP and promotional work – is flourishing, with the company’s Trust Program (ProgramaConfiable) providing clients with impressive reliability and transparency.