GEW celebrates 30th anniversary

GEW designs and manufactures mercury arc and LED UV curing systems for applications all across the printing, coating, and converting industries. With headquarters in the UK and subsidiaries in Germany and the United States, the company serves an international customer base with sales, service, and support available worldwide.

In the early years, GEW developed UV systems for a range of label printing machines, and the success of these first models enabled the business to grow rapidly. Between 1992 and 1999 the company relocated into larger premises and developed the product range further. GEW quickly became identified with UV curing systems on narrow web printing machines. Sales at that point were mostly direct with original equipment manufacturer (OEM) accounts, based mainly in Europe.

In 1999 GEW was awarded the Queen’s Award for Export Achievement, having doubled export sales in the preceding three years. In the same year, GEW established its USA subsidiary operation in Cleveland, Ohio, to service the North American market. A further subsidiary office in Germany and a worldwide network of distributors and agents complete the group.

The company moved again in 2012 to a purpose-built production facility near London Gatwick in West Sussex, UK. Founders Malcolm and Gillian Rae remain involved in running the organization with the same enthusiasm and commitment they began with in 1991. Adding to this strength, their son and daughter have also taken active, guiding roles within the company.

In more recent years, GEW has continued to grow significantly, opening a second production factory in the UK and expanding the product line-up to include world-leading UV LED technologies. Expansion into adjacent UV application areas has also continued, with GEW now a significant force in sheetfed offset, wide web converting, and large-scale industrial UV technologies. During the recent pandemic, GEW has been recruiting and with the core products more reliable and in higher demand than ever.

‘The future of GEW is in many capable hands, supporting our customers and developing innovative new products to maintain our leading position in the industry,’ said Malcolm Rae. ‘Today, GEW equipment is used on many of the world’s most advanced printing machines and our products are highly regarded for their standard of engineering, reliability, and performance. Our fast, friendly and flexible approach has kept customers loyal to us over many years. As testimony to this, our first-ever customer is still buying from us today.’