Shengda Print installs first three Tau 510 RSCi presses in China

Chinese printer Shengda Print has installed the first three Durst Tau 510 RSCi digital label presses in China to bolster its production capabilities and explore new business opportunities.

Shengda Print, which was established in 2000, focuses on short-run print runs. It was the first company to introduce composite printing mode of business cards in China. Now its business has diversified into labels, leaflets, posters, brochures, PVC cards and carbon-free joint bills. In 2023, the company's turnover has reached 2.85 billion RMB (400 million USD), of which the label business accounted for about 20 percent.

Shengda Print and Durst China have jointly hosted an open day in Yongcheng, Henan Province to celebrate the installation.

Cui Wenfeng, founder and chairman of Shengda Print commented: ‘We are delighted to welcome all the attendants here to witness this important moment. We believe that these new digital devices will not only bolster our capabilities but will also help us to explore new business opportunities.’

Wenfeng explains that Shengda's growth reflects broader shifts in demand for printing products across China. In the company’s early stages, composite printing models fulfilled customer needs for low-cost, fast-turnaround jobs, despite overlooking unique requirements. However, with millennials and Generation Z emerging as key consumers, the market has evolved. These new generations demand more personalized, customized, and short-run orders with variable data, which has driven growth in the digital printing sector. The rise of digital presses is meeting these changing expectations with greater flexibility and efficiency.

Shengda has taken a major step in expanding its digital capabilities by signing an agreement at Drupa 2024 in June to purchase five Durst digital label presses. The total investment for this deal amounts to 50 million RMB (over 7 million USD), positioning the company to meet the growing demand for personalized, customized and variable data printing.

Christoph Gamper, CEO of Durst Group, commented, ‘The Durst Group has been at the forefront of digital printing technology research for 25 years. Since my first visit to China two decades ago, I've been continuously impressed by the country's rapid evolution and market growth. This collaboration with Shengda marks our first partnership, but we quickly discovered shared values and visions for future development, which form the foundation of this promising cooperation.’

Gamper shared his astonishment after visiting Shengda's Yongcheng factory, which houses over 100 presses and employs 2,000 people. He was particularly impressed by the scale of the operation, its fine-tuned management, and the high level of automation. This experience further solidified Durst's confidence and determination to deepen their exploration of the Chinese market.

Martin Leitner, product manager for label and flexible packaging at Durst Group, said: ‘China is a very special and challenging market, with the ultimate pursuit of label quality and the strict control of costs. As a professional digital technology provider, Durst is fortunate to participate in the digital transformation of Shengda. In addition to high-speed, high-quality digital printing equipment, we also have a very mature supporting software, to fully help customers to create a complete digital ecological chain.’

'We entered the Chinese market eight years ago with a focus on leveraging technological innovation to address our customers' real-world production challenges. Over this period, we’ve helped clients unlock new opportunities through digital printing technology and have already seen some successful implementations in China. Now, we’re excited to support Shengda in becoming our next success story in this space,’ said Henry Cheng, CEO of Durst China.

Durst has established a 24/7 service system for its local customers in China, thanks to its partnership with Haoxi, a trusted agent for over 12 years.

The collaboration with Shengda presents a unique challenge, as more than 95 percent of Shengda's orders come through the Internet, with a daily capacity of 80,000 orders. Its advanced internal ERP system, which governs the entire production process, is now integrated with three new Durst digital presses to efficiently handle the massive volume of online orders.

To conclude the event, participants toured Shengda’s Yongcheng factory, where its automated management and proprietary logistics system ensure that all orders are delivered within one to two days.