GM opens Latin America office

Grafisk Maskinfabrik (GM), a Denmark-based manufacturer of converting and finishing equipment, has opened an office in Santiago, Chile, to provide technical support to customers in Latin America, writes James Quirk.

The office, which was founded in early 2012, is managed by Jos Kabouw – who has over 20 years’ experience in the Latin American graphic arts market, with particular expertise in industrial digital print systems from the likes of Xeikon and HP Indigo – and offers technical support that covers the region from Mexico down to Tierra del Fuego.

According to Kabouw, the move was motivated by an increasing number of installations in the region, including digital converting systems for both label and folding carton applications in Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Brazil and sales to Argentina and Peru expected in the near future. ‘We only had a few machines in the region until recently,’ he says, ‘but that has changed rapidly in the last few months with a series of installations and more due to be finalized shortly.’

The office in Chile allows GM to offer customers in the region far quicker technical support and spare parts service than was previously available from Denmark. ‘In this region, label converters often work 24/7. Our presence in Chile eliminates the problem of time difference between this region and Denmark, as well as overcoming language and cultural barriers. The GM Latin America team has over 20 years of experience in the graphic arts business – in digital printing solutions as well as finishing equipment.’

Kabouw is excited about the potential for GM’s lines of finishing equipment in the region: ‘The Latin America market offers good growth for GM with the increasing numbers of digital presses from HP Indigo, Xeikon and other brands being installed in the region. I am confident that GM will become an important player in the region and a good partner for our customers, because our team of brilliant engineers in Denmark create machines that offer the converter flexibility and the most cost-effective, high quality performance for roll to roll or roll to sheet.’

As well as digital converting lines such as the DC 330 mini, DC330, DC330 laser die-cutting system and DC 500 and XP 500 converting/finishing machines, GM also offers ancillary equipment such as roll lifters, slitter rewinders, revision equipment, core cutters, laminators and more.

‘The DC 330 laser die-cut system was three years in the making, with our company working with a team of experts that manufacture high-tech industrial laser systems,’ says Kabouw. ‘They created a system that is unique in the market – capable of flexible, high speed, digital production. It can be made even faster with a dual laser head and is a complete, ready-to-use system with no need for additional elements.’

As an example of GM’s technical capabilities, Kabouw cites the development in partnership with the DTU Risø technical university in Denmark of a digital converting line that is used to produce state-of-the-art flexible solar cells printed roll to roll – a unique system that utilizes silkscreen and lamination.

In addition to sales and service for GM installations with other digital press brands, Kabouw carries out technical support for GM’s industry partner Xeikon.

GM will be present at Label Summit Latin America in Guadalajara.

Pictured: Jos Kabouw heads up GM’s Latin America office based in Santiago, Chile

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