Geostick Group makes double MPS EXL-Packaging press investment

Founded in 1924 by P.J. Berveling, Geostick originally specialized in self-adhesive labels. The family-owned business has since grown significantly and is now led by the family’s third generation. After numerous acquisitions, Geostick Group today exists of six business units: Geostick, Clever Labels & Flexibles, Herald Labels & Tags, Wyt Gevaarsetiketten, Labelform and Labelmed.

The MPS EXL-Packaging press provides fast changeover times and short set-up waste. EXL-Packaging presses can be equipped with UV, hot air and LED drying technology, allowing users to print on a large variety of substrates including thin film, paper, cartonboard, shrink sleeves, in-mold, laminate tubes and flexible packaging.

The Geostick business will utilize its new MPS press for large volumes of self-adhesive labels, while Clever Labels & Flexibles while use it for printing flexible packaging. Both presses, which are expected to be in full production in early 2017, will be interchangeable to accommodate demand and variety of required printing jobs within the two companies.

MPS said the presses offer Geostick, in Uithoorn, and Clever Labels & Flexibles, in The Hague, wider and faster flexo printing. For Geostick, the preference of a packaging press over a traditional flexo press was primarily for the versatility of a 570mm-wide machine. A bespoke cross-over and de-lam/re-lam unit will also be integrated on the press to print multi-layer labels on the full 570mm width. Initially founded in 1990, Clever Labels & Flexibles became part of the Geostick Group in 2014, bringing expertise in printing flexible packaging. The new EXL-Packaging press is a second MPS press for Clever Labels & Flexibles, and will replace an older MPS EP flexo press.

Cees Schouten, Geostick Group technical director, commented: ‘Over the years, we’ve had very positive experience with MPS as a supplier of printing presses. We were looking for two new interchangeable presses to provide extra workflow capacity and accommodate increased print runs and variety of substrates.

‘These two new MPS EXL-Packaging presses perfectly fit the growth of our group, with MPS alongside as a reliable partner.’