Completing the circle

Flexo printing specialist Gráficas de Llinars, based near Barcelona, offers services to the fruit and vegetable packaging sector. All of its major printing and converting equipment was supplied by Comexi.

Ricard Costa, managing director of Gráficas de Llinars, states: “Our company was founded five years ago from two mother companies, one dedicated to the manufacture of horticulture and fruit packaging machinery and the other to extruded mesh products.” The aim of these companies was to complete the production circle and offer the bags used in every fruit and vegetable shop and store.

“Our objective is to provide a comprehensive solution for the fruit and vegetable packaging and packing market, taking into account the specific features of a sector with a series of production cycles that are closely tied to the seasonal production of the fruit and vegetable, market” adds Mr Costa. “This is a very important factor and it requires the allocation of highly efficient production elements that can guarantee top level manufacturing processes and an extremely quick response, as the products packaged have a very short sell-by date.

“To achieve the punctuality and production efficiency, we have had to commit and adapt to existing technologies. In addition, we have had to adapt our knowledge about the market we serve to the technological reality of the equipment installed.

“The commitment to flexo led us to Comexi, who convinced us with its in-depth knowledge, the experience of its staff, the state-of-the-art equipment used and the services offered to the market.”

Service is crucial in such a demanding sector, he stresses. “We are committed to Comexi’s printing press, as it is compact and easy to use. In particular, we value the formulae established to give continuity in the form of services and the rate of return of the machinery investment. I am not only talking about the technical assistance service, but also the advice provided by the company to achieve the expected results.”

Comexi marketing manager Agustí Combis adds: “In fact, Gráficas de Llinars has not only trusted our equipment for printing packages, but also for its slitting and lamination needs. We are the only company involved throughout the production process, from start to finish.”

Gráficas de Llinars has two FW1508 flexo presses, with a width of 1,250mm and 8 colours available; a Nexus Evo solvent-less laminator; and a pair of Eikon double turret slitters.

Ricard Costa adds: “Having all of our machines from the same supplier makes it easier for us to obtain technical assistance: there is a contact person who can provide a response throughout the whole process and this goes hand in hand with our own corporate philosophy of completing the production circle”.

As it is dealing with fresh products, the speed and efficiency of Gráficas Llinars’ service must be total, he affirms.

“We receive an order in the morning and must deliver it during the evening, with perfect print, lamination and slitting, since our customer, the fruit and vegetable producer, does not package the products until they are already sold. However, once the products are sold, they must be packaged immediately, since they must reach the customer fresh and with the expected quality.

“This is one of our strengths and this is why we consider that the support of a production equipment supplier is vital. The relationship between us and Comexi is excellent: we can clearly talk about a real, complete and productive synergy”.

Mr Costa concludes: “As we are dealing with seasonal products, and we have a vast machinery and equipment pool, we also offer graphical services with a high industrial response capacity to all other sectors. We have a promising future ahead of us and our exports are starting to reach markets such as France, Central Europe and Eastern Europe. The quality of our printing is highly valued everywhere and it represents our raison d’être.”