Beta business for Etigraf

Casablanca based Etigraf is a relatively new company in label printing, but with a longstanding background in the flexo field through its involvement in the prepress side of the market as Reproservice. "It was a logical step forward to enter the label printing business ourselves," explains Mohamed Belwidane, chairman of the Moroccan company.

That business was recently boosted by the installation of a six colour Edale Beta 250 UV flexo press. Suitable for self adhesive labels, small carton and general packaging production, the highly specified machine is designed for 'operator friendliness', with quick set-up and change-overs. Its modular concept enables extension into a combination press at a later stage, as the business grows and Etigraf's needs change.

Since its launch in 2000, Edale has sold "well over 60" of the Beta 250/330 flexo press range worldwide. The largest is a 14 colour UV flexo/screen/digital combination press with hot foiling used in a range of security applications. Several other combination Beta presses are in use for high quality cosmetic label production – a market that is growing at a steady pace and one for which the Beta is said to be ideal.

At the other end of the Mediterranean, another recent Beta installation was a 330mm wide, seven colour model installed in Amman, Jordan, where it is used for a wide range of reel to reel packaging and self adhesive label applications. Instead of buying labels and packaging from abroad, the trend in Jordan is towards local manufacturing to match the demand in JIT production/supply, and to respond to the short run/quick turn-around orders. Combined with a growth in the export of packaging and labels, this is making Jordan a viable market for flexo presses.

Export director Bernhard Grob says that over the last 18 months Edale has seen more orders for flexo presses going into the Middle East, than in the last three years. The UK based manufacturer is currently looking to expand its factory to accommodate this thriving business.