CEO Brett Pollock affirms that the flexographic printing market’s exponential growth can be directly attributed to specific innovative developments such as ECG, which offers the opportunity to reduce costs through lower ink consumption and less material use during make-readies. At the same time, it can enhance print quality and significantly reduce CO2 emissions.
Operations manager, Stuart Baylis, adds: ‘This sounds almost too good to be true, but as we work with our customers, we increasingly see them achieving these positive results. Our team uses a systems approach, as ECG isn’t a mere “plug and play” installation. We are confident that the South African flexo market will follow the many international markets where ECG is increasingly being adopted.’
Brett takes up the discussion by explaining that Polyflex is backing flexo’s status as the preferred print format for non-rigid FMCG packaging. It is supporting this optimistic view of flexo’s growth potential through several investments. Its award-winning Esko Crystal screening technology has been upgraded to increase the output capacity at its Durban hub.
Production manager, Emanuel Narainsamy, who has been closely involved with the Crystal suite, is excited to see the uptake from the market. ‘It was essential that we meet the growing demand from our customers. Although it took some time to prove the great results they can achieve with Crystal, we are now well past that challenge, and it is their preferred screening process.’
He reports that Polyflex has also met the growth opportunities in Gauteng and the Western Cape.
‘We have installed an imaging device at Polyflex Gauteng and an entire processing line, which includes a size upgrade from 1 066 x 1 524mm to 1 270 x 2 022mm, at Polygraphics in Cape Town.’
The Polyflex team, however, agrees that the most exciting development is the opening of its platemaking facility in Kampala, Uganda. They describe this as a particularly challenging project, given the difficult shipping and supply lines following the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the equipment has been installed and testing is about to begin. ‘We are justifiably proud of our growth into Africa and are excited with how the Ugandan facility will complement our well-established Kenyan operation based in Nairobi,’ Brett enthuses.
If ECG is an innovation whose time has come, Polyflex is certainly backing its view of the ongoing growth and health of the flexo-printed packaging market.
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