EBM

Eminence Business Media

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Sira OOD broadens flexo label offering with a new MPS EF Multi-Substrate Press

With the EF flexo press, the Bulgarian printer and converter will now have the capability to print plastic wrap-around labels.
MPS today announced Sira OOD has selected an MPS EF multi-substrate press to expand its flexo printing capacity. With the EF flexo press, the Bulgarian printer will broaden their capabilities in the narrow web market with the production of plastic wrap-around labels, complementing their current offering of self-adhesive and wet glue labels.

With their new MPS EF flexo press, Sira OOD is able to control a range of substrates while meeting high print requirements in quality and register control. The EF flexo press is feature-rich with six UV-print stations, delamination-relamination, cold foil, automatic register, die-cutting station, and the APC package which extends the machine’s print quality and options. The machine is also built with servo drives, video inspection, corona treatment, and sleeve technology on each print station for the loading and unloading of print cylinders - providing ease of operation.

Originally a sheet-fed offset printer, Sira OOD entered the narrow web market eight years ago with the addition of flexo printing, to grow their market share and become a more flexible supplier of labels and other products. Today, the Bulgarian printer offers three printing techniques: sheet-fed offset, digital and flexo. In addition to customers in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, the majority of Sira OOD customers are in the food sector including beverage, dairy and meat. At present, Sira OOD produces high volumes of self-adhesive labels found on canned foods, vacuum packaging, bottles and more. The EF flexo press will enable Sira OOD to accommodate a growing demand for wrap-around labels from their existing and potential new customers. Sira OOD is also considering the production of labels with low migration inks.

The investment of the new MPS EF flexo press was partly actualized with EU funding, with Sira OOD receiving funding approval in the summer of 2014. Installation of the press is planned for February 2015 at their factory in Veliko Tarnovo, followed by a week of operator training. The sale and factory acceptance process was supported by MPS agent ISM GmbH & Co. Kg, who represents MPS in Central and Eastern Europe and is equipped with a team of local (after) sales and service experts.

Stefan Vasilev, Technical Director of Sira OOD commented: “The new MPS EF 340 press with APC will enable Sira to enter a new market sector. We now have an extended and more versatile capability across a variety of substrates, with superior quality. Our operators are highly skilled, and the factory test proved the MPS EF flexo press is really easy to operate - we expect our new press will be running full production in no time. With its APC package, user-friendly design, ergonomic handling, and clear and practical press control and management systems, our operators are very excited to work with the new MPS press. Our customers will be impressed with the print quality, range of options, and shorter lead times.”

Printing-house Sira, located in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria began in 1990 as a family-owned business. In 2007 Sira OOD expanded their core business of sheet-fed offset printing with the offering of narrow web flexo printing, and digital printing few years later, to produce with the three print technologies a range of labels, advertising materials, cardboard boxes, books, magazines, catalogues, posters and more. The printing-house offers in-house services including design, pre-press studio and finishing options such as UV varnishing, hot foil, embossing, die-cutting, laminating, and bookbinding. The majority of Sira OOD customers are from the food industry, and represent main players in Bulgaria and companies abroad in Germany, France and Czech Republic.

MPS is a worldwide, well-known and high-quality brand of flexo and offset press solutions for label and flexible packaging printers. By providing extensive knowledge and world-class service to enhance the printing process, MPS helps customers excel by improving the printing process and customer experience through product innovation. Through use of their know-how and capabilities, MPS recommends press solutions that best serve their customer’s requirements.