Packaging

Sheetfed offset technology stirs interest in West Africa

Wednesday 28. November 2012 - KBA mans stands at trade fairs in Ghana and Nigeria

Nigeria and Ghana, the two most important countries in West Africa, stand out with high levels of economic growth, Nigeria being the most populated country on the African continent with over 160 million inhabitants. Reason enough for Koenig & Bauer AG (KBA) to establish presence in these countries by exhibiting at two trade fairs.
Set up as an industrial trade fair for the Ghanaian market, the annual GEREU, organised by the GGEA (Ghanaian-German Economic Association), is in its fifth year. At the end of September KBA manned an information stand at the trade show for the first time. Along with advertising for KBA sheetfed technology, KBA’s presence at the fair also offered the chance to introduce the new sales partner, Exact Solutions. Kenneth Ashigbey, managing director of the Graphic Communication Group and one of KBA’s most important web press users, was among the prominent guests visiting the company’s stand. The KBA Comet installed at the Graphic Communication Group, prints the largest daily newspaper in Ghana amongst others. This installation has led to further interesting contacts being formed and talks with sheetfed printers who are looking for alternatives to the technology they have previously used.
NIPEX 2012 opened its doors three weeks later in Lagos/Nigeria. Lagos has some 18 million inhabitants and is the economic centre of a country which has profited from the boom in raw material exports. Lagos is also an ideal hub and is often used as a starting off point for West Africa. KBA has a good standing in Nigeria, with several successful Rapida and Genius installations. The interest of the visiting print professionals was impressive. Many wanted to find out more about new and further developments in KBA’s product portfolio as it was not possible for most to attend Drupa in May.
The fair also provided a good opportunity for initial talks concerning new projects. One of the most important visitors to the KBA stand was Adekunle Adeshina, managing director of ESKADE Ventures. During NIPEX, the first Drupa-generation Rapida 105 went live in Africa. The six-colour press with coater and extended delivery is fully equipped with measuring technology, plastic and UV packages, several automation functions as well as a KBA LogoTronic Plus workflow system. The print professionals from ESKADE Ventures decided on the Rapida 105 for its high level of automation, makeready times and flexibility. This press will enable the firm to enter the high-quality packaging market for cosmetics, contracts with global players in the cosmetics and chemical industry have already been signed. This investment soon became a hot topic of conversation among the Nigerian print professionals at NIPEX and may lead to further orders shortly. In the Nigerian packaging industry a large number of old presses contrasts with huge demand.
The trend towards high-quality packaging is obvious even in this West African country. Given its strong technological standing and market position in this growth sector, KBA is a competent and advantageous partner for Nigerian packaging printers.