Consumables
Two KBA Rapidas to mark triple anniversary
Monday 27. May 2013 - Vimer Industrie Grafiche Italiane invests in Rapida 106 double-coater press and large-format Rapida 162a
2013 is a very special year for Vimer Industrie Grafiche Italiane in San Giustino, Central Italy. The family business founded by Luigi Merendelli in 1973, which today is one of the most renowned European printers for packaging and store design, has three anniversaries to celebrate: 40 years Vimer Italy, 20 years Vimer France and 10 years Vimer UK.
In the run-up to this triple jubilee year, Vimer decided to invest in a seven-colour Rapida 106 in a configuration for double coating and a large-format KBA Rapida 162a press with six printing units and inline coater in summer 2012. Including a six-colour Rapida 105 – also with twin coaters – installed at the end of 2005, there are now three Rapidas in operation at the company. On the basis of this cutting-edge technology, Vimer continues to offer its top-flight clients in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical and food & beverages industries efficient solutions for their marketing strategies, and is able to continue the success of previous years.
Creative and quality-aware
The family business managed by Luigi Merendelli, his son Valentino and daughter Valentina stands for creativity, innovative strength and an uncompromising awareness for quality. Vimer Industrie Grafiche Italiane is certified to the ISO 9001, FSC, PEFC and Imprim’Vert standards and generates sales of 16 million with a workforce of 140 employees. It views itself not merely as a supplier of high-quality packaging and point-of-sale displays, but as an all-round service provider, offering its clients advice – new, original ideas – along the whole process chain, from planning and design, from print to finishing and distribution. The substrates used range from paper and board, to plastic films and composites of the most varied materials.
Fine feeling for new markets
For the experienced, self-made entrepreneur Luigi Merendelli, the past eight years of partnership with KBA have been an important success factor. He began his career studying at the school of graphic arts in Sansepolcro. At an early stage he realised that in the field of packaging it is imperative to offer clients something special which can help them to stand out from the competition. Promising niche markets and new products are Luigi Merendelli’s speciality. Vimer does not hold back in its choice of slogans, such as “We know how”, “Energy for your business” or “Italians do it better”. The wishes of the client are placed in the foreground and everyone works hard to make these come true.
Luigi Merendelli also knows his way around the printing press market. “I have worked on numerous sheetfed offset presses from German and Italian manufacturers, and I know what is important when it comes to satisfying the individual needs of demanding clients,” he says. His first KBA press was installed at the end of 2005, namely a six-colour Rapida 105 with twin coaters for the processing of acrylic and UV coatings. Even at that time, he was printing not only on paper and board, but also on coated and transparent substrates such as PVC films. The use of hybrid inks has been expanded continuously through to the present day.
Luigi Merendelli: “From the beginning on, KBA’s experience and competence in the field of inline finishing offered us the maximum reassurance that we could successfully master even the most difficult challenges. KBA has a very good reputation on the Italian market, develops innovative technologies and offers excellent service through KBA Italia. And that is a strong basis for our lasting partnership.”
Ultramodern equipment for medium and large formats
With the investments in a new Rapida 106-7-LTTL CX ALV3 and the proven Rapida 162a-6+L CX ALV2, Vimer has further modernised its print production capacity. The medium-format makeready world champion features DriveTronic SIS (sidelay-free infeed), fully automatic plate changers, CleanTronic Synchro washing systems and the new KBA ErgoTronic console with wall screen and the latest measuring systems for online quality control (QualiTronic ColorControl, DensiTronic Professional). The large-format press also packs a high level of automation for maximum ease of operation.
Vimer president Merendelli: “We are now ideally equipped for our job structure in medium and large formats. Plus the new investments have given a further boost to our quality and productivity.”