Prepress

Miller Graphics installs ThermoFlexX 80 at new Algerian factory

Tuesday 24. March 2015 - The recent advancements in digital flexo plate production made by Belgian manufacturer ThermoFlexX are attracting interest around the world, with the latest installation of a ThermoFlexX 80-S imager taking place in Algeria at an 800 sq metre factory in Bejaia completed recently by the Miller Graphics Group. Miller Graphics, a leading European supplier of pre-press services to the flexo market, has invested around one million Euros in the new plant, which offers design, artwork, repro and platemaking services.

“Algeria is a fast growing market,” says Hubert Sampré, Miller Graphics managing director in France and Maghreb. “There are several major food producers in the Bejaia area and because of this there are also some very important packaging printers. Bejaia, between Algiers and Annaba, was an obvious site for our new factory. It’s still early days, but our rapidly increasing order book has already proved that there is a huge need for high-quality pre-press services, delivered quickly and at a competitive price.
“I first saw a demonstration of the ThermoFlexX imager technology in 2013 and I was so impressed that I’ve kept in touch with developments ever since. When we were considering the purchase of a flexo imager for the new Algerian factory I contacted the Belgian manufacturer again. The ThermoFlexX 80-S, with its 1,270 x 2,032 mm output capacity and 5,080 dpi exposure resolution, is capable of meeting all of our customers’ plate size and quality requirements. In addition, we can expose whatever flexo plate a printer is used to working with and in thicknesses up to 6.35 mm.
“The implementation of the imager went extremely smoothly, with the ThermoFlexX engineer providing excellent training. This has been backed-up by first class after-sales support. The imager has proved to be so straightforward to operate that we were quickly in production, providing a growing number of plates daily.”
The extensive research and development work carried out by ThermoFlexX during the last two years has focused on pushing forward the boundaries of productivity, quality and effectiveness in the field of flexo plate production. This has resulted in a string of industry-leading features being incorporated into the ThermoFlexX imager series, including the world’s highest exposure resolution and fastest exposure speed.
ThermoFlexX supplied Miller Graphics with a Xitron RIP and workflow along with its Multiplate software, which allows the operators at Bejaia to ‘mount’ many jobs on to one plate in order to reduce wastage – a major theme throughout the ThermoFlexX range. The latest version of Multiplate can support multiple imposition sheets plus different resolutions on the same sheet, and can be integrated with workflows and ERP systems as well as external equipment such as cutting tables and mounting devices.
Because of the large plate size potential offered by the ThermoFlexX 80, Miller Graphics has purchased a ThermoFlexX Flextray system and this enables easy transport and automatic loading of flexo plates that would otherwise be difficult to handle.
“The demand in Algeria for ever higher quality of printed products, particularly in flexible packaging and labels, is continuous,” says Hubert Sampré. “We’re delighted with the results we are achieving from the new imager and associated software. Miller Graphics operates fifteen subsidiaries across eleven countries but this is the first ThermoFlexX imager in the group, so there are a lot of eyes watching how it performs. We’re certainly very happy with the investment.
“Over the coming months we’ll be concentrating on consolidating all of the new equipment installed at the Bejaia factory and in spreading the word about the extensive range of pre-press services that we now provide in the area. We’ll also be increasing the number of staff. This is currently eight but by next year we expect to be employing twenty people at the new site, so there are still plenty of exciting developments to take place!”