Polotsk printers plan to purchase an additional flexographic printing machine
The continuous modernization of production helps the Polotsk printing company "Nasledie F. Skoriny" expand its range of products and meet the growing demands of its customers.
The team has been implementing an investment project to modernize the flexographic printing section since 2013. During this time, over 6 billion rubles have been invested in the technical re-equipment of production. This includes funds from the investment fund of the Ministry of Information of Belarus and the company's own funds. With these funds, eight pieces of equipment were purchased, and two existing machines were re-equipped with new mechanisms. The results were immediate: the share of such a promising area as the production of packaging and self-adhesive labels increased to 80% of the total production volume.
Indeed, at one time, "Nasledie Skoriny" specialized mainly in the production of form products, supplying the region with brochures, posters, reference books, congratulatory addresses, business cards, seals, and stamps. However, time demanded the adoption of modern technologies. The packaging industry was rapidly developing worldwide, with more and more manufacturers wanting to present their products colorfully and attractively. Flexography, which allows for bright, rich images to be applied to almost any surface of varying thickness, was ideal for solving these tasks. The Polotsk company opted for this highly efficient printing method, being the first in our region to purchase the relevant equipment. They started with labels on foil and self-adhesive paper, and on polypropylene films resistant to aggressive environments. In the next stage, they mastered the production of soft packaging for dairy products, and then expanded the range of materials used.
The enterprise successfully competes in its market segment, maintains its established image with high-quality services, and has regular customers. Among them are primarily enterprises of the food and processing industry in Polotsk, Vitebsk, Orsha, Lepel, Glubokoye, Postavy, and Verkhnedvinsk. Other clients are willing to purchase products from Polotsk, but the technological capacity does not yet allow them to be supplied.
– We need another modern flexographic printing machine. We can't do without it. We are currently looking for a supplier and developing technical specifications, – noted the enterprise director Nikolai Ilyushonok.
Recently, he visited an exhibition of achievements in the packaging industry in Brussels, where he studied equipment in action. He concluded that it is best to choose between models of Czech, American, or English production. Soon, representatives of a Czech company are expected to visit Polotsk to advertise their products. Machines of this type can only be imported; moreover, they are custom-made items: the basic model is modified for a specific customer. The price is also considerable, but the game is worth the candle.
Continuous improvement, as explained by the head of the enterprise, is necessary to reduce production costs, increase manufacturing speed, and improve quality and design. Practice confirms these arguments. The latest acquisition by the Polotsk printing house was a professional digital printing machine for printing small runs of full-color, vibrant products on various materials.
– We are mainly approached by those who need to produce labels for signal, trial samples of products, – said the deputy director of the printing house, Sergey Solovey, – loading a large machine for these purposes will lead to an increase in the cost of the service, and digital printing allows us to fulfill the order at reasonable prices.
Larisa Malashenya, photo by the author. "Vitebskiye Vesti".