Targeting quality ream wrap markets in central and eastern Europe, Finland-based Walki Group is to invest in a new multi-colour flexographic printing machine in Poland.
The new 10-colour flexo printing machine, at the company’s Jatne plant 40km south-east of Warsaw, will be utilised mainly in the production of ream wrap used for the wrapping of A4 and A3 copy paper reams.
Walki, a leading producer of technical laminates and protective packaging materials, expects the new machine to be in full production during the fourth quarter of 2013. It will be supplied by the Comexi Group of Spain.
“The printing machine’s possibility to use 10 colours gives our customers more possibilities in terms of design and special effects,” says Marko Siltala, VP of Walki’s operations & business line ream wrapping, paper packaging division.
“Accuracy of the machine’s printing result is excellent and the machine will also be using environmentally friendly water-based inks,” he adds.
Anticipating growth for paper products in eastern Europe and Russia, Walki also opened a new plant in Russia in May this year.
“Paper is still the best media to read longer documents and texts, and the consumption of copy paper is expected to grow in eastern Europe and Russia in the near future,” says Siltala.
“Walki wants to strengthen its position as the leading supplier of ream wrapping material in Europe and the new investment is aimed to serve our customers in central and eastern Europe even better than today, supporting their needs for attractive packaging.”
Walki Group specialises in the production of fibre based, intelligent, multilaminate products for markets ranging from energy saving insulation facings and construction membranes to barrier packaging solutions.
With annual net sales exceeding €300m, the group has plants in Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, the UK, Russia and China with a workforce of about 1,000 people.
