In line with growing demand in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) for packaging, labels and security printing, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) has clinched milestone deals in Egypt, Jordan and Tunisia.
In Egypt, Heidelberg has closed several orders for its Linoprint C at a launch event for the digital system.
Sales in Jordan include the country’s first Speedmaster XL 106, while a fit-out for a new printshop in Tunisia features North Africa’s first Diana 115 X folding carton gluing machine.
Demand for printed products in MENA is being fuelled by an increase in consumer goods to be labelled and packaged, said Heidelberg.
But, in contrast with the established markets’ focus on consolidation and lean, efficient production, MENA is meeting rising demand through new print shops.
Heidelberg, which has been in MENA for more than 50 years, has independent agencies in all its countries and subsidiaries for both Saudi Arabia and the Gulf.
More than 400 Heidelberg specialists work in MENA, over half of them in service-based roles, according to the company.
The German company also has a Print Media Academy (PMA) in Cairo.
Wolfgang Roth, responsible for distributors at Heidelberg, said the company is seeing in MENA “a general increase in the amount spent on digital and packaging printing”.
In MENA, Heidelberg claims a market share of over 30% for CTP, over 60% for presses, and over 40% for postpress kit.
More than 7,500 one-, two-, and multi-colour presses from Heidelberg covering all formats are installed in MENA.
In Tunisia, the new pharmaceutical packaging specialist Medpack has invested in a Suprasetter A106 CtP platesetter, a Speedmaster CD 102-5+LX, Tunisia’s first Speedmaster SX 74 four-color press with coating unit, a Stahlfolder Ti 36 and Ti 52, a Varimatrix 105 C die cutter, and a Diana 115 X folding carton gluing machine.
Early in 2013, Heidelberg installed Jordan’s first Speedmaster XL 106-5+L at Central Press, where it joined a Speedmaster XL 105, a Speedmaster CD 102, and a Speedmaster CD 74.
The Al Shurook print shop in Amman – focused on packaging for foodstuffs and detergents – has also ordered a Speedmaster XL 105-6+L, a Speedmaster SM 52-5-L, and a Suprasetter A105 platesetter with a Glunz & Jensen online processor. Both presses are designed for UV and water-based printing.
In Egypt, Heidelberg has launched its Linoprint C digital printing system for shorter and variable runs.
The Youssef Allam Group held a three-day open house at the Cairo PMA to launch the system, which will be the responsibility of its new subsidiary Aim.
Several customers placed orders for the system at the event, according to Heidelberg.