Deluxe Packages, Pakistan has bought a seven-colour Rapida 106 in a double-coater configuration making it the longest sheetfed offset press installed in the 60‑year history of the company, which supplies packaging for the pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and confectionery branches, as well as POS displays. The press will enter production in autumn. Rehan Shafi Siddiqui and Zeeshan Mustafa Shafi Siddiqui represent the second generation at the helm of the family business. Speaking about their choice the two directors agreed, “We were looking to invest in the very latest technology, and the Rapida 106 was thus a logical choice. Our confidence in KBA and the local sales team from Imprint Packaging Solutions was paramount in this decision.”
One of the leading packing companies in Pakistan, Deluxe Packages occupies more than 4,000 m2 (43,560 sq ft) of production space at its existing premises. A new factory adds a further 16,000 m2 (174,240 sq ft). With more than 150 employees, the company generates an annual turnover of around $5.5 million (approx. €5 million. Running their production on various half- and medium-format presses with four to six colours up until now, the 11-unit Rapida 106 investment heralds the transition of their business to a whole new dimension, they felt. As the packaging market in Pakistan is currently undergoing rapid change, they considered it essential to match their equipment and technology to future demands.
The print format and production output of the Rapida 106 were important factors for the choosing the press. The increasing complexity of packaging designs calls for additional printing units for spot colours, and the double-coating facility is a further prerequisite for high-quality multiple coatings and UV finishes. The press is prepared for mixed conventional/UV production, features 450 mm raised foundations and incorporates dedicated accessory packages for both board and plastics printing. Its automation includes fully automatic FAPC plate changers, CleanTronic Multi washing systems for the alternating use of different ink systems, and CleanTronic UV.
Deluxe Packages operates a two-shift system and prints around 35 million sheets per year. The commissioning of the Rapida 106 will lend a clear boost to productivity and quality in the press room, according to the directors. At the same time, it will further expand the company’s substrate flexibility into the fields of plastic packaging and production on metallised board with an opaque white primer. “The Rapida 106 is known for its high productivity, and KBA is an expert for the precise tailoring of special presses to individual packaging applications. The UV equipment from KBA is likewise a superior system”, they concluded after conducting an extensive market research.