Kingfisher Inks has picked Sharjah-based Sara Manufacturing as the regional distributor for its narrow-web inks.
Sara Manufacturing will make and supply the UK-based company’s inks, said Kingfisher‘s director, David John Stocker.
“We have now made an agreement with Sara Manufacturing, which will give them the opportunity to manufacture Kingfisher’s UV, flexo, and water-based flexo inks locally so they can supply our tried and tested products to the local market along with our backup and technical solutions,” he said.
“We think that’s a win-win for Kingfisher Inks, Sara Manufacturing and more especially for the narrow web flexo printers in this region.”
While Kingfisher has been supplying the Middle East for many years, the company has seen the need for “a more immediate delivery response”, he added.
“The big printers and also many smaller label printers, who want to buy their florescent inks and special inks in smaller quantities, it’s a service angle which Sara Manufacturing our regional partner will be able to provide faster here,” said Stocker.
“We can also be more cost effective with local presence.”
UK-based Kingfisher Inks, which has been operating for 25 years, owes its success to its specialist narrow-web expertise, added Stocker.
“I think it’s the fact that we’re an independent company run by two owners who have been in the narrow web label industry all their working lives,” he said.
“Again, it is a philosophy to offer solutions to our customers rather than just a fixed range of products. We like to work with the customers to provide them solutions.”
Along with a wide range of water-based flexo inks for narrow-web label printers, Kingfisher provides special water-based inks for thermal label printing for areas such as the food industry, he added.
The company’s UV portfolio includes peal and read varnishes for coupon labels and allied applications.
Ali Mohammadlou, director at Sara Manufacturing, said the agreement with Kingfisher would enable the company to become a “one-stop shop”.
“I have been selling inks all along but this is something different,” he said.
“The basic idea started when I thought why I don’t have something that provides everything under one roof. I can sell flexo, UV, water-based for narrow web, for offset or even carton printing. I got to provide the best available ink in the market under one roof and am able to make customers happy.”