Heidelberg’s partnership with Masterwork Machinery

Going global with postpress equipment for the folding carton market

October 2, 2015

As a result of its strategic partnership agreement with the Chinese manufacturer, Masterwork Machinery (MK), Heidelberg has ambitious plans to extend its range of postpress equipment for the folding carton market. Partnerships are the key, according to management board member, Harald Weimer, referring to how even a manufacturer the size of Heidelberg needs to form strategic alliances with specialist manufacturers to ensure
success. From the supply side, he believes that no one company can have the expertise to meet all the expectations of a global market in which customers look increasingly for a single-source provider.

Heidelberg’s partnership with MK forms the platform on which it can build its business globally, but it is keen to point out that while its new MK Promatrix and MK Easymatrix diecutters will become its volume sellers in the carton market, the existing 100 or so users
of the Dymatrix and Varimatrix ranges will continue to receive full support.

MK Promatrix 106 CS diecutter

Despite most of the MK machines being CE compliant, Heidelberg is running its own thorough checks on the design and builds quality of each range to ensure customers that reliability will be up to the customary standard before they are distributed. Field trials are complete on the MK Promatrix line, and the MK Easymatrix is anticipated to hit the market laterin 2015.

The MK Easymatrix will appeal to the developing markets, and be an entry-level machine for carton converters, as well as a crossover option for commercial printers in the established regions. The MK Promatrix, which has a speed of 8,000 sheets an hour, is predicted to sell well in the developed and industrialized countries.

The MK Promatrix 106CSoffers fast makeready on carton board from90 to 2,000 gsm, and corrugated up to 4mmthick. Features on the 760 x 1,060 mm diecutter include a non-stop feeder, belt table with suction belts and central roller and brush adjustment, a register system up to the stripping station, quick lock chase and cutting plate, fine adjustment in the cutting station as well as quick lock frames with fine adjustment in the stripping station. Motorized cutting pressure adjustment and non-stop delivery with rolling carpet make an operation comfortable, and allow the machine minder additional time for production monitoring and quality control.

According to Weimer, “We see this partnership with MK as an entirely positive move for Heidelberg as a manufacturing supplier and for the global carton converting market. Their technology is first class, and our sales and support network is second to none. I see it as a ‘win-win-win’ situation – Heidelberg benefits from having new technology to sell, MK benefits from having foreign markets to develop, and the converters benefit by having an exciting range of competitive machines to improve their businesses.”

The impact, resilience, and growth of responsible packaging in a wide region are daily chronicled by Packaging South Asia.

A multi-channel B2B publication and digital platform such as Packaging South Asia is always aware of the prospect of new beginnings and renewal. Its 16-year-old print monthly, based in New Delhi, India has demonstrated its commitment to progress and growth. The Indian and Asian packaging industries have shown resilience in the face of ongoing challenges over the past three years.

As we present our publishing plan for 2023, India’s real GDP growth for the financial year ending 31 March 2023 will reach 6.3%. Packaging industry growth has exceeded GDP growth even when allowing for inflation in the past three years.

The capacity for flexible film manufacturing in India increased by 33% over the past three years. With orders in place, we expect another 33% capacity addition from 2023 to 2025. Capacities in monocartons, corrugation, aseptic liquid packaging, and labels have grown similarly. The numbers are positive for most of the economies in the region – our platform increasingly reaches and influences these.

Even given the disruptions of supply chains, raw material prices, and the challenge of responsible and sustainable packaging, packaging in all its creative forms and purposes has significant headroom to grow in India and Asia. Our context and coverage engulf the entire packaging supply chain – from concept to shelf and further – to waste collection and recycling. We target brand owners, product managers, raw material suppliers, packaging designers and converters, and recyclers.

In an admittedly fragmented and textured terrain, this is the right time to plan your participation and marketing support communication – in our impactful and highly targeted business platform. Tell us what you need. Speak and write to our editorial and advertising teams! For advertisement ads1@ippgroup.in , for editorial info@ippgroup.in and for subscriptions subscription@ippgroup.in

– Naresh Khanna

Subscribe Now

As 2023 begins and FY 23-24 unfolds, will you support us?

What lies in store for the packaging industry in India and South Asia this coming year? Inflation, disruption of supply chains or environmental regulation? Or the resumption of high rural demand, continued investment and industry consolidation? Whatever happens, Packaging South Asia will be there, providing clarity and independent technical and business information in India and South Asia and around the world. We are a compact Indian organization bringing a window of fair and rigorous technical and business information that the industry can access this year and beyond. Please support us with your advertising and subscriptions, to keep us going and growing.

Thank you.