Kodak’s divestment of its flexo division has given rise to a new independent company called Miraclon. However, the flexo products that the new company develops and sells will continue to carry the Kodak Flexcel branding. Formed by the sale of Kodak’s Flexographic Packaging Division to Montagu, a leading private equity firm, Miraclon is a new and instantly global company with over 300 employees, since it has acquired Kodak’s innovative flexo R&D team and manufacturing operations in the US and Japan.
Miraclon will concentrate fully on the development, production and sale of its Kodak Flexcel Solutions including the flagship Flexcel NX system. Under Montagu’s ownership, the company says it is in a great position to leverage the strengths of the former Kodak flexo business, that include an experienced team, a strong patent portfolio and the trusted Kodak brand. With renewed focus, agility and investment to support customers throughout the world, the new company intends to further strengthen its role as a technology innovator and enabler of change to continue to transform flexo as a premium printing process for packaging.
Committed to ongoing innovation Chris Payne, who led Kodak’s Flexographic Packaging Division since January 2015, is the new company’s CEO. He will continue to lead the team responsible for the development and dynamic growth of Kodak’s flexo business. “Customers will experience the same products, same people and same trusted Kodak product brand that they have come to depend upon to support their own business growth. Together with our customers, we’ve played a decisive role in shaping flexo’s evolution over the last ten years, and we’re now looking forward, as Miraclon, to being the driving force behind the next evolution of Kodak Flexcel Solutions and setting new benchmarks for years to come,” said Payne.
Close to our customers Miraclon has offices across the globe, from Brussels, Belgium and Rochester, NY to Guadalajara, Mexico and Singapore. With R&D centers in Minnesota, Vancouver and Israel as well as two key manufacturing locations and a global supply chain operation it is well positioned to support the global packaging business. The Miraclon team, together with a worldwide network of distribution partners will ensure its solutions have an effective presence on every continent.
“My number one priority is always the customer,” Payne added, “I know it sounds like a cliché but it’s at the heart of everything we do. We will continue to push back the limits of what is technically possible in flexo printing with innovative Kodak Flexcel Solutions, and help our customers grow and be successful.”
Miraclon at Asian Packaging Conference in Delhi In India, Miraclon will mainly consist of the Kodak Flexcel team and continue to give sales and operational support to the market. Miraclon is planning to take part in the Shift Asian Packaging Conference to be held on 8 and 9 May in Delhi’s Aerocity. The event will conclude with the Asian Packaging Awards gala dinner.
