Right from the start, the Miraflex CI flexo printing press from Windmöller & Hölscher was met with enthusiasm from customers all over the world and especially in South Asia. Sale figures are increasing year by year, and machines from the Miraflex C, A and S series are now in use in around 70 countries worldwide. The new generation Miraflex II presented at drupa 2016 and the 500th press in the series, a Miraflex II CM8, was purchased by the largest flexible packaging manufacturer in Pakistan, Lahore-based Packages Ltd.
Packages Ltd. was founded in 1956 as a joint venture between the Ali Group of Pakistan and Akerlund & Rausing of Sweden. The largest flexible packaging company in the country has grown significantly in recent years and the requirement for investment is also correspondingly high. In addition to the 8-color Miraflex II, Packages has ordered a Varex II 7-layer blown film extrusion line by W&H, which is incidentally the first machine of this kind in Pakistan. “Packages Ltd. is always one step ahead in introducing new technologies to Pakistan and providing better solutions to its customers,” says the company’s head of packaging, Asghar Abbas.
Packages and W&H have a long-standing relationship based on mutual respect and trust. “In 2009, Packages had already invested in a Varex blown film extrusion line and in 2012, the company installed the first gravure printing machine of the Heliostar SL series in Pakistan,” reports Gerhard Schoone, W&H sales director for South Asia.
With the 8-color Miraflex II, the Pakistani packaging pioneer has also decided on W&H for its flexographic printing machine for the first time. “After our very positive experience with the blown film extrusion line, as well as with the gravure printing machine, we were convinced that we had made the right decision to invest in the flexographic printing press from W&H,” Abbas expresses his conviction. “At W&H, we appreciate the combination of quality, service and innovation. W&H is always the leader when it comes to innovations and new solutions. We are more than satisfied.”
Training by W&H Academy
Packages values and highly rates the training courses that W&H offers for customer personnel in the W&H Academy. “As with previous machines, we have also invested in a training program for the machine personnel of the Miraflex II so that our operators are able to take advantage of the full potential of the machine right from the beginning.” The machine will be supplied to Packages plant in Lahore in October, with the production expected to start in December 2017.
