There was excitement about HP Indigo V12 at the Matset stand

17.09.2022

Matset A.Ş. At the Istanbul 2022 – 27th International Packaging Industry Fair, Avrasya Packaging introduced the label and packaging technologies it represents in Turkey, especially HP Indigo V12, Lombardi flexo printing machines and Asahi solutions. General Manager Doğu Pabuççuoğlu answered our questions at the Matset stand.

• There is a heavy influx of visitors to Avrasya Ambalaj this year, how do you rate it?

The number of foreign visitors at the fair is very high. On the third day, Turks started to come more and more. They showed that a four-day fair could be held. People are making programs. Since this is a specialized fair, visitors know what they are looking for and what to look for. There seem to be no visitors wandering around aimlessly. Even strangers know why you came. On the first day there were fewer Turks. There are too many foreigners. Therefore, this fair is very important.

• While other fairs in Europe are losing blood, this fair is rising…

There are no more commercial printing fairs in Turkey. I wouldn't be surprised if drupa isn't held. It won't be done unless a few big brands participate. Next year there is interpack, which we always attend, and then Labelexpo. HP is the main player in both fairs. When they become the main players, we go too. Right after Labelexpo, there is Avrasya Ambalaj. Participating in consecutive fairs is challenging in terms of both time and budget. Maybe the machinery side of this fair can be held every two years. But this fair does it justice in terms of interest and visitors.

• You are promoting a prototype machine at the fair, what's new in HP Indigo V12?

HP's latest model of the machines we sell is the 6K label printing machine. People know it and when you bring it to the fair, they won't come to see it. The customer who is considering buying it does not come just because it exists. In such difficult economic conditions, we decided to bring a new machine rather than bringing a machine and putting it in stock without selling it. It was previously going to be exhibited at V12 drupa, but it could not be exhibited. It was going to be exhibited at Labelexpo, but it was also postponed. It was exhibited at Labelexpo Americas two weeks ago. There are currently beta test installations in the US, UK, Germany and Israel. I think they will start taking orders at the next Labelexpo. There are two interested customers in Turkey who want to be included in the list.

There is a gap between the HP Indigo 6800 and flexo printing. Even if he puts the work in between on flexo, he doesn't want to put it there because the label paper is very valuable right now; Even if it is increased to 6800, it does not save the unit cost. For this reason, a gap was created, and on the other hand, during the pandemic, everyone learned to work 'just in time' without stock. The end user learned that it has the ability to repeat, especially in repetitive tasks. He started to think, "If my weekly usage is 10 thousand meters, why should I stock 50 thousand meters?" Not only does the customer want it this way, the label manufacturer also directs it this way, because the paper stock is not enough. Everyone balanced each other during this period. The cost of paper has now exceeded the cost of ink. When this machine arrives, the customer will get a larger share of flexo.

• Where does this cost reduction come from?

From speed. Three to four times faster printing will be possible.

With Indigo 6800, it was possible to print up to 7 colors, with V12 it was possible to print up to 12 colors, the fastest printing was in 6 colors. When it goes above six colors, the speed drops by half. But unlike the Indigo 6800, you print at the same speed whether you print 7 colors or 12 colors.

Until a few years ago Matset seemed to focus on prepress, postpress and digital printing, now you seem to be more focused on flexo printing with Lombardi and Asahi, so packaging. What has changed in company policy?

Matset has somewhat followed the trend of the market. We didn't have flexo for four or five years.