In Australia Premier Steve Bracks has officially opened Amcor's new A$22 million (€12.2m) flexographic preprint facility in Victoria, Australia.
The project, which was reported to have been completed on time and on budget, has been operating successfully for several months according to Amcor.
Peter Brown, managing director Amcor Australasia said, "This new facility is one of the largest fully automated preprinters in the world. The Fischer & Krecke machine from Germany gives Amcor world's best preprint capability in terms of product quality and operating efficiency."Over the last 10 years there has been a growing demand for point-of-sale enhanced graphics, particularly from the beverage, wine and fruit produce markets.
Furthermore, Amcor reports that its customers are increasingly seeing the use of preprint products as an important value-added means of merchandising.
The new machine features a number of technologically advanced functions, including the ability to print up to eight colours, a print fault detection system and an automated cylinder storage and loading system.
The company has been running a Preprint division in Australia for around 14 years. Originally based at Clayton, the Preprint facility was relocated to Scoresby, Victoria in 1994.
Amcor's Preprint business is part of the Amcor Fibre Packaging Australasian Division. It produces over half a million tonnes of corrugated box material annually, primarily for the fresh and processed food and beverage industries.