Beyond Waffles: Apex “FlexoKitchen” Served Irresistible DRUPA Results

DRUPA, DÜSSELDORF GERMANY – May 2012 – Sensory overload? While thousands of curious visitors to Apex Group of Companies’ DRUPA stand came to sample the tasty Dutch “Stroopwafels” prepared hot and fresh for each recipient, many stayed to satisfy their hunger for high-performance, streamlined expanded-gamut flexography made possible by Apex’s GTT ink-to-plate metering cylinders. Flexo printers and OEMs flocked to view stunning 4-color Pantone® simulation press samples printed while using superfine plate screens, intelligent software, and GTT predictability to produce consistently accurate color fidelity. This the basis of the “Flexo(R)evolution” project partnership between Apex, software, plate and ink manufacturers.

Apex also introduced two brand new products at DRUPA: the X-Sleeve line of plate-mounting and adapter sleeves; and GTT Offset/Coating cylinders which enable offset printers to gain the quality benefits of GTT for varnish, lacquer and coating applications. While the X-Sleeve products are in limited early release, interest in their unique new construction, dimensional stability and strength led to many orders at DRUPA.

And while Apex waffles are always a hit at DRUPA (14,000 individual waffles were pressed and served during the show), Apex VP of Sales/Eurasia Willem-Jan Kersten believes interest in GTT and the Flexo(R)evolution drove visitors to investigate further. “Apex measured more than a 35% increase in active visitors to our stand compared to 2008 – even though DRUPA reported an overall decline in 2012 attendees,” notes Kersten. “In challenging economic times, technical innovations like GTT that save time and improve predictability are very attractive.”

Ken Ralton, VP of Sales/Americas also noted an uptick in visitors from emerging markets like Latin America and Asia. “Apex is grateful for all the enthusiastic feedback we received about the Flexo(R)evolution print samples, our UltraCell conventional anilox products – and especially our current GTT customers who visited,” Ralton observes. “With ten-thousands of GTT installations worldwide, we were thankful to greet so many customers who shared their success stories with us. GTT and our Flexo(R)evolution really stole the show.”
 

@June 2012