Page 22 - PWM_DECEMBER2022 EBook

NEWS GLOBAL

IN BRIEF Fedrigoni to acquire

Pressroom chemicals spe-
cialist Graphichem is
expanding into new French mill
premises on the back of
strong trading. The busi-
ness was set up five years
ago, and annual sales Fedrigoni Group has production capabilities and
have grown to £4m since. agreed yet another buy, international network.
As well as manufacturing a which will give the business a
range of pressroom chemicals the business also supplies CEO Marco Nespolo com-
spray powders, wash cloths, and inks for heatset web and dominant presence in the mented: “Their marked spe-
sheetfed printing. Its product range also includes hand worldwide market for pre- cialist skills and proprietary
sanitiser hygiene products that were developed during the mium papers for wine and
pandemic. Graphichem acquired Edward Marsden in 2019 technologies will allow us to
and took over sales for Druck Chemie’s UK business last year. spirits. The acquisitive Italian supplement our already rich
Graphichem’s eight staff currently operate from 836sqm group has signed an agree- product portfolio both for
premises in Middlewich, with the business gearing up to ment with Papeterie Zuber Fedrigoni Group signs deal
move to a brand new purpose-built 1,210sqm facility in Rieder to take over the busi- cialty papers for labels, pack- papers for luxury packaging
nearby Winsford early next year. Managing director Scott and those for high-end wine
McGauley said the new site would give the business scope ness, subject to consultation aging and perfumed cards. Its
for further expansion. with the French firm’s works range includes food grade and spirits labels, where we
council. papers and ‘ice bucket proof’ want to consolidate our posi-
Surrey-based printer tion as the leading global
Positive+ has installed an Papeterie Zuber Rieder labels. Fedrigoni said the buy
HP Latex R2000 flatbed was founded in 1881. It would create “the first global player. The Papeterie Zuber
after trialling the technol- employs 130 staff and since player in premium papers for Rieder mill is located in
ogy on an HP 800W roll- the turn of the century has wines and spirits”, and Zuber Boussières to the east of
to-roll latex printer it
bought in July. Installed by focused its offering on spe- Rieder would benefit from its Dijon.
reseller Papergraphics, the
investments have allowed Scodix hires Paul Franklin
the diversified print company to take on larger volume
runs. The two devices’ latex ink’s eco-friendly credentials
were particularly attractive, according to chief commercial
and sustainability officer Tony Dennington. Positive+ had Scodix has appointed its commitment to having a support.”
considered other machines, but the eco-friendly water- industry veteran Paul high-quality management Mark Nixon, Scodix’s VP
based inks made the difference. Dennington told Michael Franklin as its sales team. global sales & marketing,
Printweek: “[The R2000] has opened us up to bigger quan- director for Northern Franklin, who has 35 years
tity runs at competitive prices, and the sustainability side is said: “Paul’s appointment
a big part of our ethos moving forwards.” Positive+ has Europe, comprising the UK, of experience in the print exemplifies the expansion of
traditionally done much of its wide format work on UV Ireland and Nordic coun- industry, said he was keen to Scodix this past year and our
machines. Its stable includes a Mimaki 3.2m roll-to-roll tries. take on the role.
and Océ 3.2m flatbed, alongside a pair of HP DesignJet Franklin joined the digital “I am committed to sup- guarantee of the highest qual-
printers. ity standards and care for cus-
embellishments kit manufac- porting the industry’s culture
Bespoke boxes containing turer from Kongsberg, where of innovation through my tomers. We are very pleased
the England squad’s World he was also UKI and Nordic new and exciting role,” he to have Paul joining the
Cup match kit, printed by territory manager. Scodix said. Scodix team; his expertise in
Pureprint, were presented this industry will push Scodix
to the squad by Prince said the appointment would “Scodix is a forward-think-
William. The full squad – help it cement its growth ing company and offers pre- to new heights and grow our
26 players – gathered for across Europe, and reflected mium products and business in these regions.”
the ceremony on 14
November before they flew
to Qatar to attempt to win WTTB’s new chocolate offering
the World Cup for the first time in 56 years. Each of the
personalised boxes contained the player’s shirt, a message
from manager Gareth Southgate, and information on the Where The Trade Buys marketing director, told
heritage of the shirt number, detailing the players who had (WTTB) has added chocolate Printweek that while, the
sported it previously. The boxes had personalised outer and products from Tony’s advent calendars would soon
inner lids fastened with hidden magnets. stop production until next
Chocolonely to its personal-
Royal Mail wants to ditch Saturday deliveries and its parent ised B2B print offering. The year, both items had
cemented their place on the
group has confirmed that it will separate the business, company’s custom-printed
which has racked up losses of nearly £220m at the half- ethical chocolate product It has plastic-free packaging firm’s product sheet.
year, if “significant change is not achieved”. International “It’s thick heavy chocolate,
Distributions Services (IDS) has also canned its interim divi- offering includes bars and being wrapped in custom- really nice actually, and suit-
dend due to the poor performance of the Royal Mail busi- advent calendars.The bars, printed wrappers at WTTB. able for vegetarians. It’s a
ness. In the 26 weeks to 25 September, Royal Mail posted intended for corporate givea- Tony’s has agreed to like- great choice.” The chocolate,
sales down 10.5% at nearly £3.65bn. Addressed letter vol- ways and gifting, are pro- available in nine flavours, is
umes, excluding elections, fell 6% to 3.6bn items, while wise supply WTTB’s sister
parcel volumes were down 15% at 613m. The figures also duced by fairtrade and company, Precision Proco, wrapped in plastic-free pack-
reflected the unwinding of temporary benefits due to sustainable chocolatier for the consumer market. aging printed on an HP
Covid-19. Tony’s Chocolonely, before Emma Thompson, WTTB’s Indigo.

22 PrintWeek MENA December 2022 www.printweekmena.com