Goss Opens Packaging Technology Center
Goss International, a respected player offering a wide array of commercial offset and newspaper presses, has broadened its reach into the packaging world with the opening of a new Packaging Technology Center at its headquarters in Durham, NH.
“The response to the opening has been overwhelming,” says Peter Walczak, Goss’ director of product management. “We’ve had to hit the ground running to fit in all the viewings and meetings requested.”
Industry pressures are driving interest in both the Center and the Goss’s new press that targets the packaging market. “Converters and brand owners are looking for lower costs, higher print quality, easier repeatability, faster turnaround times and shorter run lengths,” continues Walczak. “We created the facility to demonstrate our Vpak web offset technology and to generate and test new concepts for improved packaging printing.”
The centerpiece of the 7,000-square-foot facility is the company’s Vpak 500 press, which is available for demonstrations and testing. Featuring seven web offset units, EB and UV curing, and flexo coating, the Vpak accommodates web widths up to 33.5 inches with a repeat range from 16 to 32 inches. According to Goss, the Vpak’s versatility allows it to fit into many types of packaging including folding cartons, flexible packaging, preprint and labels.
In opening in the Technology Center, Goss has shown a clear dedication to the packaging segment of the printing industry. One of the most important aspects is the Center as an educational resource, much like similar facilities operated by other analog and digital press suppliers. At Goss’s Center, printers and converters from any segment of the print industry—not only converters but commercial printers looking at entering the packaging space—can get a sense of the entire production process, explore and test new packaging ideas, and see what the Vpak has to offer.
The center saw its first visitors in May and was quickly booked with visits for the summer. Walczak says Goss may host an event in the fall as part of a larger-scale opening of the center and presentation of the press. In the meantime, he said, visitors to New Hampshire are encouraged to stop by.
“We want people to come check it out,” says Walczak. “It’s here for people to use.”
Cory Francer is an Analyst with NAPCO Research, where he leads the team’s coverage of the dynamic and growing packaging market. Cory also is the former editor-in-chief of Packaging Impressions and is still an active contributor to its print magazines, blogs, and events. With a decade of experience as a professional journalist and editor, Cory brings an eye for storytelling to his packaging research, providing compelling insight into the industry's most pressing business issues. He is an active participant in many of the industry's associations and has played an essential role in the development of the annual Digital Packaging Summit. Cory can be reached at cfrancer@napco.com
