SLAGELSE, Denmark—Nilpeter A/S, a leading manufacturer of narrow-web label and packaging presses, has formed Nilpeter Middle East. The decision was formally announced at the recent Gulf Print Dubai 2009. Shyam Babu, managing director, said the new company has already attracted several strong sales leads for Nilpeter’s FB-Line of UV-flexo presses and the MO-Line of offset combination presses. The company is also actively developing partnerships in Iran and Saudi Arabia.
Babu said he was pleased with the interest generated at the show from potential and existing customers. Strong contacts were made with leading label converters in Bahrain, Qatar, Syria, Egypt, Iran and Saudi Arabia, as well as Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the UAE. An announcement regarding the sale of an FB-3300 UV-flexo press to a customer in the region is expected shortly. A potential customer for the new Caslon UV-inkjet printing system has also been identified.
Nilpeter’s expansion is prompted by the overall strength of the Middle East printing market. UK-based Pira International reports that the total value of printed output in the Middle East will rise from $5.3 billion to $7.6 billion by 2012. Pressure-sensitive and non-adhesive labels, digital color printing and wide-format products are forecast to have especially strong growth. The demand for globally-branded fast-moving consumer goods and pharmaceuticals is helping to drive this quality-led growth, which is backed by investments in the latest graphics industry technology.