CHANGING THE WORLD ONE LABEL AT A TIME

GM Graphix

Established twenty three years ago to supply flexographic cost effective printed packaging material to the fast-moving consumer goods and pharmaceutical sectors, GM Graphix is now a leading supplier of high-quality label solutions such as sachets, self-adhesive labels, unsupported film and shrink sleeves.

It has always been a ground-breaker. In March of 1996, it became the first flexo-printer in South Africa to be awarded with an ISO 9001/2000 certificate, and a strategy of pioneering technological advances has seen the company move well beyond self-adhesive labelling that had once been its core market. Reaching into sectors as diverse as foods and beverages to electronics, health and personal care, GM Graphix big-name brand clients include L’Oreal, Revlon, Alberto Culver, Wrigley’s and Douglasdale dairy supplies.

General Manager and packaging technologist Junior Massyn puts its domestic market share at 2-3%. “Our BBBEE classification is a large enterprise, and I’d say we are surely moving in a corporate direction.”

Flexographic presses produce quality impressions on many different substrates - the base material on to which images are printed. It’s the least expensive and simplest of the printing processes used for decorating and packaging printing and its popularity is on the rise.

“Seventy per cent of a customer’s in-store decision is based upon the packaging and it’s becoming increasingly

The performance text for the print sector reads uneven and blurred. Slapped by evolving technology including digital print, traditional advertising and media printing is on the decline. But this is a scenario of changing markets rather than modal retreat, and the big growth area world-wide is packaging, a positive development for innovative companies like GM Graphix of Alberton near Johannesburg.

GM Graphix

important for consumers and customers to protect their brand.” And with counterfeiting a big and increasing issue, GM Graphix products are made for identification. “We have many packaging solutions to identify and decorate a product, and flexographic printing, more than most other methods, protects packaging and adds to the authenticity of a product.

“The flexographic industry has grown since the 1980s in leaps and bounds through technology, efficiency and flexibility and is now a very advanced form of printing, value adding to any packaging sector.”

Maintaining constant innovation and product development has led to consistency of quality as well as cost efficiencies. GM Graphix was the first South African printing company to purchase a MPS servo press, while the introduction of rota silkscreen opened a big door into the cosmetics market.

Now after a string of similar innovations, it has become the first South African printing company - and probably a first in the southern hemisphere - to print on the UPM Raflatac ProLiner PP30, a fully re-cycleable backing material made of polypropylene.

After extensive research and preparation with several suppliers – UPM Raflatac, Ipex Machinery, Flint Narrow Web and MPS – GM Graphix offers its customers a cost-efficient, quality proposition combined with an original recycling opportunity, incorporating the cooperation of local recycling company, Plasticomp.

“ProLiner PP30 offers several application, quality and cost benefits to our customers. But there’s even more we

Releasing more choiceLearn more at www.upmrafl atac.com

ProLiner PP30 is now available with both Paper and Film labels

ProLiner PP30 is now available with both Paper and Film labels

UPM Raflatac’s pioneering ProLiner® PP30 liner solution has many benefits for printers, packers and end-users.

Productivity and quality improvements, lower logistics costs and recycling benefits make it a real game changer in labelling. With ProLiner PP30, you can reach up to 20% increase in end-to-end efficiency.

ProLiner PP30’s superior advantages are now available with both paper and film labels.

GM Graphix

SYSTEMS FOILS CCThe Foil Specialists

34 Betty Street, Johannesburg SATel: 011-618-3304/5/6 • Fax: 011-624-3102

www.k-systems.co.za • info@k-systems.co.za

Suppliers of Newfoil Machines, Hot Stamping Foil & Cold/Dieless Foil, Thermal Transfer Ribbon, Holograms, Security Foils, Coding Foils, Fabric Foils, Machinery & Supplies

can offer,’ says Massyn. “The unique feature is that it’s recyclable, and this means we have an opportunity to help the environment and reduce our customers’ waste.”

The objective he says, is to introduce a collection and recycling service with the assistance of local company Plasticomp, and provide a revolutionary ‘total’ product offering to G.M. Graphix multinational and local customers who choose ProLiner.

“Our drive is to be able to manufacture products where the waste, i.e. backing paper or liner- can be re-cycled in future. As things stand a normal backing material cannot be re-cycled. We want to start producing on more eco-friendly materials that do not leave such a giant final-user footprint, and that allows companies buying our product to re-cycle and generate profits out of the waste.”

South African printing technology is on a par with Europe, but competition from the East is rising. “Many of our customers in South Africa are importing finished products from China and India where wages and production costs are so much lower. As time goes on they will become more efficient at importing and whether I am ten km or 1,000 km away from a customer is immaterial. I am seeing this daily and I can imagine it’s going to impact our market even more in future.”

GM Graphix response, says Massyn, is customer selection. “We have invested knowledge, money and time into equipment that can give a client something so specific that it would take another company a very long time to get

GM Graphix

exactly the same equipment and copy our product. We can supply a customer a label construction made out of cold foil, hot foil, rota silkscreening and even embossing on the same label. I can count on one hand the companies in South Africa that can do the same. And because our technologies are more advanced this creates a bigger market.”

Customer needs are analyzed to create the most successful packaging solution, says Massyn. “Our service includes strict policies concerning quantity, cost and delivery. And by employing basic principals such as continues training and consistent awareness of customer needs, we add to our recipe to grow while ensuring our customers get what they require.

“And whether our orders and enquiries are from corporate customers or small independent companies, we value them, and try to give them an holistic packaging solution.”

Where will GM Graphix be positioned in three years time? “As a specialist in pharmaceutical and cosmetics printing and packaging. We have a passion for packaging and all that goes with it.

“Why choose us? We’ve been around for over two decades, have new and very good technologies and acquired skills and knowledge. We are running at optimum efficiency, ensuring costs do not spill over to our customers. We provide cost effective packaging solutions through the knowledge we’ve gained over the years, and we maintain quality and consistency because of this passion for packaging.

“Our slogan is ‘Where Every Label Counts’ - and we deliver on that promise.”

www.uvp.co.za/uvpproductsUVP PRODUCTS (PTY) LTD

Narrow Web Tooling & Uniflexwww.uvp.co.za/uvpproducts

Narrow Web Tooling & Uniflex

Your Tooling Solution to Hot Stamp Foiling

GM Graphixwww. gmgraphix.com+27 11 908 5136

Written by Ben Walker

www.littlegatepublishing.com