Revolution. New printing machine in Smurfit Kappa Gdańsk.

“The latest worldwide technology from Göpfert allows for achieving quality of  print on packaging that has not been possible on the equipment we used to have” – summarised Sławomir Antoniuk, managing director at Smurfit Kappa Gdańsk.

“In 1989 in Pruszcz Gdański a private enterprise was established under the name Expac, which produced cardboard packaging. Five years later it was taken over by Kappa Packaging, a company that merged with Jefferson Smurfit Group in 2005 and established a global brand Smurfit Kappa. June 2013 is another important date in the company’s history – launching a new production line” – with these words Sławomir Antoniuk, managing director at Smurfit Kappa Gdańsk, began a solemn meeting being an opportunity to present the new investment in Pruszcz Gdański. Although we mentioned this in the previous issue of Packaging Polska, on 13 June we got a chance to witness launching of the entire production line. And we are sure that Smurfit Kappa have not said their last word in terms of investments in Poland...

The slogan ‘Revolution’ accompanied launching and presentation of a modern machine from Göpfert dedicated to high quality flexo printing at Smurfit Kappa Gdańsk. This investment is the essence of revolution in printing on packaging, since the installation of 7-colour printing press is supposed to enable such a print quality on corrugated cardboard that has not been possible so far. Furthermore, a rotary die cutting machine and a complete handling line contribute to in-line printing and cutting sheets with a length of 2400x1600 mm.

Launching the machine was accompanied by music and light effects. The event participants had an opportunity to attend a spectacular presentation of the newest investment at Smurfit Kappa Gdańsk.

Unusually

This unusual event of the machine launching and presentation of the entire plant’s capabilities was attended by: Eugene Hutchinson, Ireland’s ambassador in Gdańs; Ryszard Świlski, deputy marshal of the pomeranian district; Janusz Wróbel, the mayor of Pruszcz Gdański; Cezary Bieniasz-Krzywiec, the district governor; Tony Smurfit, CEO at Smurfit Kappa; Pim Wareman, Managing Director of the region North-Eastern Europe, and Wim Oosterveld, chief operating officer for the region of North-Eastern Europe. “The success of Smurfit Kappa is based on the company’s knowledge, experience, ambition, innovation and determination to always keep in mind the customer’s needs and demands. I am sure that these features lead to economical recovery that is taking place in Poland and Ireland” – summarised Eugene Hutchinson, Ireland’s ambassador in Gdańsk, when discussing Surfit Kappa’s development – the company that from a small family business established in the 1930’s has become the first Ireland-based international concern. 

In the picture (from left): Cezary Bieniasz-Krzywiec, the district governor; Janusz Wróbel, the mayor of Pruszcz Gdański; Pim Wareman, Managing Director of the region North-Eastern Europe, and Wim Oosterveld, chief operating officer for the region of North-Eastern Europe; Eugene Hutchinson, Ireland’s ambassador in Gdańsk and Tony Smurfit, CEO at Smurfit Kappa during the official Göpfert equipment launch.

5 mln euro

The company’s representatives are sure that thanks to the investment in an ultra-modern and efficient converting machine their plant will gain a competitive advantage on corrugated cardboard market in Poland. A wide variety of packaging has been already printed on the machine, for various kinds of customers, both from electronic and food industry, as well as consumer goods. “The installation in Gdańsk, worth 7 mln euro, is only a small part of an investment plan which is estimated to be worth 350 mln euro and which is carried out in 400 plants across Europe” – said Tony Smurfit. “However, even the best equipment without a proper team is only a piece of metal. We are proud to we have earned an opinion of the most innovative, competitive and, I think it is worth underlining, reliable company.”