Breaking the Waves with Ease - Helping packaging printers thrive in the 'new normal'

Manroland and Zhejiang Card Game Technology Co., Ltd. successfully hold 'Breaking the waves with ease - Manroland supports printers in development' seminar in Kaihua, Zhejiang Province.

Due to the double whammy of the Covid-19 pandemic and the challenging foreign trade environment, stakeholders in the packaging printing industry have been under tremendous pressure this year. How to survive and flourish under such immense pressure has become perhaps the most important issue for packaging printers.

Against this background, the 'Breaking the waves with ease - Manroland supports printers in development' seminar attracted more than 180 packaging printers and experts from Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Anhui and the surrounding areas. In addition to the site visit to Card Game, where guests saw and experienced first hand the ROLAND 700 EVOLUTION's innovation and high productivity, the seminar provided a forum to explore development strategies under the “new normal.”

Welcome Speeches

The seminar began with online welcome speeches by Dr. Peter Conrady (Head of Sales of Manroland Sheetfed GmbH, from Germany) and Ms. Fanny Chan (Managing Director of Manroland Greater China, from Hong Kong), as they could not be physically present due to travel restrictions brought about by the pandemic.

Both extended their gratitude to Zhejiang Card Game for their strong support to the event.

In his speech, Dr. Conrady said that the COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected the global economy, including the packaging printing industry, in unexpected ways. However, it is encouraging to see that the Chinese market has taken the lead in the road to recovery, he added. This has further strengthened Manroland's determination to regard China as a core market and continuously strengthen local support.

Ms. Fanny Chan pointed out that new challenges also meant new opportunities. In the current market situation, Manroland will help printers to develop their own strategies of innovation, competitiveness and profitability with a full range of products including automated printing technologies, proactive preventive maintenance services, green printing materials and print networks.

Mr. Li Qibin, Zhejiang Card Game Managing Director, encouraged industry peers to share their experiences and explore successful business models together.

Zhejiang Card Game is an online and offline animation company specializing in animation brand management, derivative product development, design, production and integrated marketing.

In 2019, the company invested in four Manroland flagship presses: two ROLAND 700 EVOLUTION  Ultima 9 – color press with UV system and two ROLAND 700 EVOLUTION 6 - color press with UV system. These presses are equipped with automated functions including InlineFoiler, InlineColorPilot, InlineRegister, LED curing system and automated plate change (APL™).

During the pandemic at the first half of this year, Card Game and Manroland team worked together in tackling various difficulties as they installed the machines as scheduled. With the new equipment put into operation, Card Game will build a super modern, fully automatic printing production cluster with 10 Manroland printing presses in two major production bases.

The event was strongly supported by Zhejiang Printing Association, Quzhou Printing Association, Ningbo Packaging Technology Association, and Ningbo Printing Association.

In welcoming the guests, Mr. Chen Liqun, Vice President of Zhejiang Printing Association, spoke highly of the cooperation between Manroland and Card Game. He also explained the development prospects of Zhejiang packaging printing industry.

Discussion on Technology

There was a session devoted to the discussion on technology. Manroland's professional technical team explained in detail how the company can help packaging printers achieve technological innovation under the "new normal" through market development, process innovation, service support and green printing.

Mr. Roy Guo, Head of Operation, Greater China Manroland Sheetfed, talked about the latest analysis of market development trends. Based on the data, he pointed out that as the competition continues to intensify, the packaging printing market was showing a widening gap with "the stronger getting stronger". This means that strengthening process development and service capabilities is the only way for the printing companies to achieve growth.

Ms. Jerry Liu, General Manager of Central China region, Manroland Sheetfed, then introduced Manroland’s value added printing solutions. She stressed that just like Card Game -- faced with the increasing market demand for high-end printing technology -- more and more printers are embracing Manroland’s top-class printing technologies, particularly ROLAND 700 EVOLUTION Ultima and InlineFoiler. Their aim is to enhance their “core competitiveness” to speed up growth.

The new-generation ROLAND 700 EVOLUTION can integrate several industry-leading automation technologies according to the customers’ requirements. These include InlineColorPilot, InlineRegister, InlineInspector, AutoPrint, AUPASYS.

The ROLAND 700 EVOLUTION focuses on increasing productivity, effective machine time and product values, and reduction of operating costs, waste and make-ready time. It improves production, facilities and technological processes, thus strengthening sustainable profitability.

Preventive maintenance services were introduced by Mr. Henry Cheng, Sales Manager, Sheetfed Service & Spare Parts Division of Manroland.

Manroland's high-performance green

Printing supplies were discussed by Mr. Waley Zhang, Regional Sales Manager of Printing Supplies, Manroland.

In recent years, with the continuous increase of corporate cost and the more demanding requirements of domestic environmental protection, Manroland's concepts of "preventive maintenance" services and "green is benefit" printing supplies are being recognized more widely.

Through ProServ 360° comprehensive performance management and its systematic service products, Manroland is helping more companies to reduce costs, increase output and improve equipment performance and overall operating efficiency.

In addition to premium printing technology and high quality services, Manroland spares no effort to improve the supply of printing materials. It is strongly committed to providing customers with comprehensive printing solutions that will drive up production and efficiency.

Printcom® and magicpix®, as the leading brands in the series of printing supplies, are quality choices that the customers can trust. The development of Manroland printing materials is based on a deep understanding of the printing process. Its product development, production and optimization are up to high standards. So companies can reduce production costs and continuously improve quality and efficiency.

Live Demonstration

At the end of the seminar, the guests visited the production facility of Card Game.

First, Ms Jane Gu, General Manager of Manroland Shanghai & Head of Marketing Communications, presented gifts of gratitude to Mr. Li, Managing Director of Card Game. Then, Ms. Jerry Liu  explained the features and premium performance of the ROLAND 700 EVOLUTION. All the four brand-new ROLAND 700 EVOLUTION presses at Card Game then started to run, giving the guests a glimpse of their phenomenal capabilities.

The live demonstration capped the highly successful event. Manroland thanked all the guests for their participation.

Adhering to the service principle of "customer first," Manroland Sheetfed will continue to provide first-class printing equipment, comprehensive services and diversified solutions for the printers to enhance innovation and enjoy sustainable profitability.

Dr. Peter Conrady, Head of Sales of Manroland Sheetfed GmbH

Ms. Fanny Chan, Managing Director of Manroland Greater China

Mr. Li Qibin, Managing Director of Zhejiang Card Game Technology Co., Ltd., welcomes the guests.

Mr. Chen Liqun, Vice President of ZheJiang Printing Association, talks about the prospects of packaging printing.

Mr. Roy Guo, Head of Operation, Greater China manroland Sheetfed

Ms. Jerry Liu, General Manager of Central China region, Manroland Sheetfed

Mr. Henry Cheng, Sales Manager, Sheetfed Service & Spare Parts Division of Manroland

Mr. Waley Zhang, Regional Sales Manager of Printing Supplies, Manroland

Ms Jane Gu, General Manager of Manroland Shanghai & Head of Marketing Communications, presented gifts of gratitude to Mr. Li, Managing Director of Card Game.

The live demonstration capped the highly successful event. Manroland thanked all the guests for their participation.

About Manroland Sheetfed

Manroland Sheetfed GmbH is a leading German producer of sheetfed offset litho printing presses. Founded in 1871, the company is one of the oldest producers of printing presses in the world. Today the company has its own subsidiaries in over 40 countries and is a global watchword for supreme quality and reliability. Manroland Sheetfed GmbH is a wholly owned subsidiary of the privately owned UK engineering group, Langley Holdings plc .