Xeikon direct starts today

Digital press manufacturer Xeikon opens its direct subsidiary for Australia and New Zealand today, with Trevor Crowley installed as general manager.

The Xeikon solutions have been available in Australian for many years, latterly through Absolute Electronics, however when Xeikon was bought by Flint last year the ink giant instigated a strategy of direct operations within the region.

Crowley says, “For the market it means they have a direct line to the factory and the technology developers, and it means they have a supplier whose sole focus is Xeikon.”

Xeikon ANZ will be using its own service engineers to support the presses, with parts and consumables located in Sydney and the regional headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, which will also host the regional technology center with both simplex and duplex technology installed. Crowley says, “The service will be at the level that Xeikon users would expect, we recognise the importance of quick response in today’s world. We are investing heavily in factory trained engineers to cover both Australia and New Zealand”

Xeikon is gearing up for a massive six months, first with the launch of the direct operation here, then the Xeikon Café in Belgium next month, which will see more than 20 different applications produced from Xeikon printers and a variety of integrated finishing lines, third is PacPrint in May at which Xeikon has booked a stand for the first time to show what Crowley says is ‘a first first for Australia’, and then LabelExpo which takes place in Brussels in September.

Crowley says, “Xeikon is a proven and real solid alternative in labels, packaging, folding carton and document printing. The systems print at the highest quality, are the only digital printers that are FDA approved for direct dry food contact, hold some of the best light fastness in our industry, and are cost effective.”

The Xeikon presses are aimed at existing digital print business and printers who want to transition from analogue to digital,  however, Crowley also sees digital label greenfield installations coming into play. He says, “Xeikon has an extensive portfolio, its printers are flexible and allow user to work in a variety of applications from labels to folding carton to documents to marketing collateral. They have an unmatched flexibility, and are available as either reel to reel or reel to sheet configurations, and can print on almost any media without the need for pre-coat or post-coat.”

The sales operation begins under Xeikon’s auspices today, while the service operation will transition between Absolute and Xeikon from now until March 31.

Crowley himself has been in print for 30 years, beginning life as an apprentice with Pac Pacific in 1987, which became part of Amcor, then moving into label space. After nearly 15 years of running presses he took on a technical application role in the ink space. Eventually moving into Business Development roles for one of the major pressure sensitive material suppliers and then getting into the digital world. He joined Flint two years ago, and has been working with Xeikon since August 2016