Trelleborg deal with Inometa raises flexo print quality bar

Packaging Solutions

Flexo printers are set to reap the benefits of a major new agreement between Trelleborg and Inometa, in which each will sell specified products made by the other company from the beginning of 2018. Inometa specialises in the manufacture of carbon fibre cylinders and related products for high speed/demanding applications and this includes high end bridge adapters for flexo applications. Axcyl, part of Trelleborg’s printing solutions operation, is a leading brand of flexo plate mounting sleeves and adapters for flexo presses.

Damien Leterrier, Axcyl sales and application manager, said: ‘The fit of the products and the timing of the deal are both perfect. Trelleborg is a pioneer in the field of flexo plate mounting sleeves, while Inometa is a pioneer in advanced carbon fiber bridge sleeves that have been developed for the most demanding, high output flexo press applications.

‘Trelleborg will add to its Axcyl range Inometa’s Inoflex pneumatic and hydraulic adapters, which are fully endorsed by the main flexo press manufacturers. This is a huge achievement as the standards and criteria that have to be met are extremely high and precise. With these Inometa products within the Axcyl range, we will be able to supply a combination of sleeve and adapter that meets any particular flexo press requirements. In addition, we will have access to spares for hydraulic carbon fibre adapters, allowing us to provide maintenance and service in this area of technology for the first time.’

Christof Schotten, general manager of Inometa, said: ‘Trelleborg has a long history of providing cutting edge products to the printing industry and we obviously knew of its reputation in the marketplace. It also has a well established network of distributors around the world. Inometa has an excellent working relationship with flexo press manufacturers and this deal expands significantly the sales channels for our high end adapters to end users. The two companies have complementary products and strengths and this arrangement creates some very exciting opportunities for us and the flexo industry as a whole.

‘Inometa has a strong sales presence in Germany which, as the biggest flexo market in Europe, is obviously very important. We will now be able to offer Axcyl plate mounting sleeve technology direct to end users with an initial focus in Germany. The Axcyl sleeves that we will sell have been tailored by Trelleborg to guarantee the optimum performance on the press when used with Inometa adapters. The ‘flexo quality bar’ has just been raised even higher!’

Although the deal between the companies is a global one, the roll out of the newly combined lines will initially be focused on specific countries, so that the strengths of existing sales channels can be utilised in the most effective way. Each company will handle sales, installation and training of the range they sell and cross training of technical personnel has already been intense.