This company, established 25 years ago by Nicola Romano, celebrated the opening of its new facilities in the industrial area of Modugno, near Bari with the installation of a Thermoflex Wide II line, delivered by Kodak, a leading enterprise in the supply of digital flexography CTP systems. It is the first line of this kind installed in Central-Southern Italy.
Today Roflex, which has a fifty year experience behind it and knows all the secrets of the printing sector, is being led by and Giuseppe Romano, Nicola’s sons, who are guarding and following their father’s wise policy.
We met Mr. Gianni and Giuseppe Romano at the new premises of Modugno on occcasion of an interesting visit to their plants that can perform all printing stages, from the image graphic management and plate development processing up to the mounting of the plates being printed.
Nicola Romano told us about
the changes occurred during the latest thirty years in this sector: from the use of zinc plates, when films did not exist and they had to work on sensitized plates, up to the introduction of photopolymers in 1982, that are being employed by Roflex both in form of plates and liquid polymers.
I took the opportunity to interview the owners of the company. Giovanni Romano, who is also in charge of the commercial management, answered my questions with enthusiasm and professionalism, as reported below.
BIG INVESTMENTS FOR THESE NEW FACILITIES: WHAT IS ROFLEX AIMING AT?
“We are the first company in South Italy, that can offer such an innovative service, with the latest lines launched on the marketplace.
We have the best technology available and we are the only enterprise in our country, from Marche as far as the extreme Southern regions, capable of offering innovative solutions for the flexography sector. These innovations are encouraging us to go ahead as a flexible company capable of getting over geographic distances from our customers, thanks to a prompt and efficient service”.
WHAT IS YOUR POSITION IN THE ITALIAN AND EUROPEAN MARKETPLACE?
“Thanks to our steady technological development, we can not only supply the biggest companies in South Italy, but also in Central and Northern Italy. We have signed important agreements with some Lombard enterprises, since we have been able to get over the considerable geographic distance from them through our reliable and functional service. The key for this success is due to the fact that we can rely upon collaborators capable of solving any kind of problems, as they aim, above all, at achieving the best performances for our customers.
Today flexography is being used on an increasing number of substrates, and our plates can meet any requirement by offering high quality gravure solutions capable of simplifying the development of halftone screens and shades thanks to the instructions, we give our customers according to the specific substrate being processed”.
WE HAVE SEEN THAT YOU PRODUCE SOLID AND LIQUID PHOTOPOLYMER PLATES. CAN WE SUMMARIZE THE PLATE DEVELOPING STAGES AND EXPLAIN THE
DIFFERENCES OF APPLICATION ?
“Both of them are based on the negative. Today we use one-colour sheet “images” obtained with digital devices. The lamp light passes through them and impresses the photopolymer by changing its crystal structure, but without interacting with dark zones, that remain neutral for the light effect.
Then the impressed liquid or solid plate is conveyed into “washing machines”, where the non-impressed layer is washed and brushed. This will form the “basis” of the printing substrate, without being stressed by varnishes. After being washed, the plate is conveyed into a stabilizing kiln, where the residues of the chemical agents, used for the polymer washing and cleaning, are evaporated, thus giving the product its original features.
Plate polymers are mainly used for the printing of flexible substrates, that need a lower, but more accurate relief in order to obtain a top quality flexography, which today can be really reached, from halftone screen management up to shades, also including a great flexibility of application, according to the kind of substrate being printed. Liquid photopolymers are usually used in the platemaking sector, where you can print up to 6 mm thickness and carry out stronger pressures on substrates having suitable features”.
NEW INSTALLATIONS
“Thanks to our expertise, we
not only can help our customers, but we are also able to find new solutions to maintain our product high quality by adopting new technologies that still enhance the level of our sector. For this reason, some years ago we made a decision to invest in a Kodak line of small/medium size, the first version of the Model Thermoflex Wide, which ensures excellent performances concerning production times and photopolymer quality.
After the positive evolution of our initial investment, we soon got in touch with Kodak again and purchased a thermoflex Wide II of standard size to provide our customers with a first-rate service.
There are just a few Italian companies, especially based in Rome and southwards, that can rely upon this revolutionary technology, thanks to which (and also to our way of working and coping with our clients’needs) we are even able to meet the requirements of Northern Italian enterprises, although they operate in a region where our competitors are using the same technology”.
WHAT INQUIRIES DO YOU RECEIVE FROM
CUSTOMERS WANTING LUXURY AND MORE ATTRACTIVE PACKAGING SOLUTIONS?
“The world of luxury packaging is dynamic and, although all sectors sometimes go through business dips, big companies continue to invest in “image” solutions, which are not only more expensive and elaborate, but also more beautiful and refined in order to enhance their brands.
We manage these inquiries very carefully, also by taking advantage of the collaboration of qualified advisors, and this often enables us to suggest to our customers the most suitable kind of substrate being used to obtain the best image results”.
WHAT WILL BE ROFLEX’ IMAGE IN THE NEXT TWO-YEAR PERIOD AND HOW ARE YOU GOING TO INVEST?
“First of all we want to continue to be the first supplier of plates and diecut supports, that now will be delivered from the new facilities, we will soon open to serve all Central and Southern regions of Italy.
We will consolidate our presence also in some Northern Italian industrial areas, since we can ensure our excellent quality level and prompt delivery terms to every customer.
From a technological view-point, we are the first Italian company using the latest technology, and this will justify a new purchase, we are going to face later on.
Our strategies, which are also related to communication and image, have been studied and conceived considering the ongoing national and international growth process, since we want to spread our expertise everywhere they need a new outstanding supplier”.