Projects for a future (that is already here)
Campania-based Nuova Erreplast brought to Ipack-Ima, in addition to its 30 years’ experience in flexible packaging, its 2018, which brings many novelties: a new facility unveiled in Marcianise, reorganized production, an expanded machine pool with important strategic acquisitions and... the value of the human factor.
Specialized in production and converting of plastic films for the food and non-food sectors, Nuova Erreplast’s operations are divided between two business units dedicated to extrusion and converting. The fast-paced and substantial growth logged by the concern during the last six years has “forced” it to implement a strategic revision of its business which has (inevitably) involved the expansion of its offer and facilities. Let’s see how.
Site in progress
The concern’s 2018 began with the opening of a new production area, measuring some 55,000 square meters (15,000 covered) in the industrial district of Marcianise (near Caserta). The new facility is already operational, but many projects are still planned for the medium and long term, starting with an ambitious plan to set up a clean room for MAP and sterile environment packaging for pharmaceuticals and food - including fresh meats - which will be implemented over the next two years.
In the meantime, “works in progress” include the construction of new office buildings and a new, fully automated 6.500 pallet warehouse for incoming and outgoing materials, which will enable the concern to optimize the efficiency of its logistical operations, drastically speeding processes and delivery. The scheme includes company benefits for all workers and aboveall for women and future mothers.
Digital technology for a complete offer
Although Nuova Erreplast is specialized in flexographic printing of flexible packaging, the demands of a market that is increasingly oriented toward product personalization and innovation have convinced the concern to integrate its offer with digital printing services.
This has led to the investment in a new Sapphire Evo hybrid press (flexo + digital). This latest generation machine integrates a variety of technologies, and is capable of combining the flexibility of variable data with excellent performance and print quality, meshing perfectly with the Nuova Erreplast production pipeline.
The new acquisition will be fully operational in September (preliminary testing at Uteco is yielding excellent results) and will respond to the increasingly frequent requests for personalized printing of small runs for private label, holiday products or special initiatives limited to certain times of year. It is a technological investment aimed at offering a service that complements and supports flexographic printing, which remains the concern’s core business.
Thinking big and putting people first
Nuova Erreplast is led by 37-year old Domenico Raccioppoli, who since 2004 has been at the helm of the company founded by his father Crescenzo in 1980, demonstrating a capacity for seizing on the opportunities of an evolving market.
Indeed, in the years since, the company has expanded its offer with a complete range of flexible packaging solutions for the food sector to complement its products for the industrial and fashion sectors. The success of the new course undertaken is confirmed by the numbers. During the last six years (2011-2017), the concern’s turnover went from 5.2 to 24 million euro, with 35% of its production going to exports (especially to North America).
What has proven winning is an entrepreneurial style of doing business, dynamic and with a human face, leaving room for the ideas of a young team (mostly under 35) that is also highly qualified and constantly engaged in professional development.
On this point, it is worth noting that the majority of Nuova Erreplast’s employees are women, including many of the strategic roles.
Sapphire EVO
At Ipack Ima 2018, NuovaErreplast, Uteco and Kodak presented a global preview of the definitive version of Sapphire Evo. The dynamic Campania-based concern made a substantial contribution to the development of the new flexo/digital hybrid press and will be its very first user.
Features: 650 mm web, 300 m/min, optional printing of 97% of the Pantone gamut with water-based inks, compliant with all European (including Swiss) and US regulations on indirect food contact. It also features improved profitability for short, medium and long runs, with an ideal balance around 20,000 sq.m.
The machine prints on a wide variety of cellulose and polyolefin supports (including metallized and laminated), adopting the Uteco air drying system with the drum cooled in contact with the substrate.
