Europe: ITA, SWTZ, GER | December 2013

 

Greetings from somewhere above the Atlantic Ocean – 20,000 feet up in the sky! Best Graphics is wrapping up a 10-day Europe excursion where we visit the facilities of our vendor partners – old and new! The trip spanned five cities and took us across Italy, Switzerland and Germany.

 

Zechini – Milan, Italy

 

Tucked in a small commercial park outside Milan, Italy lies Zechini’s nearly 30,000 square feet, multiple story headquarters. Zechini, your single source for short- and medium-run Book production, has celebrated over 60 years of success with over 1,500 machine installments worldwide.

 

In September, Zechini forged a new partnership with our organization, thereby awarding Best Graphics exclusive distribution of their product range throughout the United States and Canada.

 

 

Myself, and Dan Brahm,  President of Best Graphics, spent two days with our Italian partners – taking time to tour their production facility, and learn more about their front office strategy.

 

 

Here’s a photo of Zechini’s shop, with nearly 20,000 square feet dedicated to engineering and assembly of Casemaking, Children’s Book equipment, and most recently, Luxury Box equipment. More to follow on this front!

 

 

One thing can be said with certainty, Zechini is introducing exciting new products into the marketplace, and Best Graphics is eager to report.

 

Namely, the release of both the Red Arrow, and Silver Arrow, for medium- and high-speed Children’s Book production is rolling out smoothly. The technical engineering is mechanically sound, and the marketing strategy to distribute the line is well under way.

 

 

Is your organization currently producing Children’s Books? Are you subbing out the work to China, but upset with the quality produced? Look no further. Bring that work back to the States! Let a Best Graphics Sales Representative show you how!

 

 

 

In addition to the Red, and Silver, Arrow, Zechini has released the Magneton, a high-speed inline, or offline, magnet inserter for production of Hard Cover Cases, luxury Rigid Boxes, and layflat, collapsible Gift boxes.

 

 

Whether looking to source a 3-panel, 5-panel, or a 6-panel product, Zechini is your one stop shop to complete your client’s latest Casemaking request. The limits are endless, and with the high growth of the Packaging sector, you owe it to yourself to contact a Best Graphics representative today to discuss Zechini equipment opportunities.

 

 

 

Go ahead, give us a call: (800) 236-7603, or request more information electronically here.

 

Venice, Italy & Zurich, Switzerland

 

 

Between our time in Germany to visit our Palamides and Busch vendor partners, Best Graphics visited the quaint towns of Venice, Italy and Zurich, Switzerland.

 

 

The views were spectacular! It goes without saying, but we at Best Graphics Group are truly blessed. Our vendor relationships take us to all corners of the globe.

 

 

Ever traveled to Europe, or elsewhere? Share your story, or a few photos, with us.

 

Palamides – Stuttgart, Germany

 

Twenty-five minutes West of Stuttgart rests Palamides 35,000 sq. foot corporate headquarters. Employing nearly 70 individuals, with technical expertise ranging from Sales to Engineering to Production, Palamides has enjoyed a nearly 15-year history.

 

 

As a nationwide distributor of Palamides products, Best Graphics was eager to visit our partner’s facilities, and learn more about the two latest lines that were introduced at PRINT ’13 in Chicago.

 

 

Known for their Automatic Deliveries, Palamides has released two complimentary products – the Sima 220 Automatic Letter Tray System and the SmartLiner 240 Single-clamp Hot Glue Perfect Binder.

 

 

After nearly two years of R&D, the Smartliner 240 is ready for multiple shift production. The machine incorporates patented Ribler glue technology, inevitably providing low energy consumtion “Smartflat” books. Palamides “Green Thumb” Perfect Binder eliminates the need for an exhaust system and emits no toxic fumes.

 

In fact, the Smartliner 240 was recently awarded the Baden-Wuerttemberg 2013 Environmental Technology Prize. How’s that for environmentally conscientious manufacturing?

 

In just two months since its release, Palamides has installed four Smartliner 240s across Europe.

 

The Sima 220 Automatic Letter Tray System is Palamides second recent innovative creation. These units work in conjunction with Mail Inserting machinery in large volume, high speed environments. The Sima 220 automates the presorting and letter tray preparation processes.

 

Checking for open flaps, non-readable addresses, and duplicates, the Sima will automatically reject bad product prior to collecting, pressing, and filling letter trays via the use of patented technology, all in accordance with USPS regulations.

 

 

Have a piece of mail that’s out of sequence? Not a problem. The Sima 220’s Sequence Repair System (SRS) will reject the marked item and inform the operator what to do with the isolated item.

 

Where are the added benefits of owning a Sima 220 you may ask? The answer is threefold: 1) Lower postal costs with automatically presorted and labeled letter trays; 2) Inline feeding of the Sima 220 from the delivery of your Inserter reduces the number of operators required on your production line, while also increasing the net throughput of your machines; and 3) PDF reporting tools can be sent directly to clients showcasing 100% delivery of their mail.

 

In the two months since its release, Palamides has installed 30 Sima 220s across Europe and the States.

 

Interested in learning more about the Sima 220? Don’t hesitate to ask. Call us today: (800) 236-7603. Or, email us at Sales@BestGraphics.net.

 

Busch – Hamburg, Germany

 

Our fifth, and final destination on the trip brought us to Busch Machinery, located just 4 subway stops outside Hamburg’s metro-downtown.

 

 

Family owned, and operated, by 2^nd generation Busch brothers, our newest vendor employs a staff of over 70 people.

 

Here’s us with Burkhardt and Ekkehardt Busch, sons of Busch Machinery’s founder, their father, Gerhard Busch.

 

 

Founded in 1949, Busch has been manufacturing a wide range of products to support many of the peripheral, material handling functions of a Printer’s operations – Pile Turning, Paper Jogging, Paper Cutting, Paper Unloading, Paper Waste Extraction Systems, and Paper Banding. Additionally, they manufacture Ram Punch Die Cutting equipment, more commonly referred to as “High Die” equipment here in the States.

 

 

 

 

With the precision and quality craftsmanship synonymous with Germany manufacturing, Busch controls all aspects of production – right down to Metal Casting, Machine Welding and Paint Finishing.

 

 

 

How does Best Graphics fit into the equation? We see a void in the distribution of Pile Turning and High Die equipment here in North America. Often we receive requests for used PMCs, or Pile Turners, only to report back to clients that there’s nothing out on the secondary market. The reason? People who invest in these categories of business are not only satisfied with their purchases, but they’re seeing direct ROI savings. Simply put, they don’t want to get rid of a “good thing!”

 

Are you looking for depreciation benefits of new capital investment before year’s end? Or, have you begun building 2014’s equipment budget? Speak with a Best Graphics Sales Representative today and let us help YOU save money on your next investment!

 

Prefer to review on your own time? Learn more about our Busch Pile Turners here.

 

Until next time. Err, I mean, “Auf Wiedersehen!”

 

– A.J. Brahm, Self-Appointed Chief Social Media Officer