Press Retrofits—One way to seal the deal!
Retrofitting isn’t for everyone, but it may help package printers meet new customer demands in the short run.
August 2007 by Chris Mc Loone
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It happens over and over again to packaging converters and printers—customers walk into their shops asking for a packaging solution that incorporates effects the converters can’t accommodate because their press capabilities do not allow for them. Eventually these converters must decide whether to diversify their offerings or continue to turn business away. Some might be able to afford to let business walk, but for others, the extra business may make or break their year. For the latter, a major business decision is at hand.
A converter can take any number of approaches to provide solutions for its customers, but two options quickly emerge at the top of the list when considering press capabilities: invest in a new press that addresses a customer’s needs, or retrofit existing presses to expand their features and diversify the company’s offerings. “One has to look where a converter is with its business and financial plan,” says Denny McGee, president, MPS America LLC. “It can make a lot more sense to add expanded features to a brand new press versus adding those same additional features to an older model press in the field. It may cost less money in the long run and save downtime and operator training to put it all on the new press line. At the same time, it can make sense to add to your last press purchased, as it may be a current press based on press models not changing for several years.”
Adding capacity via retrofits
In general, there isn’t a trend one way or the other toward retrofitting versus press replacement. “The general market for retrofitting presses is converters who want to diversify their offerings with existing equipment,” says Paul Teachout, product development manager, Aquaflex, Inc. He adds that converters often retrofit to add capacity to their existing press line and increase their product offerings and application ranges. “There is not really a trend in play here,” he says. “Converters often opt for a retrofit solution to meet immediate needs or secure new client orders. Really this is a sales-driven practice.”
Dan Plash, sales manager, Telstar Engineering, agrees. “The market for retrofitting printing and converting presses stems from customer demands, internal creative thinking, and new application requirements,” he comments. “Therefore, the market is all printers with new and/or used presses looking to broaden their capabilities or tap into new exclusive markets.”
A converter can take any number of approaches to provide solutions for its customers, but two options quickly emerge at the top of the list when considering press capabilities: invest in a new press that addresses a customer’s needs, or retrofit existing presses to expand their features and diversify the company’s offerings. “One has to look where a converter is with its business and financial plan,” says Denny McGee, president, MPS America LLC. “It can make a lot more sense to add expanded features to a brand new press versus adding those same additional features to an older model press in the field. It may cost less money in the long run and save downtime and operator training to put it all on the new press line. At the same time, it can make sense to add to your last press purchased, as it may be a current press based on press models not changing for several years.”
Adding capacity via retrofits
In general, there isn’t a trend one way or the other toward retrofitting versus press replacement. “The general market for retrofitting presses is converters who want to diversify their offerings with existing equipment,” says Paul Teachout, product development manager, Aquaflex, Inc. He adds that converters often retrofit to add capacity to their existing press line and increase their product offerings and application ranges. “There is not really a trend in play here,” he says. “Converters often opt for a retrofit solution to meet immediate needs or secure new client orders. Really this is a sales-driven practice.”
Dan Plash, sales manager, Telstar Engineering, agrees. “The market for retrofitting printing and converting presses stems from customer demands, internal creative thinking, and new application requirements,” he comments. “Therefore, the market is all printers with new and/or used presses looking to broaden their capabilities or tap into new exclusive markets.”
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