Skanem – A Leading Label Solutions Provider Norwegian Skanem is one of Europe’s largest self-adhesive label producers and has already 12 labelling facilities in seven countries including Norway, Sweden, Denmark, the UK, Germany, Poland and Russia. The company employs 1,100 staff and achieved a turnover of Euro 156 million in 2005. Serving all self-adhesive label segments, Skanem provides solutions to some of the world’s largest and most demanding companies, and recently
scooped a trio of highly-prized awards at the FINAT Congress in Warsaw. It also received six Highly Commended diplomas in an unprecedented haul of prizes.
Lucrative Asian Market
Skanem’s strategy is to become a global supplier and establish a base in Asia as a key part of achieving this. The Asian market for self-adhesive labels is expanding at 15-20 per cent per year, and, according to forecasts, will represent 37 per cent of global label consumption by 2010.
According to Skanem’s owner and CEO, Ole Rugland, “Proximity to our customers and to the market is important. Last year we acquired Skanem Introl and Skanem Introl-Print, based respectively in Poland and Moscow. Now we are moving into the Asian market and Thailand is an ideal base
for us.”
The deal to build a 4,200 square metre facility, 55 km south of Bangkok was sealed in May 2006. Building has already started and it is hoped that the facility will start production in early 2007.
Premium Quality and Efficiency are Vital Focusing on sales to large multinational brand name manufacturers, Skanem is well-aware of the need to supply labels of a consistently high quality and to be at the forefront of innovation in product development.
Like other label producers, Skanem faces the challenge of handling the complexity of major contracts efficiently, while all the time maintaining top quality. That’s why Skanem is particularly focused on
reducing the level of costs in its value chain by making optimal use of its production units.
When it came to selecting which printing presses to use in the new facility, Mr Rugland says, “Buying new presses is a substantial investment that needs to be considered carefully. Skanem already has
experience of working with a number of different manufacturers’ machines, but we still assessed all the options very carefully before making a final decision.”
Nilpeter’s FA-Line is A Clear Winner
After weighing up all the factors, Skanem selected two Nilpeter 9-colour, full UV, FA-4 machines, one of which will be equipped with gravure technology. This will bring the total number of Nilpeter
presses in use at the Skanem Group to 24.
Mr. Rugland says, “When working with first-class international branded products, there is no room for mistakes. Skanem needed presses that could produce premium-quality labels day in and day out. We knew that Nilpeter’s FA-presses would deliver. The fact that the FA-presses allow us to be so efficient and flexible was a major factor in our decision. Thanks to their quick set-up times, we will be able to respond faster to market changes and offer shorter run lengths to our customers.”
“Nilpeter’s FA-Line of advanced, modular UV-flexo presses sets the standard for high-end, multi-substrate printing. These third generation servo-driven presses feature a very wide range of printing
options. And, they’re easy to control and have super-fast make-ready, making them a very flexible option,” adds Nilpeter’s sales and marketing director, Mr Jakob Landberg.
A Bright Future
With the building of the new Thai plant progressing well, and the Nilpeter presses due to be delivered in December, the groundwork has been laid for Skanem’s successful entry into the Asian market. Mr Rugland concludes, “We have already secured our first contract and we’re excited about developing our relations with other potential customers in the near future.”
