Prepress house finds label printing success in Peru

Latin American prepress house Zetta Comunicadores moved into label production last year. Now, with the arrival of a Nilpeter FB-4200, it has added flexo printing to its operation in Lima, Peru.

James Quirk from Labels & Labeling reports

Zetta Comunicadores, a commercial prepress house with operations in Colombia, Peru, Panama, and Bolivia and part of publishing giant Grupo El Comercio, has installed a Nilpeter FB-4200 to expand its label printing operation in Lima, Peru. The company moved into label production last year with the purchase of an HP Indigo WS6600 digital press. 

Founded in Colombia in 1989, Zetta entered Peru in 1995 and set up an operation in Bolivia this year. A strategic partnership with Grupo El Comercio – with Zetta providing prepress services for the group’s newspaper, magazine book publishing empire – was formalized in 2000 when Grupo El Comercio acquired the company. 

It is only in Peru, at its 1,200 sqm facility in Lima, that Zetta has begun production of labels and flexible packaging. The move reflects the changing landscape in the local label sector: The country has seen a flurry of companies moving into label production from different industries.

“In Peru, there is increasing demand for quality labels and packaging in agro-industry, the retail sector is growing and foreign pharmaceutical companies have been moving in”, explains Camilo Sanchez, shareholder and member of the board. “Combining on-demand printing with long-run capabilities is good for ourCcustomers and today’s technology facilitates it. We want to offer integrated solutions to our customers so we have put together a modern plant with high-level technology and a special focus on hands-on service”.

The Nilpeter FB-4200 prints eight colours across a 16″ web. Features include Corona treatment, web cleaning, cooling cylinders, cold foil, and an inspection system from BST. An LED-curing system is provided by GEW, while soft tension lamination facilitates flexible packaging printing. Thanks to a partnership between Nilpeter and Karlville, shrink sleeve equipment from the latter company was installed at the same time.

This long-standing expertise in pre-press has aided the transition into printing, says Camilo Sanchez. “It has been a challenge to get to know the market and the needs of customers. But we have incorporated all our knowledge and experience into producing quality products. Our creative and technical resources allow us to offer better and more attractive solutions, at competitive prices. And we can offer our customers a variety of printing and finishing options, which enhance the shelf-appeal of their products. Every client is different and needs tailored proposals; this requires creativity in all aspects of our work.’

Sanchez describes Zetta’s label printing operation as “an important and growing part of the company’s business”.

Read the full article in L&L, Issue 6, Dec. 2014