Dubai's Al Thika Packaging has won the exclusive UAE, Oman, Bahrain and Qatar distribution rights for the Markem coding and marking products.
Markem's cost-saving and eco-friendly solutions will now be prominently showcased at the PackTech International packaging exhibition being held in Dubai next January, Al Thika said. PackTech International is organised by Fairs and Exhibitions (F&E).
"Markem's product line is a viable alternative to the resource-intensive ink-jet technologies currently used throughout the GCC and give excellent return on investment," said Ian Baker, general manager, Al Thika Packaging.
"Current continuous ink-jet and solenoid valve-type printers used by many regional companies are not optimum solutions. They require large quantities of consumables." Baker added that in addition to reducing operating costs and providing greater reliability, Markem's coding solutions did away with solvent odours, liquid ink mess and ink disposal problems.
"They solve production-line contamination, an issue facing many industries, particularly the FMCG sector," he said.
"The growth of the company can be tracked through our increasing participation at PackTech," said Baker. Starting as a two-man company in 1999, Al Thika has undergone rapid growth culminating in a recent move to larger, purpose-built premises in Dubai's Al Quoz industrial area. "A temperature-controlled environment and tailor-made racking enables us to store packaging films as well as coding and marking equipment at a consistent 30 degrees even in the heat of summer.
"A high power supply capacity allows us to incorporate a simulated production line in our new complex, enabling us to demonstrate various solutions to clients."
Markem is a global leader in thermal transfer and laser coding solutions for the packaging industry. Its SmartDate range provides for printing real-time clock data and bar codes on packaging films of vertical and horizontal packaging machines. Customisation of product details allows a generic film to be used on multiple products. "The latest addition to Markem's product line is a low-power, low-cost, four line, dot-matrix coding laser, called 'SmartLase,'" explained Baker. "It is designed for the coding display of cartons, PET bottles, glass, coated materials and a range of substrates."
Markem also produces hot wax printers for high resolution coding on both retail and outer cartons, and print-and-apply labelling systems.
"The ongoing success of our regular exhibitors is vindication of our efforts as show organisers," said Steve Jones, regional director, F&E. "Our marketing efforts are not just aimed at raising PackTech's profile, but that of the entire regional packaging industry." The 2003 PackTechshow has won the backing of the UK-headquartered Confederation of Organisers of Packaging Exhibitions (COPE). In 2001, PackTech attracted 5,000 industry professionals, suppliers and end users from over 40 countries and generated in excess of $3 million worth of on-site orders with exhibitors reporting follow-through contracts topping $12 million.
