The 350-staff United Arab Emirates printer, which is part of the Dubai-headquartered Thomsun Group, has purchased the press currently being demonstrated on the Gallus stand (Hall 2, stand A45).

Al Mawrid has specified the new modular press with a continuous unwinder, two gravure print units, cold foil and lamination capability, as well as seven ‘Easy Value Add’ (EVA) units and an inline flatbed die-cutter.

Gallus’s EVA concept allows users to change their press configuration depending on individual job requirements, to add features including inline screen printing, high-definition flexo, lamination and hot foil stamping.

Al Mawrid general manager TK Babukutty said that the printer chose the Gallus ICS 670 for its quality and flexibility, which also allows users to retrofit the latest technologies as they become available.

"Very soon we will introduce screen printing and if we have to add extra screen units or hot foiling in the future that is also possible – we can add or replace at any time," he added.

Babukutty said that Al Mawrid, which already runs an array of sheetfed Heidelberg presses, was also sold on the fact the Gallus press had a flatbed rather than a rotary die-cutter. "It means we can use the same dies we use on our Bobst die-cutter for the sheetfed work," he added.

Thomsun Group managing director KV Thomas said that the press buy was "good for us, good for Gallus and good for our customers".

"We work with global brands and the quality has to be equal to that in the US or EU," he added. "Consistency is crucial for brand owners because if there’s any compromise on the standard of the packaging then the buyer may think the product is a copy even though it’s the same."

Members of the Al Mawrid drupa team in front of the Gallus ICS 670 press.