UPM reaches phase II of Sappi venture
Material manufacturers, UPM and Sappi, have reached the next stage of their Joint Venture which was first announced in December last year
UV and LED specialist, GEW, supplied a Ukrainian printer with a complete curing system
GEW, a UK-based manufacturer of UV Arc and LED systems, has helped a Ukrainian print house expand production following the disruption caused by Russia’s invasion of the country.
The UV/LED company which also has subsidiaries in the US and Germany supplied the print house with a four-lamp, 40” UV & LED curing system for an already owned Komori press.
The Ukrainian business known as Pryvatna Drukarnya was massively impacted by the Russian invasion as it was forced to halt print production in order to provide humanitarian support for the many refugees fleeing the conflict in the east of the country.
In order to ensure the UV system was financially viable during such difficult times, the company originally requested the system be supplied on preferential payment terms. After this request the family owners of GEW stepped in to offer the entire UV system free of charge.
The gesture was in recognition of the dedication of Pryvatna Drukarnya and its employees who opened their doors to those affected by the country’s conflict. Managing director for Pryvatna Drukarnya, Mikhail Gluhovski, says: “Everyone in our region opened their doors for those who have no home any more. At one time I had 13 people from Kharkiv, with two pets, living in my apartment.”
Gluhovski adds: “Of course, business is very difficult, but we are sure about our future, we’ve never been so consolidated and so strong before. Thanks to the goodwill of our European partners, we found an appropriate way to buy cardboard and consumables for new orders and to pay off debts at the same time. We are thankful to GEW and everyone who supports our country and our economy. This system will let us to return our normal production volume and to start producing UV-printed packaging.
“It is difficult to find words to express our gratitude for such a decision.”
The printing works, which is based in Khmelnytskyi, Western Ukraine, halted production in February in 2022. Safe spaces were set up in two restaurants and a gymnasium, which were normally used by staff and customers, to prepare up to 1200 free meals for refugees and provide accommodation for around 500 people each night.
To mark the significance of the installation, two RHINO cabinets that power the UV system were produced in the signature Ukrainian blue, and yellow which was eventually installed by Pryvatna’s engineers.
In response to GEW’s generosity, Pryvatna made donations to a number of humanitarian causes in Ukraine including a local housing programme that helps rehome families displaced by the conflict.
If you have any news, email news@printmonthly.co.uk or join in with the conversation on Twitter and LinkedIn.
