Mmegi commissions Botswana�s only heat-set web printing press
Correspondent | Friday June 23, 2017 16:05
Equipped with advanced features that include automatic splicers, automatic colour registration, automatic colour inking, fast ink dryer, chiller and a commercial double parallel folder, the press produces high quality work at turnaround times that are four times quicker than sheet-fed printing machines which is what is common in the local market.
The immaculate printing facility, which is the only one of its kind in Botswana, uses leading edge Taiwanese and American technology known to be among the best in the world.
Mmegi is targeting to increase its marketshare in the printing business with this machine that is capable of printing on any type of paper except plastic. With the new printing press, Mmegi will consolidate its leading position in the printing and publishing industry by diversifying its product range to promotional flyers, books, magazines, catalogues annual reports and telephone directories on a higher quality surface such as gloss, light-weight coated or super calendar.
“This is the largest project that Mmegi has ever invested in. The total cost of the project is P28 million”, Mmegi Managing Director, Titus Mbuya says.
Among some of the new businesses to be pursued through the new investment include printing of promotional flyers for retailers, most of which are currently done outside the country.
Due to the large quantities involved, as well as the absence of a machine that can print on glossy paper continuously, most retailers preferred to print their promotional materials in South Africa.
The new press is a game changer. It can print up to 30, 000 copies of an 8-page tabloid in just one hour on any kind of paper, a feat that competitors’ sheet-fed machines cannot attain.
“With this press, not only can we cut the printing turnaround time by up to four times compared to sheet fed printing machines, but we are able to provide the service at very cost effective rates to the client.
“We understand that satisfied clients are our most valuable asset, and that long term success is made up of one job at a time being produced exactly the way the client wants it and right on time, hence the company took a bold step to make such an investment,” says Plant Manager, Owen Ndhlovu.
Mmegi also aims to establish itself as a powerful brand within the Southern African region by producing quality print products.
The company envisages to achieve this by continuously improving all operational systems, reducing operational costs and improving machine uptime as well as increasing its visibility in the market.
The company already prints Mmegi, The Monitor, Guardian, and The Midweek Sun under its stable.