Flint Group Flexographic and Xeikon Prepress Combine to Form XSYS
In a move that “brings together what belongs together,” the Flint Group Flexographic and Xeikon Prepress divisions have joined forces to form XSYS, a new division within Flint Group, connecting the company’s plates, sleeves, and prepress equipment arms. With this restructuring, Flint Group stated it is now better positioned to offer tailor-made prepress solutions to its customers, while Xeikon will be able to focus on its digital production solutions.
The restructuring announcement was made in a video broadcast on Thursday, Jan. 7, and featured Dagmar Schmidt, president of Flint Group Flexographic, and Friedrich von Rechteren, global commercial vice president.
von Rechteren said that while the formal joining of the two divisions as XSYS is new, Flint Group has already seen the results of what can be achieved when the prepress and flexographic products divisions work together. Citing the Catena platform announced in 2020, von Rechteren explained how ThermoFlexX plate making equipment integrates with plate processing equipment in a modular design, providing customers with an end-to-end plate processing solution.
“Catena is a fully automated plate processing system,” von Rechteren said. “With Catena we can address plate making and processing in a holistic and integrated fashion.”
In addition to the ThermoFlexX and Catena brands, von Rechteren said that all other Flint Group Flexographic and Xeikon Prepress brands will be part of XSYS, including nyloflex and nyloprint plates and equipment, nylosolv washout solvent, and rotec sleeves and adapters.
With a company tagline of “Be Brilliant,” Schmidt explained that XSYS will seek to “bring brilliance into the packaging industry” with its complete end-to-end prepress product line. With this flexibility, she said XSYS customers will be able to create the systems that are best suited for their unique environments.
“Our values are what sets us apart as a competitive and value oriented division of Flint Group,” she said. “We offer flexibility and freedom in decision making.”
Regarding Xeikon, von Rechteren said that the company’s digital printing and production division will maintain its branding, and solely Xeikon Prepress will become part of XSYS. The new division, he said, will consist of research and development, technical service, sales, and production, with a focus on bringing plates and processing equipment together as a complete solution.
“We want to apply a holistic approach to our customers,” he said. “Automation, data flow, and cost efficiency are at the center of our strategy moving forward.”
Cory Francer is an Analyst with NAPCO Research, where he leads the team’s coverage of the dynamic and growing packaging market. Cory also is the former editor-in-chief of Packaging Impressions and is still an active contributor to its print magazines, blogs, and events. With a decade of experience as a professional journalist and editor, Cory brings an eye for storytelling to his packaging research, providing compelling insight into the industry's most pressing business issues. He is an active participant in many of the industry's associations and has played an essential role in the development of the annual Digital Packaging Summit. Cory can be reached at cfrancer@napco.com
