Stork Prints acquires AKL Flexo Technik

BOXMEER, Netherlands—The Stork Prints Group announces the acquisition of AKL Flexo Technik (based in Warburg, Germany), one of the leading producers and innovators of in-the-round flexo sleeves.

Edward Scheppink has been appointed as the new managing director. He joins from Stork Prints where he was commercial manager for sleeve products at the company’s Boxmeer headquarters. He will also assume all commercial responsibilities, including sales and marketing activities.

Also, Ronald van de Meer, with more than 16 years experience at AKL and one of the company’s co-founders has been appointed technical manager.

Founded in 1990 and now employing 50 employess, AKL Flexotechnik supplies printing machine manufacturers, repro and printing houses worldwide with a wide range of flexographic products principally for the label and flexible package printing markets. One of its most notable innovations in flexo sleeve technology is the highly acclaimed OptiFlex thin sleeve. The sleeve’s compatibility with any photopolymer gives customers the only true open platform that does not restrict the use of a specific polymer material. Not only can printers enjoy exceptionally fast set-up times of as little as 30 seconds per printing station, they also have total freedom to select the material with the best qualities or hardness that suits the particular print run.

Scheppink said, “This is a strategic fit which will have benefits not just for the organizations concerned, but for the flexo industry, too. AKL brings a wealth of technical expertise to the Stork Prints Group, and a complementary product portfolio that will enable us to develop the complete open-platform package for all in-the-round engraving needs. Furthermore, we share the same commitment to optimising flexography through constant innovation.”

At the same time, Stork Prints brings AKL access to extensive R&D and financial resources, as well as a global distribution network, which will help the company grow and further improve its service levels by improving lead times and being closer to the customer.

Edward said, “We believe that in-the-round flexo sleeve imaging has enormous potential, especially because of the growth in the flexible packaging market, and the need for seamless-endless printing solutions in combination with laser technology for both LAM (Laser Ablation Mask) and DLE (Direct Laser Engraving). AKL Flexo Technik’s expertise in this area will be instrumental in helping us find ways to reduce further the cost of ownership of flexography. A crucial step in achieving this is the development of fully compatible seamless-endless printing formes, which offer fast easy transfer from pre-press to printing stage, and ease of set-up.”

With the financial backing of Stork Prints, van de Meer will be looking to make strategic investments in production efficiency at the Warburg plant as well as boosting the research and development program for the AKL product range.

“We want to stress that our acquisition of AKL will be as smooth as possible, and will strengthen the day-to-day business,” Edward said. “We will analyze the performance levels on a regional basis, and we will offer extra support to AKL’s existing distribution channels, wherever appropriate.”