Nilpeter Reaches 100 Worldwide Installations of MO-4 Offset Press

Nilpeter’s MO-4 offset press has been installed 100 times worldwide. The revolutionary offset platform, once named “The Winemaker’s Choice”, was introduced at LabelExpo Europe in 2007, and offers premium quality combination printing based on lightweight sleeve technology.

Nilpeter International Product Manager, Wine & Spirits, Angelo Tribocco answered a series of questions regarding the offset flagship:

Q: Why has the MO-4 been such a success? 

A: “The whole idea behind the MO-4, for Nilpeter and the R&D team, was to develop something 10 times better than any other solution available on the market, in our product range of course,” Tribocco said. “We were not interested in making small improvements or aiming for a press only ‘two times better’ than current market solutions. And that is why the MO-4 became an instant game-changer at that time, and a benchmark, even today, in combination offset printing.
“Of course it was not an easy exercise – we were already leading the offset market with our previous model, the MO-3300, so we basically had to improve on ourselves.”

Q: The MO-4 was once named “The Winemaker’s Choice. “Why do you think it is such a good fit for the wine and spirits market?”

A: “The good fit for wine and spirits comes from the ability to create complex labels, matching the sophistication required by end-users, in a superior way in terms of efficiency and lean converting,” according to Tribocco.

Q: Are the recent MO-4 presses being installed with existing MO-Line customers or is it a good mix of new and old?

A: “The interest is more frequent with new, emerging companies – and personally, these projects are more fascinating and rewarding, because you are part of a virtuous process of evolution,” Tribocco said. “Our strategy is very simple: we approach labels shops in need of equipment that can handle higher volumes and more complex converting jobs. That is where the MO-4 shines, increases efficiency, and enhances the overall performance of all existing equipment, and the label shop in general. We are highly focused on meeting customer needs and helping them solve their challenges.”

Q: How do you find offset technology in terms of quality compared to other printing methods?

A: “There is no doubt that offset represents the highest level of quality in analogue printing, in the label market. For a while, it looked like the first digital technology, ‘electrophotography,’ was challenging offset for the crown, but to this day it cannot meet the efficiency and up-time of offset printing, and has become obsolete with the rise of UV-digital inkjet and other developments,” Tribocco said.

Q: Is the MO-4 popular in one specific geographic market, or is it spread evenly across the world?

A: “I would say the presses are spread across the most innovative and competitive markets around the world – following first the trend of standardization, which is a rule in big corporate companies with multiple plant locations: U.S., United Kingdom, Australia etc.,” Tribocco said. “Secondly, the distribution also follows creative ambitions, emerging labels shops and companies that wish to differentiate themselves from basic offers and quality, in countries such as Italy, Spain, France, and Germany. Finally, the MO-4 is also popular with market leaders and trend setting companies in Turkey, Croatia, Ukraine, Thailand, and all of Latin America.”

Q: How do you see the MO-4 going forward, and do you have any predictions for the future?

A: “As I mentioned earlier, the MO-4 is still the benchmark in combination offset printing – and it can be quite challenging to improve on a benchmark, especially in analogue printing. However, innovation also includes going back to the existing portfolio and re-engineering with the latest technology and automation,” Tribocco said. “A perfect example of this is our flatbed embossing and foiling unit – the well-known FP-4, which was introduced in 2012, and has already been installed in more than 120 units around the world. That is in my mind a good path for us to follow – keep adding lean, improved solutions, unique embellishments, and sophisticated features – adapting our technology to the ever-changing market, and ensuring that the MO-4 remains a competitive solution in terms of price and performance.”
 




Pictured: President and CEO Lars Eriksen and International Product Manager, Wines & Spirits Angelo Tribocco/Courtesy: Nilpeter