With immediate effect, UV curing systems manufacturer GEW will be fully represented for sales and service in Italy by Fornietic srl. GEW’s existing service partner for Italy, Spark Solutions, will support Fornietic and continue to provide the same high standard of field technical support as before. However, all customer relations will be managed through Fornietic srl as the sole point of customer contact for Italy.

Established in Milan in 1979, Fornietic has since built a strong reputation in the printing industry. Following a strategic move to diversify its range back in 2004, the company now represents many major brands, including Kocher + Beck, Herma, Tesa, Durst, Cheshire and Polywest. The Fornietic group is made up of four companies: Fornietic, Flexolution, Fleximpianti and Lirmaprint. Employing over 40 people in two sites at Cornaredo and Piemonte, the vast majority of its staff are dedicated to technical support and customer service.

Mario Marchi, sales director at Fornietic, says, “We are the only Italian company able to supply almost every product that the printing industry needs. We range from flexible dies to self-adhesive materials, from anilox rolls to flexo and magnesium plates, from printing sleeves to flexo tapes, all with the best technical assistance… and now, of course, we can offer our customers the best LED and UV curing technology available.”

Fornietic will stock a comprehensive range of GEW spare parts for rapid delivery across the country. A team of four field service technicians, led by Leonardo Roberti and ex-GEW engineer Marco Nardo of Spark Solutions, will be dedicated to providing a faster and more comprehensive support package to customers. At the same time Franco Pagano, GEW’s highly experienced and well regarded sales manager for the region, will continue to support sales activities and will be regularly travelling to visit customers across Italy.

Marchi highlights the new formation: “From now on, GEW customers can expect more engagement, faster support and a large expansion of UV expertise that is readily available on their doorstep.”

Fornietic’s managing director, Christian Colombo, comments, “We are well aware that the GEW name is renowned for quality and reliability. For us, starting to work with GEW means, more than any other word, responsibility. We are aware of the exceptional work that has been done to make GEW the world leader of the market, and we are proud to have the opportunity to make GEW the undisputed leader of UV and LED technology in Italy. By coming together with GEW, we will bring significant benefits to our customers. They will have the most responsive and fastest support, skilled technicians and a team that is very focused on customer needs.”

Robert Rae, managing director of sales at GEW, says, “We are very excited to begin working with Mario, Christian and the team at Fornietic, who are renowned for their professionalism, technical expertise and strong customer service. From the first meeting it was clear that we shared a fast and flexible approach to business, with open and honest communication. GEW have a good reputation and strong customer base in Italy but required a more dynamic and professional partner in this competitive market. We are very confident Fornietic fit that mould and we look forward to a long and successful relationship.”

Rae adds, “We will strengthen our existing customer base and lead the transition of the web market to LED while also venturing into newer markets such as sheetfed offset and specialist industrial printing applications.”