KBA North America has announced that it has been named the exclusive North American distributor for its newly-acquired Italian flexible packaging press manufacturer Flexotecnica by parent company Koenig & Bauer. The new subsidiary, KBA-Flexotecnica, is an Italian press manufacturer specializing in presses for printing on film and other substrates in the growing market for flexible packaging. The distributorship begins January 1, 2014.

“We are honored to be named the exclusive distributor for Flexotecnica’s flexible packaging presses in North America,” says Mark Hischar, president and CEO of KBA North America. “Flexotecnica has a superb reputation in its market. With this acquisition, our parent company has made an important investment by entering this key growing print market for flexible packaging. This is an opportunity for KBA to expand its strong market position in the folding carton market into another growing packaging segment. We are certain that we will be able to offer our well known high-level of service, expertise and parts support to this important market and Flexotecnica’s current customer base.”

The majority acquisition by KBA of Italian press manufacturer Flexotecnica based in Tavazzano near Milan was finalized in early December 2013. This new KBA subsidiary has been renamed KBA-Flexotecnica as of January 1, 2014.

KBA-Flexotecnica develops, builds, distributes and services central-impression flexographic presses for printing on flexible packaging materials. Flexotecnica SpA was founded in 1979 but started its production in 1980. Flexotecnica specialized in the manufacture of reel-to-reel flexo printing presses from a minimum print width of 600 mm. to 3,200 mm., both with central impression drum (C.I. version) or with independent impression rollers (special stack version), from one to 12 printing elements, suitable for printing all flexible materials used for the packaging industry, as well as paper and cardboard. In 2012 the enterprise generated a pre-tax profit. Until now limited resources have curbed the mid-size firm’s growth. KBA-Flexotecnica’s integration into the Group’s global sales and service network will open up favorable prospects for further development.

KBA took over the company from Officine Meccaniche G. Cerutti (OMGC), the previous majority stakeholder based in Casale Monferrato near Turin. However, OMGC will hold a 5 percent stake in the firm. Adriano Canette, a descendant of the founding family working in the company, remains a shareholder with 5 percent. KBA-Flexotecnica will be run by its previous managing director Claudio Bisogni. Both parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price.