"We believe that the pressroom should always be equipped with state-of-the-art systems so that we can provide our customers with the best possible quality in the shortest possible time," explains Joseph Yam, Chairman of the Printwell group. With a workforce numbering 800, Manila-based Printwell is one of the largest packaging printer in the Philippines. Its portfolio also includes commercial work such as brochures, calendars, catalogs and labels.

In the summer of 2008, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) installed a Speedmaster CD 74 six-color Duo with coating unit, extended delivery and UV equipment at Printwell - the first press of its kind in the Philippines. "To ensure sustainable growth, we want the best suppliers and technology partners that can offer outstanding service," emphasizes Mr. Yam. "We have found precisely such a partner in Heidelberg, and the press has made a big impression with its user-friendliness, short makeready times, flexibility and consistently high print quality." The Duo press has already produced over 35 million sheets, primarily during packaging print runs involving UV and coating. Additional orders and new customers have also been won and in March next year the second press is to be installed - a Speedmaster XL 75 six-color with extended delivery and UV technology. The new press will help the company meet customer requirements in the pharma¬ceuticals, electronics, healthcare, foodstuffs, beverages and commercial printing sectors. Thirty percent of the printed products are destined for the export market. What's more, one of the goals at Printwell is to expand into other sectors.

This move would carry on an already long-established tradition. Joseph Yam has continuously expanded his portfolio since he first began working in printshops in his early age. He established Printwell in 1976. One of the most important things for the experienced manager is his workforce, which he regularly involves in purchasing decisions so as to boost motivation. Well trained workers and smoothly running processes are the bedrock of the company, which has also attained ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 12647 certification - the first printshop in the Philippines to do so.

Duo presses - the all-rounders
Duo technology is the combination of flexographic printing units before offset printing units in a single press. They can handle everything from conventional inks, water-based coatings and UV inks/coatings to Metalure and pearly-luster effect pigments, both alone and together. This results in a whole new range of possibilities for inline surface finishing in label, packaging and commercial printing. In a single pass, a whole array of different effects can be created that otherwise could only be achieved with expensive printing stocks or several passes.

For packaging printers, the main purpose of Duo presses is to enable the production of highly distinctive products that enable both them and end customers to stand out from the competition. Heidelberg offers the following presses with Duo technology: Speedmaster XL 75, CD 102, XL 105 and the new large format XL 145/162. Worldwide, around 50 presses in the 50 x 75 cm (19.69 x 29.53 in) format are on the market in Duo and dual-coating configurations. Added to this are around 25 presses in the 70 x 100 cm (27.56 x 39.37 in) format.