Boxmeer, Netherlands - SPGPrints has appointed Ruy de Lacerda & Ca. S.A. as agents for its graphics division in Portugal. Headquartered in Porto and with offices in Lisbon, Ruy de Lacerda will supply SPGPrints’ rotary screen printing, digital UV-inkjet printing and laser engraving technologies, principally for label and package printing applications. 

Furthermore, with 14 customer-facing staff and a laboratory at its Porto site, the company will provide technical consultancy, training, testing, maintenance and a local supply of consumable products.  

Established in 1950, Ruy de Lacerda represents several of the graphics and plastics industry’s renowned machine and materials suppliers. The company was one of the recipients of the PME Excelência 2015 award, given to Portuguese small and medium enterprises by the country’s government for making outstanding contributions to innovation and entrepreneurship.

SPGPrints has a long-established presence in Portugal, helping major label converters to offer added-value solutions for the port and wine market with its rotary screen technology.   

Hank Guitjens, commercial manager labels and packaging at SPGPrints, comments: “There is growing demand for high-value, sophisticated label solutions in Portugal, and SPGPrints’ rotary screen workflow, comprising RSI® modules, non-woven nickel reusable screens and pre-press systems, is ideal for meeting this need. Ruy de Lacerda is the perfect partner for helping the country’s label converters integrate this technology, thanks to their extensive printing industry experience and reputation for offering comprehensive, long-term support on behalf of many leading suppliers.”

David Zamith, managing director of Ruy de Lacerda, comments: “Rotary screen is uniquely capable of applying thick coverage quickly. As a result, Portuguese label converters are discovering the process’s effectiveness for creating valuable effects inline. These include striking images using glossy, matte and tactile varnishes, vibrant colours, opaque features and functional features from Braille to anti-counterfeit solutions.”

“As representatives of SPGPrints with an experienced service network and training facilities, we at Ruy de Lacerda are well-placed to help the label industry exploit the full potential of the rotary screen process as a means of differentiating, protecting and enhancing the appeal of their customers’ brands.”

Highlights of the portfolio of graphics systems and equipment products include:

• The RSI® rotary screen printing modules, integrating smoothly alongside flexo, letterpress, offset and gravure processes.
• Re-imageable RotaMesh® and re-usable RotaPlate® long-life non-woven nickel screens. These print ink and varnishes in deposits of up to 250µm in one pass, at speeds of up to 150m/min. 
• Digital and analogue screen cylinder imaging systems. One example is the variLEX® hybrid CTP (computer-to-plate) and CTS (computer-to-screen) processor gives the label and packaging industry a single, digital imaging solution for high-definition flexo, dry-offset, screen and letterpress printing formes. 
• The DSI® digital UV-inkjet press and its specially formulated inks.