GIRONA, Spain—Comexi CTec, which specializes in training, advice and technical process support for the printing and converting sectors of the flexible packaging industry, is celebrating a special anniversary. The year 2020 marks 10 years since the Manel Xifra Boada Technology Center began an advanced flexography course in Riudellots de la Selva (Girona, Spain) for Middle Eastern customers. Thenceforth, Comexi CTec has continued to grow, incorporating value-added services, which includes integrating the prepress process into the facilities of its clients, among others.
“When we began, our final objective was the same as it is today—to transfer knowledge to our clients,” explained Albert López, head of the Technological Center. Upon opening in June 2010, Comexi CTec provided advice and training, two services that are still offered today. “Over time these services have expanded. Thus, proposed advice is presently varied and encompasses an array of technologies, while training is no longer solely face-to-face, but also personalized to the needs of our clients and performed on location, at their facilities, and online. Furthermore, we have incorporated customer support at the level of industrial tests, R+D, and support for innovation,” continued Albert López.
Between 2012 and 2013, one of the most important milestones for the Technological Center took place: the integration of prepress knowledge and color. “This is one of the areas in which we have worked with diligence, allowing us to expand value-added services,” said the head of the Comexi CTec, who further highlighted the 10 percent to 15 percent annual increase of uninterrupted form. “In due course, half of our clients have made use of many CTec services,” said López.
Ten years after its inception, Comexi has established three technological centers. The first Comexi CTec was in Riudellots de la Selva, the headquarters of the company. Three years ago, the center in Montenegro (Brazil) began operation, and is currently working toward expanding its services. In parallel, the opening of a demo center in Miami (United States) is under way, and incorporating services that will be offered locally.
More than 1,800 students have participated in training courses, given in various languages at the Comexi CTec headquarters. More than 200 training visits and 300 process advisory visits have been performed at the facilities of customers. In April 2020, online training commenced, and exceeded 500 attendees. Industrial demonstrations and tests have continued to grow, and more than 50 companies have already utilized this service.
“The present objective is to expand our services by offering the possibility of integrating the entire prepress workflow through a turnkey project which culminates once the client independently produces preprint, all the while adhering to every defined quality standards,” concluded López.