CHICAGO, IL—SGK, a division of Matthews International, and a leading global brand development, activation and deployment provider that drives brand performance, announced that it has rebranded the Matthews Brand Solutions flexographic business in Europe, Asia and the Americas as Schawk.
The rebranding is part of a larger strategic initiative to optimize SGK’s brand portfolio by consolidating brands. The Schawk brand is part of SGK’s brand deployment business which also includes its Saueressig brand. This affects eight local flexographic business brands in Europe, one in Asia Pacific and one in the Americas.
David Schawk, group president, SGK, said: “The driving force behind the rebranding is to facilitate the buying process for our clients worldwide and create a more seamless service experience. We are unifying the knowledge, expertise and resources of all these brands around one global brand, Schawk, and focusing on delivering a consistent brand experience.” Added Schawk, “It also enhances Schawk’s position in the industry as a truly global brand, further differentiating us from competitors.”
Brad Wills, executive vice president, global operations, SGK, said: “The rebranding of our flexographic business underscores changes we have made to the management of our operations worldwide to enrich the client experience on a global, regional and local level. It also empowers SGK’s brand performance offering, especially in Europe, where our capacity and expertise has been significantly fortified.”
Oliver Thoma, managing director of the Schawk flexographic business in Europe, said: “Rebranding our local brands under Schawk provides the best of both worlds. We become an integral part of a respected global brand which elevates our position regionally while continuing to deliver superior flexographic solutions locally to brand owners and commercial printers.”
Brian Sinta, vice president, brand deployment, SGK, said: “We are excited to leverage and synthesize the knowledge, skills and expertise of all our talent in the Americas to help brand owners deploy and protect their brands and to drive efficiencies to help improve the profitability of their brands.”
Adam Ransom, Managing Director, APAC Group at SGK, said: “In Asia, this expands Schawk’s footprint and deepens our presence in China and Hong Kong, allowing us to provide regional connections and local insights into the development and deployment of brands in Asia Pacific from nine major cities.”
The following local brands and their offices have been rebranded Schawk:
In Europe:
- InTouch (Leeds, UK)
- Klischeewerkstatt Scholler GmbH (Nuremberg, Germany)
- Rasterpunkt GmbH (Vienna, Austria)
- Repro Busek Druckvorstufentechnik GmbH & Co. KG (Vienna, Austria)
- Reproservice Eurodigital GmbH (Munich, Germany)
- Rudolf Reproflex GmbH (Goslar, Germany)
- Rudolf Reproflex GmbH (Leipzig, Germany)
- S+T Reprotechnik (Julich, Germany)
- TWL Nyomdaipari es Kereskedelmi Kft (Budapest, Hungary)
In the Americas:
Matthews Brand Solutions
- Atlanta, GA
- Appleton, WI
- Boston, MA
- Indianapolis, IN
- Pittsburgh, PA
- St. Louis, MO
In Asia Pacific:
- Tact (Hong Kong)
- Tact (Shenzhen)
Additionally, SGK announced that as part of a strategic initiative to optimize its brand portfolio, it has rebranded Schawk’s U.S. rotogravure operations which will operate under the Saueressig brand, well known throughout Europe for excellence in premium rotogravure solutions.
David Schawk said: “The rebranding of Schawk’s rotogravure operations as Saueressig expands our global rotogravure offering and gives Saueressig a strategic foothold in the U.S. It also consolidates the expertise and innovations of both groups under a single brand, facilitating delivery of our brand performance value proposition.”
Saueressig’s history includes the introduction of many patented market leading rotogravure printing and finishing technologies such as exclusive 3-D micro embossing technology that offers protection from brand counterfeiting; VAT laser etching; nanosecond 3-D laser engraving on metal surfaces; and soft proof technology that depicts all finishes like coatings and embossing.
Tomas Sterkenburgh, managing director, Saueressig, said: “The Saueressig brand name has been associated with rotogravure premium quality, innovation and leadership in Europe among brand owners and converters for more than 60 years. The rebranding of Schawk’s rotogravure operations presents us with a unique opportunity to enter the U.S. market and begin serving the brand owners here who seek enhanced precision and security that only premium rotogravure can deliver.”
Saueressig operates from offices in Vreden, Germany; Grenzach-Wyhlen, Germany; Bristol, U.K.; Poznan, Poland; Warsaw, Poland; Istanbul, Turkey; Izmir Turkey, Velikly Novgorod, Russia; and Milwaukee, U.S.