Heidelberg, the leading print media solutions provider and developer of the Anicolor inking unit, will showcase its latest printing technology products at Gulf Print 2009.

Heidelberg Middle East, the Dubai headquartered joint venture between Heidelberg and the Saudi business group E A Juffali and Brothers, will display its Anicolor technology that delivers the best possible quality and colour stability throughout a print run by controlling ink volumes across the entire sheet without ink zones, said a statement.

“At an exposure level, Gulf Print is an exceptionally important exhibition for Heidelberg Middle East as it allows us to bring in the technology for Middle East printers who are unable to visit us at the major European exhibitions,” said Mazen Wafic El-Tibi, Heidelberg Middle East.

“Heidelberg is the world’s leading solutions provider for commercial and industrial customers in the print media industry and the Middle East is a significant growth market for us. We are investing heavily in the region, providing support for the industry with sales support, after-sales service, training and marketing.”

'Recent research predicts that the Middle East print market, unlike many mature European markets, will continue to grow at a rate of 7.7 per cent per annum,' said Sue Rothwell, group event director, Fairs & Exhibitions – organisers of Gulf Print.

“The rise of GDP across the region is fuelling demand for the newspaper and magazine market which in turn is increasing demand for quality, speed and colour innovation.”
 
'Although the number of print houses specialised in box printing is somewhat limited in the Middle East compared to the rest of the world, we are seeing an increasing demand in this area,' stated El-Tibi.

'Another area in the printing for packaging market that is experiencing a healthy expansion is the flexible packaging segment where we have been involved in many installations of new presses in our region,' he added.

Heidelberg Middle East currently employs over 160 staff at braches throughout the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman, Qatar and Bahrain.

Gulf Print, run in conjunction with the Gulf Pack exhibition, will be held at the Dubai Airport Expo Centre from April 6 to 9, 2009.-TradeArabia News Service