Interview with Giovanni Bettini (Head of Sales of Corrugating Machinery Division at MHI EMEA).
Good morning or good afternoon, depending on where you are. It’s a pleasure to have another interview. We are here at SuperCorrExpo in Orlando, and so far, it has been a very good exhibition with a lot of visitors. Even though it’s only the second day, I must say that we are very happy with the turnout. We are very pleased to be at this exhibition.
The trends vary from country to country and continent to continent, as we have to consider the global market. Lately, we have noticed a significant trend towards fewer colors in printing units. Or otherwise, companies are buying high graphic machines and using them for gluers after printing in a second pass on the high graphic machines.
There is now a demand for less colors machines, which we can satisfy, and we are very happy to be in this situation.
We are selling more and more machines to independent companies, not just to big groups.
People often think that only big groups can afford these high-performance machines, but that is not true. Recently, we have sold several of our machines to independent companies with just one plant, which is a big difference compared to the past.
What about Brazil, Penha?
No-no, Penha is not a small company. Penha is quite a big company with several plants. Other independent companies, both in Europe and other parts of the world, including South America, are also significant.
In Brazil, for instance, we now have 14 EVOL machines. Penha three, Klabin has five, WestRock has three, and we also have other independent companies like Irani with one, Adami with one, and Bragagnolo with one machine. So, in total, there are 14 EVOL machines in Brazil.
Why do you think people are eager to obtain these machines?
We have seen a similar situation a few years ago in South Africa, where we now have 13 EVOL machines. Once you sell one, it creates a cascade effect. When one company buys one, the competitor cannot compete anymore because of the quality and performance of the machine, which affects the final cost of one box. So, they have to buy another one, and then another.
Companies with one EVOL and other flexo gluers find that their customers demand the quality produced by the EVOL, not the other machines.
This situation is happening in South Africa and many other countries.
Do you find it easier to sell now?
No, it’s never easy to sell. It’s always a battle. But more and more customers recognize that the EVOL is a very good machine with high performance and reliability, and they want to buy it even though the cost is higher.
What about sustainability?
Mitsubishi is at the forefront of sustainability. The EVOL is designed to be highly sustainable. We have presented our sustainability efforts at last FEFCO. In our machines we have less ink consumption and losses , less water consumption and less power consumption.
Replacing 2 or 3 existing machines with one EVOL can reduce power consumption by 40-45%.
Our manufacturing plant in Japan, Mihara, is 100% supported by solar panels, making us independent from the power network in Japan since last April. Our office in the Netherlands also uses solar panels, making it 100% sustainable. Mitsubishi is committed to reducing CO2 emissions and decarbonizing. The entire Mitsubishi Group is putting a lot of effort into this.
Is it possible to buy an EVOL now? How long is the wait?
We have a capacity of about 72 EVOL machines per year, six per month. In the past, we had long lead times due to the shortage of electronic components, but now delivery times are back to normal.
Customers need to understand that this machine is not just for big groups or rich companies; it is for everyone.
The machine pays for itself quickly due to its high productivity, reliability, and the quality of the boxes it produces. It is a money-maker. I encourage both small and big companies to approach us and see that the EVOL is not just for a selected few but for everyone.
Thank you for the interesting conversation!
You’re welcome. Thank you.
Reporting from Orlando by Igor Tkalenko – corruga.expert
