Broad-range machinery maker Valmet Converting officially opened its new Technology Center at Valmet Rotomec SpA, in San Giorgio Monferrato, Italy, May 16. About 180 guests and VIPs attended the ceremony, including more than 70 customers from around the world.

Among the guests were senior executives from parent company Metso Corp. of Finland, representatives from local, provincial and regional government, the Bishop of Casale Monferrato and converting trade-press editors. Many suppliers, who made a significant contribution toward the success of the inauguration machine demonstrations and with whom Valmet will be working very closely in the future, were also in attendance.

During the center tour, guests witnessed a new Rotomec 4000-2 roto-gravure printing press in full production, printing in seven colors at 1,200 fpm. Technicians demonstrated a rapid sleeve-change procedure on the new Rotomec EG 400-1 flexo printing press, and two new Rotomec laminators were also demonstrated. A fully operational Titan SR7 slitter/rewinder completed the program of machine demos.

Mikko Helander, president of Valmet Converting, provided an overview of the group's operations, stressing the success of important product developments achieved in recent years. These include Rotomec electronic shaft technology in gravure printing, Rotomec gearless flexo printing and new Rotomec laminating technologies.

The new Italian tech center, together with a similar facility in Heywood, near Manchester, UK, are "opening the gateway for faster process development," says Helander.

Valmet Converting has also unified its sales teams into one organization for the flexible packaging sector, with one point of contact for Rotomec, Titan and General products.