In this short customer interview, Franco Pagano, GEW’s Sales Manager for Southern Europe, speaks to Gianluigi De Blasio, Technical Manager for Sita 3000 srl. They discuss the company’s move to UV LED printing, which began with a 6-lamp AeroLED retrofit upgrade that was installed in March 2023, followed by a complete 8-lamp AeroLED installation in August 2023.
Franco Pagano (FP): Gianluigi, tell me more about Sita 3000.
Gianluigi De Blasio (GD): “Certainly, our company has a rich history going back 70 years. We currently employ a team of ten dedicated professionals and operate four production lines along with three control tables. We provide labels for a range of industries, from the pharmaceutical sector to cosmetics, to the food industry, the wine market, and much more.”
FP: What motivated your decision to consider an LED retrofit for your printing?
GD: “Our decision to explore LED retrofit was primarily driven by the need to save costs and to play our part in contributing to sustainability. With the recent and significant rises in energy costs, we saw the need to invest in the latest technology to enable us to reduce these overheads and keep ahead of the competition. Otherwise, we would have to pass on these additional costs to our customers. LED gives us the competitive edge.”
FP: Can you share the reasons that led you to choose GEW as your UV supplier?
GD: “We have worked with GEW equipment for many years and to put it simply, GEW have built a strong name and a leading role in the UV curing market. Furthermore, their Italian distributor, Fornietic, knows the market very well and is a company we trust, which played a significant role in our choice.”
FP: How was your overall experience with GEW during the entire process of transitioning to UV LED?
GD: “After the retrofit, we did initially have some technical challenges to overcome. However, it’s worth noting that GEW’s technicians promptly intervened to resolve these issues, ensuring a smooth transition with minimal delay.”
FP: What advice would you give to others contemplating a shift from conventional UV Arc to UV LED?
GD: “I’d say that LED technology represents both the present and the future for label printing. There’s no need to delay; the benefits make it a compelling choice right now. We are part of a world that is using and developing UV LED to replace older technologies, as soon as possible. The advantage to us is that we can offer innovative and sustainable solutions to all our customers.”
FP: Beyond energy cost savings, have you observed reductions in operating costs, such as those related to replacing bulbs and reflectors?
GD: “Indeed, in addition to a significant reduction in kilowatts consumed, particularly during system restarts, we have greatly reduced the cost and hassle associated with replacing traditional UV bulbs and reflectors. We do continue to use Arc lamps for special colours and coatings, but we will be able to easily replace the Arc cassettes with GEW LED cassettes if we need to in the future, because they are ‘ArcLED’ compatible.”
FP: Have you had the opportunity to use GEW’s Remote Monitoring and Support service? If so, what are your thoughts on this service?
GD: “We haven’t had the chance to use this service as of yet, but knowing that the remote monitoring and support is there gives us great reassurance. As I mentioned earlier, if we have ever had a problem with the system, as we did initially on installation, GEW’s customer service and technician teams have sorted the issues promptly.”
FP: Considering your use of LED curing for its sustainability benefits, can this be utilised as a marketable feature for your customers?
GD: “To be honest, our customers don’t specifically request certain systems, so its marketability in that regard may be limited. Nevertheless, showcasing our commitment to sustainability can enhance our reputation and it’s something we believe is important, to us and our customers.”
FP: Would you be open to further investments in LED technology?
GD: “Absolutely. Our next generation of printing machines will be fully equipped with UV LED technology, reaffirming our dedication to innovation and sustainability. We believe in this technology.”
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For more information on GEW’s AeroLED system, visit the webpage here.
Or to watch a video demonstrating the simplicity of an ArcLED cassette change, go here.
For more information on Sita 3000, visit their website (Italian): https://www.sita3000.net/