AGI-Shorewood plant in Danville, Virginia, installs Graphic Art Systems' Eco-Eagle Hot Foil system, plans to use machine for high-end cosmetic, tobacco and other decorative printing for consumer market

Sandy Yang

LEXINGTON, Kentucky , April 23, 2012 (press release) – Graphic Art Systems, Inc, the leading developer and manufacturer of foil enhancement equipment for the printing industry for over 20 years, announced today that it has installed its Eco-Eagle Hot Foil system at AGI-Shorewood, one of the largest and most innovative global specialty packaging businesses with operations in North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America. The Eco-Eagle Hot Foil system was recently installed at AGI-Shorewood’s Danville, VA facility.

“Our company has worked with Graphic Art Systems for 15 years,” says Jeff Laming, technology center manager of AGI Shorewood, Danville, VA. “We have a number of Eagle hot foiling systems in our other facilities across the U.S. and the newest unit here in Danville. While we did research other systems on the market, we felt that our long-term partnership with Graphic Art Systems as well as the cost difference became the key considerations to choose another high-quality Eagle system.”

AGI-Shorewood plans to use the new Eagle system for its high-end cosmetic, tobacco, and other decorative printing for the consumer market as well as provide tests for its Asian and Latin American customers.

“We are honored to continue our strong partnership with AGI-Shorewood,” says Michael King, President of Graphic Art Systems. “AGI-Shorewood is one of the premier innovators in the international packaging industry and we are always pleased to work with any of its facilities.”

In addition to the new Eco-Eagle offline hot foil system, AGI-Shorewood is operating a new state-of-the-art 12 color web-fed gravure printing system in its testing center in Danville. These new capabilities allow the testing center to provide full service graphics and stamping for its entire organization.

AGI-Shorewood chose Graphic Art System after careful consideration for its long history and reputation, its superb engineering capabilities, and the extensive background of its president Mike King and its team of support engineers. “Customer service is one of the key advantages to working with Mike King,” says Laming. “He is always available to help us with questions, to come in and trouble-shoot at our locations, even if the equipment is non-Eagle. Whether it is a machine issue or service problem, Mike makes himself available. He is a true expert and is very knowledgeable on what’s new in the industry.”

Graphic Art Systems, known as “The Foil Experts,” has been the leader in the design and manufacturing of retrofit hot foil stamping equipment for over 20 years. Its Eagle Systems equipment has dominated the hot foil market with hundreds of installations worldwide. Recently Michael King, owner of Graphic Art Systems, applied his decades of specialization in foil enhancement equipment to the development of the Eco-Eagle Cold Foil System for sheet-fed offset presses. The Eco-Eagle is the most technologically-advanced, versatile and cost efficient cold foil system in the world.

The environmentally-friendly Eco-Eagle uses less power than a hairdryer to operate and was designed to eliminate foil dust caused by machines using the old dancer roller system. It has the ability to run unlimited multiple narrow webs of the same size or different sizes, or one large web depending on the job. The Eco-Eagle is operator-friendly, requires no mechanical, electrical or computer adjustments and can be retrofit to new or existing 28-inch up to 80-inch sheetfed offset presses from major press manufacturers. Installations typically are achieved between three to five days and production is running by the sixth day.

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