Celebrating the company's first year after its inception Chris Payne, CEO at Miraclon, reflected on its position today in a letter shared with PrintWeek: "We’ve done it. We’ve hit our first birthday. And despite the fact that this anniversary couldn’t have fallen at a stranger time, we have to remember to mark our achievements. Especially now. In the face of change and uncertainty, coming together to salute successes can work wonders for wellbeing and morale."

Miraclon first started its journey in 9 April 2019 and began trading with a dedicated focus on flexo and what it can do. "We’re hugely proud of the Kodak Flexcel NX technology our people have been developing and innovating over the last decade – helping our customers to transform their businesses. We’re also lucky to be part of an industry we’re passionate about, and a professional community we admire, with whom we share so much in common," wrote Payne.

He said the company was fortunate that it has been able to channel its passion, admiration and energy into building a brand new company with newfound agility and ambition, a company through which it can join with its customers and partners in a singular task: transforming flexo.

"I’m also amazed, encouraged and humbled by the innovation and inventiveness of our customers, willing to go the extra mile in challenging circumstances, and finding ways of making a difference in our worldwide battle against Covid-19. Like iFlexo in Colombia, making surgical masks from Flexcel NX plate cover film and asking the rest of the customers in the region to send them their cover film waste so they can produce more. Inflex, in Santiago, Chile, also making masks from Flexcel NX plate cover film and donating them to a local hospital in the city. We owe these individuals our gratitude and so much more," he wrote.

He stated that Miraclon's business has thrived in its first year, and the company supplied more plates to its customers after its transition. "We continued to install our industry-leading Flexcel NX Systems in every region of the world, and our new plate manufacturing line in Oklahoma went live. We held our inaugural Global Flexo Innovation Awards, honouring 12 companies from around the world, and welcomed more than 60 new employees to the team."

First appeared at Labelexpo in Brussels, the company is looking forward to participating in Drupa 2021.

The Covid-19 outbreak has made life challenging for several printers worldwide. Payne wrote that Miraclon is helping flexo print providers meet sudden extra demand, by mobilising products and technical teams to keep our customers’ operations running smoothly.

"We’re also working hard to keep everyone safe in the process," he mentioned. "I look forward to discovering what successes we’ll be looking back on a year from now, when we’re celebrating Miraclon’s second birthday. In the meantime, let’s keep on championing flexo and all it can be. Together."