The building, adding 4,400-sqm of floorspace to the manufacturing site, will be complete by October 2023.

RMGT’s expansion puts paid to the idea that litho printing technology is due to fall out of use, according to Mark Stribley, joint managing director of UK RMGT dealer MPL.

He said: “This is great news for all businesses associated with RMGT presses, and proof, if any were needed, that litho is certainly not dead. In fact, for RMGT, it’s growing faster than ever. The current factory is working very effectively, and we are certainly still able to add new orders from UK printers to the ever-growing list of RMGT users, but the directors in Japan are looking to the future and are seeing further growth potential.”

Research published in June 2022 by market analysts Smithers showed that digital press technology would gain market share from litho print, but that litho will continue to expand, particularly in emerging markets.

Vinay Kaushal of Provin Technos, the Indian representative of RMGT, said, “RMGT has been running at full capacity ever since its inception in 2014. Over the years, the demand for RMGT presses has not only increased but has increased manifolds, worldwide and in India as well.” 

Kaushal said that with the introduction of many time-saving, productivity-enhancing features and automation only available with RMGT presses, the machines have gained acceptance from different markets across the globe. This has not only resulted in a lot of re-purchases of RMGT presses from the existing users but has also attracted users of other press makes.

“With the announcement of building a third manufacturing plant, RMGT will further optimise its total production system and is also highlighting growth for the foreseeable future,” he said, adding, “This expansion is a clear sign of future growth in offset segment immediately after the tumultuous three years of Covid-19.

RMGT was formed in 2014 through a merger of the sheetfed offset press operations of Ryobi and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Printing & Packaging Machinery.

(Courtesy: PrintWeek.com)