Rotatek open house highlights IML growth and hybrid packaging strategy

Rotatek used its open house, hosted from 12-15 Janary 2026 at its plant in Barcelona, to outline its technology roadmap for converters exploring high-value packaging, with in-mould labels and hybrid web offset production emerging as core focus areas.

Addressing delegates, Ranesh Bajaj, director at Vinsak Group, said the company’s approach has shifted decisively from being a specialist equipment supplier to becoming a long-term technology partner for converters. “We have always believed that we should not just sell machines but stand alongside customers as partners,” Bajaj said, pointing to customer retention levels of over 95% and a global installed base of more than 3,000 machines supported by an in-house service team of over 50 engineers.

Bajaj stated that the Universal press platform sits at the heart of Rotatek’s packaging strategy. “This universal platform is where we want to grow into packaging,” he explained, adding that the modular design allows converters to combine offset, flexo, digital, foiling, lamination and inspection in a single pass, while also retaining the flexibility to retool presses as market requirements change.

The machine demonstrated at the open house includes LED and UV curing, Adphos NIR drying, auto registration, closed-loop colour control and digital, with the ability to add gravure in the future.

The open house also offered a preview of Rotatek’s upcoming Vinova intermittent offset press, which Ranesh Bajaj said is being developed as a next-generation platform for short-run and specialty label applications.

The open house also offered a preview of Rotatek’s upcoming Vinova intermittent offset press

Bajaj stated that the Vinova will replace the company’s existing Brava platform and is scheduled for launch in the third quarter of 2026. “This press is designed for textured substrates such as wine labels and premium applications where converters need offset quality without the cost pressure of digital,” he explained. Bajaj added that Vinova is intended to be competitive not only on capital cost but also on running costs, positioning it as a viable alternative to digital presses for converters focused on margin-led production rather than volume.

IML was positioned as a key growth opportunity during the open house, with Zoltan Kelemen, area sales manager for Rotatek covering CEE, SEE, the Nordics and Baltics, explaining why the segment is attracting increasing interest from brand owners. “IML has a very attractive look, supports brand recognition and offers high durability,” Kelemen said. He added that the application’s sustainability credentials are becoming equally important, noting that most IML structures use the same plastic material for both container and label, supporting recyclability.

Kelemen stated that the global IML market is growing at an average rate of more than 4.5%, with Asia Pacific accounting for over 40% of demand. “China and India are clearly among the fastest-growing regions,” he said, adding that shorter runs, higher SKU counts and demand for value-added finishes such as tactile effects and metallisation are reshaping production requirements.

Comparing printing technologies, Kelemen explained that while flexo and sheetfed offset continue to dominate IML production, both face limitations when handling thin plastic substrates. “Web offset combines the image quality of sheetfed offset with the stability and productivity of roll-to-roll production,” he said, pointing to lower waste levels and more consistent performance on long runs.

Bajaj added that the open house was designed to focus on real-world production challenges rather than theoretical specifications. “We worked on this platform by looking at the problems converters face every day,” he stated. “The idea was to build a press that delivers productivity, energy efficiency and high added value without forcing converters into gravure-scale economics”.

Live demonstrations at the event showcased substrate handling, energy-efficient curing and inline finishing, reinforcing Rotatek’s view that hybrid web offset can complement existing flexo and digital operations rather than replace them.

The open house concluded with a walkthrough of the Universal 850 press configuration, positioning the platform as a flexible option for converters looking to enter IML, shrink sleeves and premium packaging applications with greater operational control.