The firm is installing two 3.68m-wide KBA gravure presses in the first phase of a 46m (e75m) investment. Press number one will begin its testing period in June and a further two presses are planned for phase two.

One continental gravure printer said he was astounded at Lenglets entry into a market that is already plagued by overcapacity and in which, until now, the web offset printer has no expertise. Who is financing it and where will the work come from? he asked.

Lenglets director general, Jean Lenglet, remained tight-lipped on details, but said the firm was confident of capturing some of the 60% of French gravure work that is currently produced elsewhere in Europe.

We want to conquer the French and European market in gravure, he said. We will be ready to start working within our established deadline.


Roto Smeets officially commissioned its new 3.68m-wide Cerutti gravure press this week at its Deventer plant in Holland.