An international delegation of gravure specialists led by the European Rotogravure Association (ERA) built links with Iran’s printers and packagers at a recent seminar in Tehran.
Experts from Windmöller & Hölscher, Janoschka, Heimann, GMG and Daetwyler gave technical presentations at the First International Gravure Seminar, organised by Iran’s Toranj Group, on 29 May.
ERA said the event attracted about 150 participants, drawn from the Iranian gravure industry as well as Tehran University and colleges.
The ERA delegation also visited packaging gravure printers in the outskirts of Tehran.
“These visits impressively demonstrated the great technical skills of the Iranian gravure industry, which, despite the long-standing sanctions against Iran, has maintained and developed its capacity to produce all types of modern packaging material to a competitive standard,” said the association in a press release.
Western sanctions have made Iran’s printers more reliant on Asian suppliers, added ERA.
“However, as the Iranian printing industry is traditionally oriented very much to European, and particularly German technology, they would be interested in reinstalling these ties with their European colleagues,” according to the association.
ERA sees reduced tensions between the West and Iran since the election of President Rohani as an opportunity to start “closer co-operation”.
The association said it has agreed to work with the Toranj Group on promoting rotogravure technology in Iran.