Giovanni Bettini, Sales Director for MHI Europe, has confirmed the company signed an order during early November with leading Russian packaging producer, NKBK. The sales agreement is for the supply of a four colour EVOL 100 flexo folder gluer; the machine will be installed at NKBK’s plant in Naberezhnye Chelny, east of Moscow.
“This is the first EVOL order in Russia and we are delighted to be working with NKBK, as they are one of the leading companies in the Russian market,” says Mr Bettini. “They selected the EVOL after evaluating many different types of machines, having visited many plants in Europe and around the world. They sent their technical team to see every machine in action. Ultimately, they decided to buy the EVOL 100 because of its reliability, productivity and high quality of boxes produced.”
Left to right: Ruud Vreugdenhil (MHIE), Anna Salamandra (MHI Russia), Hiroyuki Kikumoto (MHIE), Andrey Fomichev (General Director, NKBK), Mikhail Nokhrin (NKBK), Giovanni Bettini (MHIE) and Vladimir Volgin (NKBK).
A delegation from NKBK, headed by the General Director of the company, Andrey Fomichev, visited Japan to see the EVOL in action at several plants. The company also used the opportunity to visit Mitsubishi’s manufacturing facilities in Mihara. “They were really impressed with the capabilities of the EVOL and they found the visit to our manufacturing facility very interesting, as they could see how we operate,” explains Mr Bettini. “They witnessed our process from start to finish, resulting in high quality, solid machines thanks to our intensive quality control.”
During the visit to Japan, the NKBK delegation met with the President of MHI PPM, Mr Shimizu. Mr Shimizu then visited Chelny shortly before the order signing. “I have been really impressed by the company and thank them for placing their faith in Mitsubishi for the supply of the first machine of its type in Russia,” states Mr Shimizu. “I would like to extend my sincere thanks for their great hospitality and creation of this wonderful relationship.”
NKBK is considered to be one of the largest packaging companies in Russia; they are running two corrugators, many converting machines and a paper mill for the production of corrugated base papers. The company also operates a tissue mill with associated converting machines.
