Patrick Scharpf is an experienced professional with a strong performance record in Asian markets. He developed his expertise through various leadership roles at globally renowned machinery manufacturers in the packaging and plastics industry.
CAPrint Ltd is a member of the Swiss IMD Group (IMDvista) and was established as a legal entity in 2020 in order to focus on its digital-printing core business. DecoCAP Co, Ltd, was set up in 2023, and is based in Bangkok, Thailand. DecoCAP services the needs of the local markets in Asia as the official agent of CAPrint Ltd. DecoCAP also operates a CAPrint printing machine in its Bangkok plant. This machine provides print-on-demand (POD) services to various converters and bottlers in the region.
Asian markets are traditionally well connected to the sophisticated decoration of packaging containers across the continent. Just enter any retail shop in Bangkok and notice the intricate logos and brands.
This is exactly where DecoCAP joins the playing field. With CAPrint’s digital-printing system, DecoCAP enables brand owners to realise a marketing or promotional campaign at very short notice. There is no constraint on minimum order quantities or any artwork requirements. Scharpf says, “The marketing departments of our customers have quickly realised what new and exciting opportunities are opening up to them – at no time and highly cost effective.”
Bangkok is also the ideal place for a ‘POD service’ due to the highly fragmented market of caps’ and closures’ manufacturers. DecoCAP is able to offer printed caps to its customers, such as bottlers and brand owners. Caps are supplied to DecoCAP for printing and returned to the converter or shipped directly to the bottler.
With the CAPrint digital printer, changing an artwork is achieved in an instant. Customers are impressed when shown the flexibility and print quality of its printing solution. Everyone knows how a printer works at home. An image is simply sent from a mobile phone or computer to the printer. CAPrint does the same, but on an industrial level.
“See it with your own eyes,” answers Scharpf, if asked the reason for printing on an industrial scale with CAPrint’s digital-printing solution. There are no real limitations to artwork requirements (100% coverage of Pantone and photo realistic pictures at 720dpi). DecoCAP provides a special ‘sampling’ service to print and mail out caps and closures to customers so that they can see for themselves.
“Digital printing helps to reduce plastic waste and facilitates the recycling process”
“This is another hot topic in the printing industry, especially in Asian countries,” comments Scharpf. With DecoCAP, customers can decide if they would like a QR and/or barcode to be integrated into a high-quality artwork. “This is digital printing,” he says proudly. There are no limitations and it now allows brand owners to pick up the trend of label-less bottles. This solution complies with the ever-increasing demand for sustainable-packaging solutions. Since the beginning, DecoCAP has supported the development of such concepts. Label-less bottles generate significant cost savings for brand owners.
It eliminates material and process costs, and results in higher revenues for recycling materials.
Everyone wants to be sustainable in 2025. DecoCAP and its solution is just that. It offers a real alternative to placing additional stickers onto a cap and using full-colour printed plastic labels. Digital printing helps to reduce plastic waste and facilitates the recycling process.
CAPrint´s CP1 printer focuses on high throughput. At the same time, it supports different geometries and sizes of single components. Single components are typically substrates that have a closed geometry and are mostly flat.
CP1 is based on a digital inkjet. In other words, drop-on-demand (DOD). A low migration UV ink is tailored to the application and the substrate, and limits the migration into the end product.
The new CP1.5 HiFlow system – a major upgrade from last year – prints up to 2,200 parts/min on a standard beverage cap or closure. This corresponds to approximately 132,000 parts/hr or more than 3 million parts/day.
“The new CP1.5 HiFlow system prints up to 2,200 parts/min on a standard beverage cap or closure”
Simply put, industrial solutions need to increase margins and profits. Digital printing is often seen to be a more expensive solution, compared to conventional technologies such as pad or offset printing.
“This is wrong and not based on facts,” Scharpf comments. He continues, “Once you dive deeper into investment decisions with your customers, they reflect on a full cost consideration. Digital printing significantly lowers labour costs, eliminates ink waste and startup scrap.” He adds, “ It also avoids environmental emissions caused by gas flames and solvents.”
Digital printing on caps is more than decoration. It is a cost-effective, smart, sustainable and eco-friendly marketing tool.
In closing, Scharpf says, “Come to our facility or send us your artwork to be printed on a closure. You are sure to be impressed by the personalised samples you will soon hold in your hand.”