While countries throughout the world are suffering from the effects of the credit crunch and global recession, it seems that Iran has managed to stay above the fray. According to the BP survey, taken together this country has the largest combined oil and gas reserves in the world, and it is the world’s third largest oil exporter. For better or worse, the global meltdown has yet to impact the Iranian economy. Although falling oil prices is bad news for Iran, due to a relatively dynamic local market and trade, there is an independent internal cash flow which makes the Iranian economy immune against external fluctuations.

Iran

Iranian food and Petrochemical industry as well as publishing have been experiencing double digit growth for some time. This growth has boosted the demand for flexible as well as rigid packaging.
Packaging is not the only industry that flourished during 2008 in Iran. The publishing industry also thrived, as if the whole industry was unaware of the difficulties faced by publishers else where in the world. In this special issue, we are offering a round up on the major investments in flexible packaging as well as publishing and commercial printing industry. The report is backed by facts and figures obtained from reliable sources including Iran’s Custom Administration and Iran’s Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance which monitors the Iranian graphic arts industry.

Flexible Packaging
Development of the local food production industry during recent years has given rise to the demand for eye catching packaging and increase in the number of printing and converting centers equipped with state-of-the-art presses and converting lines. Last year a considerable number of gravure and flexo presses as well as plate imagers and cylinder engravers were imported from European and Asian countries. Based on the equipment delivered, it seems that Iranian converters prefer 6 to 10 color configuration presses from European manufacturers. Here is a round up:
Abadan Plast print house in the city of Meshed has invested in a rotogravure press from Cerruti, a Nordmeccanica laminator and Titan slitter rewinder. The company’s total investment exceeds USD 10 million. There are 55 people on the company’s pay roll.
Azarfam Tabriz has purchased two 9 and 10 color Cerruti rotogravure presses with a web width of 1370 mm plus Daetwyler cylinder engraving system, slitter rewinder and triplex laminator from Nordmeccanica. This is the first time a 10 color rotogravure presses has been delivered to Iran. Fusion equipment for manufacturing of twist film has also been installed in Azarfam premises. The company’s goal is to manufacture 2000 tons of films per month. The company is a branch of Shirin Asal, a global manufacturer of high-quality chocolate and confectionery products in Iran. Azarfam has invested 30 million dollars in equipment and infrastructure.
With a production target set at 3000 tons of doypacks and 3 layer films Zarrin Naghsh, headquartered in the city of Isfahan, recently installed a 7 color rotogravure press with a web width of 120 cm, a laminating machine and slitter rewinder.  Pars Aria in the city of Uremia has added an 8 color rotogravure press from a Korean manufacturer, SAM. The company has also purchased a DLS duplex laminator and a host of other finishing equipment valued at 3.5 million Euros. Plat Printing and Packaging Complex, one of the oldest and biggest producers of films and foils in Iran, including PE, BOPP and PVC, has been investing heavily in new machinery such as metalizers, rotogravure presses, laminating machines, cold seal and a range of converting and finishing equipment. Polypack, the printing and packaging arm of Mihan Dairy Company, recently established a flexible packaging printing unit Alumpack with a total investment of 10 million dollars, which includes a 10 color Technica flexo pre