Brand development giant, Schawk, Inc, and leading gravure printing cylinder manufacturer, American Yuncheng Gravure Cylinder, Inc, have announced that they have formalised a partnership which will allow for improved supply efficiencies for cylinder production and delivery in the US.

The US subsidiary of Yuncheng Plate Making Group Co, Ltd., American Yuncheng Gravure Cylinder, Inc is a global leader in the gravure printing cylinder manufacturing market, with over 20 years' experience in the industry and access to advanced engraving equipment, facilities and technology. In addition to its South Carolina, US, operations, the company has facilities across Europe, Asia and in Mexico. American Yuncheng's main customers are those active in the decorative finish and packaging markets, and the company aims to provide them with a distinct competitive advantage.

Schawk's business focuses on supporting clients through graphics services and brand point management/development/deployment activities. It has nearly 50 offices worldwide, employs over 3,000 employees and in 2009, achieved revenues of $452.4 million. The alliance will enhance Schawk's capabilities in the sector and improve the services available to packaging companies.
COO of Schawk, A. Alex Sarkisian, advised: "By forming an alliance with American Yuncheng, we are better-positioned to deliver expanded world-class gravure cylinder engraving services to our clients in North America while continuing to focus our internal capital investments into technology and leading edge modes of communication both domestically and internationally, particularly in developing and emerging regions. We have been doing business in Asia since the late 1990s, and as part of the services we routinely perform for our clients, we were familiar with the high quality products and services provided by the Yuncheng Group. We look forward to doing business with American Yuncheng in North America and believe that this relationship will be beneficial not only for Schawk but for the overall market as well."

CEO of American Yuncheng, Wenchun Li, stated: "We are pleased to have entered into this agreement with Schawk. Schawk is well known in its industry and has a reputation as a world-class provider of brand development and deployment services globally. I believe that combining Schawk's capabilities and excellence and Yuncheng's world- class quality and efficiency will further elevate the quality of service and products delivered to the North American brand imaging market."

Author: Paul Chapman, Analyst