[intro] When Vetaphone CSO Jan Eisby pulled Lukas Gracias’ ‘selfie’ out of the competition box, not only did the lucky guy from SOMA win an iPad Air2, but the event highlighted the developing partnership between the two manufacturers. [/intro]

The aim of the competition was to increase brand awareness for the Danish Corona Treater manufacturer, and was promoted by e-mails, on invitations to Labelexpo, in E-newsletters, and via social media. With so many of the today’s OEMs and converters specifying Vetaphone Corona technology, the company invited people to take a ‘selfie’ next to any of the 48 Vetaphone units on show at Labelexpo – and the concept proved to be a real hit with the participants, as one of Vetaphone’s Area Sales Managers, Elena Plakhotnyk, found when she met up with the winner and his colleagues in the Czech Republic.  She commented: “It was a fun way to attract attention and get people to identify with the Vetaphone brand. Many users see Corona only as a box that is fitted to the line, without understanding its importance and how it works.”

According to Stepanka Pospisilova, from the SOMA’s Sales & Marketing Department, the decision to exhibit at the Brussels show for the first time was a major leap in faith for the company, who had carried out successful tests on label work with its Optima press, and saw a demand from converters for mid and wider web production capability. “During the busy expo, SOMA ran two demo jobs that attracted large crowds, with visitors from China and South Korea, as well as Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Some were new to labels, others new to CI-flexo, but both showed keen interest, and we secured an order for one press, and are negotiating other projects thanks to the flexible capacity of the Optima line,” she said.

Petr Kusy, Head of Purchasing at SOMA was quick to applaud the part played by Vetaphone in the market acceptance of his company’s technology. “We are constantly checking that our sub-suppliers match our criteria for quality, reliability, and after sales support that are all essential to customers. As pioneers of Corona treatment, we know we can trust Vetaphone, and as well as fitting their equipment to our presses, we are happy to recommend it to anyone.”  As a mark of this commitment, both the Optima press in SOMA’s showroom and demonstration facility, and the Premia press due to be exhibited at Drupa 2016 are fitted with Vetaphone Corona Treaters.

As for Lukas Gracias, he is already enjoying his new iPad 2, and says he will find it useful on his travels as SOMA’s installation man for presses and laminators around the world. In the three years since he joined the company he has travelled far and wide, including visits to the USA, New Zealand, and Kenya, where he had the opportunity of experiencing the wildlife at close quarters. “I enjoy working for SOMA because flexo is a challenging print technology and the company is growing into new markets with its product developments, which offers me a good professional career path,” he commented.  Lukas is father to a little boy, who will also, no doubt, benefit from the new iPad2 Air.

Speaking for the competition sponsor, Vetaphone, Jan Eisby commented: “Of all the OEMs with which we have forged great working partnerships in the label industry, it was very appropriate for someone from SOMA, as one of the newest exhibitors at Labelexpo, to win the prize – and we hope Lukas and his family will have fun with it.”