23 April 2005
Bahrain's printing industry has grown significantly in recent years, marking a surge in freedom of information and a greater thirst for news, publications and greater printing activity, said a visiting expert, Dr Joachim Englisch, Managing Director of Heidelberg Gulf Est.
"In the five years or so that we have been working directly with our Bahrain customers, I have seen tremendous expansion of the industry in terms of the number of machines in use, the number of presses in operation and also in the variety and sophistication of printing that is undertaken by Bahrain presses," Dr Englisch said. Bahrain has already seen the installation of two camera-to-plate machines that bypass the film process completely in the pre-press operation - one of these latest machines have been installed at the Al Ayam press. Dr Englisch said Heidelberg, the world's best-known manufacturer of printing presses, had found Bahrain to be a receptive market for new technology.
Now the company has invested in the government's efforts to develop the labour market by setting up the latest printing equipment in the Shaikh Khalifa Technical Institute that will impart training in printing to Bahrainis. "There is great potential for Bahrainis in this field because of the demand for GCC nationals with proper training in the regional printing industry," said Dr Englisch. "We understand that the Institute will train students in batches of 15 over an 18-24 month period and it will give them an opportunity to become pioneers in a new career front," he said. Meanwhile, local Branch Manager K. K. Gopi will be returning to the Dubai head office after having successfully helped establish the Bahrain office. Roland Quadras will take charge of the Bahrain office as the new Branch Manager, bringing with him expertise gained when serving as Heidelberg Branch Manager, Oman.
Bahrain's printing industry has grown significantly in recent years, marking a surge in freedom of information and a greater thirst for news, publications and greater printing activity, said a visiting expert, Dr Joachim Englisch, Managing Director of Heidelberg Gulf Est.
"In the five years or so that we have been working directly with our Bahrain customers, I have seen tremendous expansion of the industry in terms of the number of machines in use, the number of presses in operation and also in the variety and sophistication of printing that is undertaken by Bahrain presses," Dr Englisch said. Bahrain has already seen the installation of two camera-to-plate machines that bypass the film process completely in the pre-press operation - one of these latest machines have been installed at the Al Ayam press. Dr Englisch said Heidelberg, the world's best-known manufacturer of printing presses, had found Bahrain to be a receptive market for new technology.
Now the company has invested in the government's efforts to develop the labour market by setting up the latest printing equipment in the Shaikh Khalifa Technical Institute that will impart training in printing to Bahrainis. "There is great potential for Bahrainis in this field because of the demand for GCC nationals with proper training in the regional printing industry," said Dr Englisch. "We understand that the Institute will train students in batches of 15 over an 18-24 month period and it will give them an opportunity to become pioneers in a new career front," he said. Meanwhile, local Branch Manager K. K. Gopi will be returning to the Dubai head office after having successfully helped establish the Bahrain office. Roland Quadras will take charge of the Bahrain office as the new Branch Manager, bringing with him expertise gained when serving as Heidelberg Branch Manager, Oman.
© Bahrain Tribune 2005
