Genetic Transfer Technology (GTT), Apex Group of Companies’ successor to traditional closed-cell anilox printing, has been granted its first US Patent. The printing technology was first launched in Europe in 2008, and Apex says it has consolidated its position among progressive printers in North America since its initial introduction in 2010.

The GTT family now includes GTTCORR (for the corrugated industry), GTTFLEX (for flexible packaging), GTTLABEL, GTTCOAT and GTTOFFSET, which debuted at DRUPA 2012.

The US Patent (US-2012-0298002) came just in time for INFO*FLEX 2013 in San Diego, where Apex North America showcased its technology.

Spearheading GTT’s growth in the US is Apex North America’s sales force, which is led by North American Sales Director Aaron Lessing and supported by a strong team which includes newcomers David Root, David McBeth, Mark Sherk and Douglas Burich.
Root concentrates on the Towel, Tissue and Napkin sector. An FTA Board Member with more than three decades of experience in the printing industry, his focus is on introducing Apex and GTT into the special niche market of towel, bath tissue and napkin converting, along with Glue Laminations.

“APEX has special technologies which fit well into this niche market,” Root says. “These technologies will support a continued and advanced movement for improved print reproduction and glue applications.”

David McBeth, who specializes in the corrugated sector for Apex North America, has been in printing since he was an 18-year old apprentice, and in flexo since 1996. A former technical committee member of the EFTA (European Flexographic Technical Association), his primary goal is to bring in his contacts at Multinational and OEM levels, and to develop the GTT market from the ground up. He says, “The push into the corrugated market in the US is going to be a challenge but I think Apex has the technology and vision to develop this market into multinational corrugated companies.”

Key account manager Mark Sherk is a 33 year veteran of the printing industry, 10 of which have been spent in sales, is confident that he can grow GTT in North America. Douglas Burich joined the company to look after clients in the Northern, Central and Midwest arenas. He will also manage certain key accounts nationally. Most recently, Burich had success selling flexo presses and gravure coaters. His knowledge of the printing and coating processes, combined with his technical ability, will be a genuine asset for APEX North America, the company says.

For more information about GTT in North America, contact John Batistatos, North American sales director (Narrow Web), at jbatistatos@apexnorthamerica.com.