It's not just a change of name, it's a change of perspective. The European Rotogravure Association (ERA), created to unite gravure printing professionals in Europe, has become the Global Rotogravure Association (GRA).
For Davide Garavaglia, President of the newly-formed Global Rotogravure Association (GRA) and Director of the gravure division of Italian manufacturer Bobst, this transformation marks a milestone in the history of the organization founded in Munich, Germany, in 1956.
For almost 70 years, the ERA has brought together European gravure professionals: printers, cylinder manufacturers, engraving service providers and consumables suppliers. Long perceived as a European technology, rotogravure has seen significant growth in other parts of the world. The association now relies on a broader base that includes Asian, African and American players in the gravure chain.
ERA, which has historically focused on the European markets for flexible packaging, decorative printing and high-circulation publications, has chosen to adapt its scope of activity to this new industrial situation.
But for its president, "this name change is much more than a question of geography, it's a question of mindset. We want to reflect not only our past, but also our future" he said in an official statement.
In addition to changing its visual identity, the GRA has modified its articles of association and operating procedures, which will enable it to "to remain agile in an increasingly digital world" says the GRA.
