The investment in the new die-cutting machine expands the production capabilities of the Sicilian printing company, which is focusing on quality, greater production autonomy, and growth in the paperboard packaging market. For a printing company that has built its reputation on meeting every customer request, investing in new technology means, above all, being able to continue delivering on that promise. This is the philosophy that guided Effe Grafica Fratantonio, a long-established printing company based in Pachino, in the province of Syracuse, in its decision to invest in the Heidelberg Easymatrix 106 CS, an automatic die-cutting machine that marks another step forward in the company’s growth strategy toward the paperboard packaging sector.
The objective was not simply to replace an existing machine, but to increase production autonomy, improve the quality of finished products, and seize the new opportunities offered by a market that is increasingly shifting toward paper and cardboard packaging.
Founded in 1971 by Giuseppe Fratantonio, father of the current owner Bartolo Fratantonio, Effe Grafica began as a traditional commercial printing company serving the local area with the support of a legendary Heidelberg Stella press. Over the years, the company has successfully evolved alongside market developments, continuously expanding its expertise and geographic reach, with a particular focus on supplying agricultural businesses in Pachino, world-renowned for its cherry tomatoes. Effe Grafica Fratantonio provides these companies with folding cartons and boxes, as well as labels produced on a Gallus press. The transition from traditional plastic trays to paperboard packaging for cherry tomatoes has created a significant opportunity that the company was quick to embrace, and the investment in the new die-cutter fits perfectly within this strategic direction.
Today, the company is managed by Bartolo Fratantonio, supported in administration by his wife Cristina and his sisters Margherita and Maria Giovanna Fratantonio. Together they lead a family business employing around twenty people. One of the company’s distinctive strengths is its commitment to in-house staff training, a necessity driven by the increasing difficulty of finding skilled professionals in the graphic arts industry.
The company’s philosophy has remained unchanged over the years: to provide customers with the most comprehensive service possible. As a result, Effe Grafica produces a wide range of products, from commercial printing, catalogs, books, and brochures to labels, folding cartons, and paperboard boxes, while also becoming a trusted trade partner for numerous other printing companies. “Many printers specialize in a single type of production”, says Bartolo Fratantonio. “We have always tried to do everything. That is our greatest strength and what our customers appreciate most”.
Packaging: a natural evolution
In recent years, packaging has become an increasingly important part of the company’s business. Effe Grafica primarily serves the food and fresh produce sectors, manufacturing cartons for preserved foods, confectionery, biscuits, and many other packaging applications destined for both the Italian and international markets. Its production also includes packaging exported to Germany and other international markets, demonstrating capabilities that extend well beyond its local territory. At the same time, the company has expanded its service activities for other printing businesses, which increasingly rely on Effe Grafica for both printing and converting operations.
It was precisely this growing demand for paperboard converting that led the company to invest in the Heidelberg MK Easymatrix 106 CS. The previous die-cutting machine handled the 50 × 70 cm format, but customers were increasingly requesting larger formats and greater cutting precision. “We needed to expand our production capabilities”, explains Fratantonio. “Customers were asking for jobs that our previous machine could no longer handle. At the same time, we wanted to keep more production in-house whenever possible, reducing our dependence on external suppliers”. The decision to choose Heidelberg also stems from a long-standing relationship. “We preferred to invest a little more in order to choose a technology that guarantees quality, reliability, and above all, service. Over the years Heidelberg has always provided the right advice, and that has built a very strong relationship of trust”.
Easymatrix 106 CS: versatility and ease of operation
“Ogni investimento importante nasce prima di tutto da un rapporto di fiducia. Con Bartolo Fratantonio esiste una collaborazione consolidata negli anni, costruita attraverso il confronto continuo e la volontà di individuare sempre la soluzione tecnologica più adatta alla crescita dell’azienda. Heidelberg punta a essere un partner di lungo periodo e non un semplice fornitore: l’installazione della Easymatrix 106 CS è un esempio concreto di questo approccio e conferma la nostra volontà di accompagnare i clienti nel loro percorso di sviluppo nel settore del packaging”, dice Alessandro Casella Field Sales Equipment & Consumables Heidelberg Italia Campania, Sicilia, Calabria, Puglia, che segue da anni l’azienda della famiglia Fratantonio e ne ha vissuto l’evoluzione fino a oggi.
Per Lorenzo Ariberti, Business Driver Postpress di Heidelberg Italia, la Easymatrix 106 CS rappresenta una soluzione ideale per realtà produttive come Effe Grafica Fratantonio, caratterizzate da un’elevata varietà di lavorazioni. “È una macchina estremamente versatile, semplice da utilizzare e con un eccellente rapporto qualità-prezzo”, spiega Ariberti. “Può lavorare materiali che spaziano dalla carta leggera fino al cartone ondulato di 4 mm, garantendo rapidità negli avviamenti, elevata produttività e grande affidabilità”. Secondo Ariberti, uno degli aspetti più positivi dell’installazione riguarda proprio la rapidità con cui il personale dell’azienda ha saputo sfruttarne le potenzialità.
“Bartolo proveniva già dall’esperienza con una fustellatrice tradizionale e meno performante. Il passaggio alla Easymatrix 106 CS è stato quindi molto naturale e in poco tempo è riuscito a sfruttarne appieno tutte le caratteristiche operative”.
“Every major investment begins with a relationship built on trust. Over the years we have established a solid partnership with Bartolo Fratantonio through continuous dialogue and a shared commitment to identifying the technologies best suited to the company’s growth. Heidelberg aims to be a long-term partner rather than simply a supplier. The installation of the Easymatrix 106 CS is a concrete example of this approach and reflects our commitment to supporting customers as they grow within the packaging industry”, says Alessandro Casella, Field Sales Equipment & Consumables Manager for Heidelberg Italia in Campania, Sicily, Calabria, and Puglia, who has supported Fratantonio family business throughout its evolution.
According to Lorenzo Ariberti, Business Driver Postpress at Heidelberg Italia, the Easymatrix 106 CS is an ideal solution for companies like Effe Grafica Fratantonio, where production involves a wide variety of jobs. “It is an extremely versatile machine, easy to operate, and offers an excellent price-performance ratio”, explains Ariberti. “It can process materials ranging from lightweight paper to 4 mm corrugated board, while delivering fast makereadies, high productivity, and outstanding reliability”. For Ariberti, one of the most positive aspects of the installation has been the speed with which the company’s staff has been able to exploit the machine’s full potential. “Bartolo already had experience with a traditional, less advanced die-cutting machine, so the transition to the Easymatrix 106 CS was very natural. In a short time, he was able to take full advantage of all its operational features”.
Precision, quality, and new opportunities
The installation of the Easymatrix 106 CS has delivered immediate and tangible benefits. The company highlights the significant improvement in die-cutting precision, the higher quality of finished products, and the ability to confidently handle jobs that had previously been more challenging. The investment has also enabled Effe Grafica to attract new customers and further strengthen its position as a manufacturing partner for other printing companies, which can now entrust complete converting operations to Effe Grafica while maintaining full confidentiality with respect to its end customers.
The new machine also fits perfectly within the continued growth of paper-based packaging, a trend supported by evolving regulations that are progressively replacing many plastic applications with fiber-based alternatives. The company is also completing both FSC certification and certification for food-contact packaging production, credentials that are becoming increasingly important and requested in today’s market.
For Bartolo Fratantonio, the Easymatrix 106 CS represents just one milestone in a broader development strategy. The goal is to continue strengthening the company’s position in the paperboard packaging sector through further technological investments, keeping pace with market developments and customer requirements.
“Packaging will continue to grow, and we want to be ready. We will continue investing in technologies that allow us to offer an increasingly comprehensive service”. The installation demonstrates how the combination of manufacturing expertise, continuous technological investment, and collaboration with a reliable partner can become a significant competitive advantage in an increasingly dynamic packaging market.
