Apex International

What Apex International does

Apex International (legally Apex Europe B.V.) is a Netherlands-based, privately held manufacturer of anilox rolls, embossing rolls, gravure cylinders, rotary screen printing cylinders, and glue/doctor rolls for the global printing and converting industry. Founded in 1975 and headquartered in Hapert, the company operates seven production facilities across four continents and serves more than 11,000 customers in over 110 countries. Its core technology stack centers on proprietary laser engraving, most notably the GTT (Genetic Transfer Technology) and GTT 2.0 open slalom channel designs, which enable consistent ink transfer, reduced anilox inventory requirements, and Extended Color Gamut (ECG) printing for flexographic converters.

The business model is anchored by custom-manufactured hardware sales on a quote-based pricing structure, supported by recurring lifecycle services including cleaning, inspection, auditing (the Anilox Audit Program launched in 2025), and refurbishment. Apex distributes through a global direct sales force, regional representatives, and strategic OEM supply relationships with press manufacturers such as Bobst, Nilpeter, and Göpfert, several of which standardly equip new machines with GTT anilox rolls. End customers are segmented across corrugated packaging, flexible packaging, label and narrow web printing, coating and offset, and various embossing applications (home & furniture, automotive, nonwovens, tissue, paper, glass, metal, plastic), with the company reporting a 70-75% share of India's label industry.

Operationally, Apex is led by CEO Ruud van Cuijk and an international management team including regional VPs of Sales across North America, Latin America, Europe & Africa, Asia Pacific, and Italy. The company invests in proprietary measurement and quality systems, including a MicroDynamics Veritas partnership for 3-in-1 anilox volume inspection and DotScope measuring microscopes installed at five production sites. Apex markets via major industry trade shows (drupa, Labelexpo, Printpack India, IndiaCorr Expo, Flexo Summit Asia), its Apex Academy training platform, and direct technical sales engagement, while maintaining a multi-language web presence across English, German, Portuguese, and Spanish.

Name

Apex International

Legal name

Apex Europe B.V. d/b/a Apex International

Website

https://apexinternational.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Apex International (Apex Europe B.V.) is a Netherlands-headquartered, privately held manufacturer of laser-engraved anilox rolls, embossing rolls, gravure cylinders, and related printing components, serving more than 11,000 converters, brand owners, and OEM press manufacturers across 110+ countries via seven production facilities on four continents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Hapert

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Anilox Roll Manufacturing and Sales: Apex International manufactures and sells anilox rolls for flexographic printing applications. Revenue is generated through the production and sale of laser-engraved and mechanically-engraved anilox cylinders, sleeves, and related products.
2. Embossing Roll Solutions: Design, manufacture, and sale of embossing rolls for various industries including home & furniture, coating, auto & fashion, nonwovens, plastic, glass, tissue, metal, and paper applications.
3. Anilox Lifecycle Services: Comprehensive services including cleaning, inspection, auditing, and refurbishing services for anilox rolls throughout their full lifecycle, supporting customers from installation through end-of-life.
4. Rotary Screen Printing Solutions: Rotary screen printing technology and cylinders for various web printing applications.
5. Gravure Printing Cylinders: Manufacturing and supply of rotogravure printing cylinders.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

No source data was provided in the input to describe the company's core offering.

Product overview

Apex International is a global leader in anilox and embossing technologies with seven production facilities across four continents serving over 11,000 customers in more than 110 countries. The company's core product portfolio centers on anilox rolls (including UltraCell laser engraving, GTT laser engraving with open slalom channel technology, and mechanical engraving), complemented by anilox sleeves and protective covers. Supporting the anilox line are cleaning services using laser cleaning machines and volume inspection services utilizing MicroDynamics Veritas© technology. The company also offers embossing rolls for diverse industries (home & furniture, coating, auto & fashion, nonwovens, plastic, glass, tissue, metal, paper), rotary screen printing solutions, gravure printing cylinders, and Accora glue & doctor rolls. Supporting tools include anilox volume calculators for specification guidance. The company operates across key printing markets: corrugated, flexo & wide web, label & narrow web, and coating & offset.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Converters achieved up to 30% reduction in setup times through better process control
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers22 records

Segments6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BobstcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 June 2026Bobst partnered with AV Flexologic for automated plate mounting and operates global competence centres in Germany, China, USA, and India. Bobst presented at the Flexo Forward conference jointly organized with Apex International, Miraclon, and Polymount, demonstrating shared commitment to driving efficiency in CI flexo printing through automation, digitalization, and smart workflows using Bobst Connect platform.
• MiracloncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 June 2026Jointly organized the Flexo Forward conference in Ahmedabad, India. Miraclon presented on simplifying flexography processes and making them repeatable, featuring examples from their 'Champions of Modern Flexo' initiative including UFlex's successful conversion from gravure to flexo using water-based inks.
• PolymountcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 June 2026Jointly organized the Flexo Forward conference with Apex International, Miraclon, and Bobst. Polymount India presented on process control and standardization in flexography, citing up to 30% reduction in setup times from better process control.
• MicroDynamicscoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership to create the only complete 3-in-1 measurement system for anilox volume inspection. Apex's state-of-the-art software and calibration plates pair with MicroDynamics Veritas to provide comprehensive laser inspection process for the industry.
• NilpetercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNilpeter is a key OEM partner that equips its presses with Apex anilox rollers as a reliable partner delivering superior engraving technology and consistency. Apex aniloxes ensure smooth, controlled, and consistent ink transfer for Nilpeter presses worldwide.
• GöpfertcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGöpfert has established an important, strategic cooperation with Apex and will standardly recommend all new machines with GTT rolls. Many machines worldwide are already equipped with GTT technology, which Göpfert sees as meeting their high quality standards.
• UFlexminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured in Miraclon's 'Champions of Modern Flexo' initiative as a success story - UFlex successfully converted a gravure application to flexo using water-based inks while maintaining quality and achieving material savings.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Harper Corporation of America: One of the largest direct competitors to Apex in laser-engraved anilox rolls for flexographic printing. Harper serves the same converters and OEM press builders globally and is a natural benchmark for share, technology, and pricing in the anilox category.
• Pamarco Global Graphics: Another leading anilox roll manufacturer with global production and a long heritage in flexographic engraving. Pamarco competes head-to-head with Apex on laser and mechanical engraving for label, corrugated, and packaging converters.
• Saueressig: Specializes in embossing rollers and engraved cylinders for surfaces, decor, and packaging - directly comparable to Apex's embossing business across home, tissue, nonwovens, and industrial substrates.
• Flexo Concepts: Supplies anilox cleaning and maintenance solutions (blades, cleaning media) that compete with Apex's Anilox Cleaning Services and Apex 360 line, addressing the same recurring lifecycle service need around anilox rolls.
• Rossini SpA: Manufactures engraved printing cylinders (anilox and gravure) and embossing rollers with European roots and global reach - directly comparable to Apex's gravure cylinder and embossing roll lines.

Broad incumbents

• Maxcess: Broad supplier of web-handling and printing components (rollers, tension control, inspection) for converters. Adjacent to Apex's anilox focus, with overlap in lifecycle services and quality measurement but a wider portfolio than anilox-only specialists.
• BST eltromat: Provides web inspection, color measurement, and quality assurance systems for printing and converting - complementary and partially overlapping with Apex's MicroDynamics Veritas integration and Anilox Audit Program.
• Windmöller & Hölscher: Major OEM of flexographic and gravure presses for packaging, with its own consumables and service business. Comparable to Apex OEM partners (Bobst, Nilpeter, Göpfert) and the natural demand driver - or competitor for captive supply - of anilox consumables.
• Mark Andy: Leading narrow-web flexo and hybrid press OEM serving label converters globally. Comparable to Apex's Nilpeter and Weigang partners and an important channel and benchmark for anilox specification on new presses.
• Bobst: Global OEM of flexo, gravure, and converting equipment, and an Apex strategic partner. Listed as a peer because Bobst is both a customer/distribution channel for Apex anilox and a broader incumbent with potential to vertically integrate or qualify competing consumable suppliers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ApexAnilox

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Apex International