What Gem Gravure does

Gem Gravure Co., Inc. is a family-owned industrial marking and coding manufacturer headquartered at 112 School Street, Hanover, Massachusetts, founded in 1952 by Joseph Gemelli on the strength of an original patent for using a chromed wheel to transfer ink onto moving wire. The company pioneered continuous inkjet (CIJ) printing for the wire and cable industry and today serves as the exclusive North American representative for Koenig & Bauer Coding (formerly KBC-Metronic), rebranding German-engineered alphaJET 5, alphaJET 5X, and alphaJET 5 SP printers for the US, Canadian, and Mexican markets. Operations span three US facilities: Hanover, MA (headquarters, legacy equipment manufacturing, ink production), Nixa, MO (R&D laboratory and backup manufacturing with small-batch/custom ink work), and Santee, CA (printer preparation, repair workshop, and software development), with a second laboratory facility planned in central Texas.

The product portfolio spans industrial CIJ printers, bandmarking and contact printers (S3 Plus Tandem, DD-5000 Colored Extruder), a proprietary software stack (diamondJET Connect for centralized printer control, diamondBRIDGE for RFID-based operator/QC data exchange, CODE-M for four-module remote monitoring with direct SAP ERP integration), UV-LED curing systems co-developed with Excelitas Technologies, an accessories catalog (encoder wheels, brackets, sensors, stands), and the recurring consumables line that anchors the business model: continuous inkjet fluids, low/no-VOC eco-friendly inks, bandmarking fluids, contact wire and cable fluids, and coating dyes. Two patented ink formulations (BKG7761 for fluoropolymers; BKG4861, US Patent 7,943,293 B2, for wire harness dye-based marking) are positioned as technical differentiators on difficult substrates such as Teflon, Tefzel, and fiber-optic jackets. Reported performance metrics include marking at 1,000+ fpm (some applications over 1,600 fpm), 24/7/365 technical support, and on-site service typically within two days.

The revenue model is mixed: one-time hardware sales of printers and custom-configured systems, recurring revenue from proprietary ink/fluid consumables sold by unit and by custom formulation, subscription service contracts (preventive maintenance billed monthly, quarterly, biannually, or annually with multi-year discounts), licensing/support for the diamond software family, and professional services for customization, installation, and training. Go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales augmented by US trade show presence (Assembly Show, IWCS), an e-commerce storefront for parts and consumables, and a remote-service channel (GEM ASSIST via TeamViewer Pilot). The customer base is concentrated in wire and cable manufacturing (Prysmian, Southwire, General Cable, Carlisle Interconnect, Radix Wire, RSCC, Eisen, Pelican Wire, Kris Tech Wire, Madison Wire, Waytek Wire, Empire Wire and Cable, Trans Cable Texas, Sidelco Trading) with adjacent penetration into automotive (Cooper Standard), industrial (George Fischer, Contitech Thermopol, Gates), wire-harness manufacturing (Monona Wire), and electronics components (QPL Electronic Distributors).

Name

Gem Gravure

Legal name

Gem Gravure, Inc.

Website

https://gemgravure.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Family-owned industrial marking and coding manufacturer founded in 1952, exclusive North American distributor of Koenig & Bauer alphaJET continuous inkjet printers, proprietary ink formulations, and supporting software and 24/7 service for wire and cable, food packaging, beverage, pharmaceutical, and fiber-optic manufacturers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Marking and Coding Equipment

NAICS

Printing Ink Manufacturing (325910)

SIC

Printing Trades Machinery & Equipment (3555), Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890)

akta.pro primary industry

Labeling, Coding & Marking Equipment (Labelers, Inkjet, Laser) (IMALAOAD)

Keywords

• Industrial inkjet printing
• Continuous inkjet printers
• Marking and coding
• Wire and cable marking
• Industrial inkjet fluids

Headquarters

HQ city

Hanover

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Industrial Inkjet Printers: Sale of alphaJET continuous inkjet printers (exclusive Koenig & Bauer product). Equipment sales represent a significant portion of revenue with custom configurations and line integration services.
2. Industrial Inkjet Fluids: Sale of proprietary ink formulations including continuous inkjet fluids, bandmarking fluids, contact wire & cable fluids, coating & dyes, and low/no VOC eco-friendly options. These are consumable products that generate recurring revenue.
3. Software Solutions: diamondJET Connect and diamondBRIDGE software solutions for printer control and data management. May include licensing and support fees.
4. Accessories and Parts: Sale of accessories catalog including encoder wheels, print head brackets, cable guides, printer stands, sensor brackets, and other components for inkjet systems.
5. Service Contracts and Technical Support: Preventive maintenance contracts, on-site service, GEM ASSIST remote service, and 24/7 emergency technical support. Contracts can be billed monthly, quarterly, biannually, or annually.
6. Customization and Integration Services: Customization of equipment and software, on-site installation, training, and integration support for production lines.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Gem Gravure manufactures and distributes industrial marking and coding solutions, including continuous inkjet (CIJ) printers (alphaJET 5 series), bandmarking and contact printers, proprietary inkjet fluids and coatings, and complementary software (diamondJET Connect, diamondBRIDGE, CODE-M). The company also provides on-site and remote technical services, training, and 24/7 emergency support primarily to wire and cable manufacturers, food packaging, pharmaceutical, beverage, and industrial manufacturing customers across North America.

Product overview

Gem Gravure is a family-owned industrial marking and coding company founded in 1952, offering a comprehensive portfolio of printing systems, consumable fluids, software solutions, and technical services. The core product line centers on alphaJET 5 generation continuous inkjet printers (including alphaJET 5X and alphaJET 5 SP variants) manufactured by Koenig & Bauer, complemented by bandmarking and contact printers (S3 Plus Tandem, DD-5000 Colored Extruder). The software portfolio includes diamondJET Connect for centralized printer control, diamondBRIDGE for RFID-based data management, and CODE-M for remote monitoring. Consumables span continuous inkjet fluids, low/no VOC environmentally friendly inks, bandmarking fluids, contact wire & cable fluids, and specialty coatings and dyes—all manufactured in the USA at Hanover, MA or Nixa, MO facilities. The company supports its products with 24/7 emergency service, on-site maintenance, GEM ASSIST remote support, service contracts, and operator training.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• diamondJET Connect: Centralized control and monitoring software for alphaJET inkjet printers
• diamondBRIDGE
• alphaJET
• alphaJET 5
• alphaJET 5X
• alphaJET 5 SP
• GEM ASSIST
• S3 Plus Tandem
• DD-5000 Colored Extruder

Products and services

• alphaJET 5 Continuous inkjet printer featuring Smart Start Technology with nozzle shutter, head heating, and automatic nozzle flushing; brushless pumps with 20,000-hour expected lifetime; designed for high-speed marking and coding applications.
• alphaJET 5X High-speed continuous inkjet printer variant designed for precise marking on cables, pipes, and wires at elevated production speeds without sacrificing print quality or legibility.
• alphaJET 5 SP Small print continuous inkjet printer designed for detailed coding applications in automotive, electronics, and medical industries.
• S3 Plus Tandem Super High Speed Marker Bandmarking printer for high-speed wire and cable marking applications using contact printing technology.
• DD-5000 Colored Extruder Bandmarking printer for applying colored extrusion marks on wire and cable products.
• diamondJET Connect Centralized control and monitoring software that allows single-computer management of multiple alphaJET inkjet printers, enabling job editing, database integration, and downloading/uploading data to printers.
• diamondBRIDGE RFID-based data interface system acting as a bridge between line operators, quality control personnel, and inkjet printers; enables remote job verification and work instruction uploads with data security.
• Continuous Inkjet Fluids Proprietary inkjet fluids compatible with all CIJ manufacturers; formulated to dry fast and survive harsh production line conditions; developed by PhD chemists specializing in pigment systems.
• Low/No VOC Inkjet Fluids Environmentally friendly fluids with less than 25% VOC content, less than 1% HAP, and less than 0.1% carcinogens for solvent-based variants; water-based variants contain at least 50% water.
• Bandmarking Wire & Cable Fluids Specialized fluids for bandmarking applications on electrical and telecommunications substrates including PVC, FEP, PFA, and ETFE materials.
• Contact Wire & Cable Fluids All-purpose solvent and water-based formulations for marking, striping, and wire identification in continuous wire manufacturing applications, developed since 1952.
• Coating and Dyes Heat-stable dye-based solid color coatings for extruded surfaces such as PVC and Glass Braid, enabling reduction of colored wire inventory through on-demand dyeing.
• UV/LED Curing Systems UV-LED curing technology developed in partnership with Excelitas Technologies for fiber-optic and electrical cable marking using UV-curable fluids; cures ink with intense UV light without introducing stress to cables.
• Printer Accessories Catalog Complete range of accessories including encoder wheels, connectors, cable guides, mounting brackets, print head brackets, cleaning stations, printer stands, boom stands, sensors, and encoder cables.
• GEM ASSIST Remote Service Remote service solution powered by TeamViewer Pilot enabling virtual face-to-face technical support sessions with Gem technicians; available in English and Spanish for North American customers.
• On-Site Service Factory-trained technician support for alphaJET printer repair, troubleshooting, and preventive maintenance with average turnaround under 48 hours.
• 24/7 Emergency Service Round-the-clock technical support available 365 days per year with direct access to trained Gem technicians at no charge.
• Service Contracts Preventive maintenance programs for alphaJET printers including scheduled PMs, priority response, discounted service rates, and flexible billing (monthly, quarterly, biannual, annual, or multi-year contracts).
• Training Services Comprehensive remote or on-site training programs led by experienced printing specialists covering inkjet basics through customized printing processes.

Quantifiable outcome

• 70% reduction in coding-related errors with MES/ERP integration (case study results)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Koenig & Bauer Coding (formerly KBC-Metronic)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2008Since 2008, Gem has been the exclusive North American representative for Koenig & Bauer Coding, a German-based engineering company producing the fastest, most efficient industrial inkjet printers on the market. Gem rebranded these printers under the alphaJET brand name.
• Excelitas TechnologiescoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with Excelitas Technologies for UV-curable fluids and UV-LED curing systems specifically designed for inkjet printing and marking of fiber-optic and electrical cables. Gem/Excelitas UV-LED curing can be easily implemented into wire marking processes without introducing stress into cables.
• Seaside SustainabilityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Seaside Sustainability, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving oceans and coastlines, for the 2025 Nantasket Beach Clean-Up. Rooted in South Shore since 1952, Gem supports environmental initiatives in its community.
• Wire Association International (WAI)coreOthersFounded in 1930, WAI is a worldwide technical society for wire and cable industry professionals. Gem Gravure is an active member with David Gemelli having served as President in 1994 and received lifetime membership.
• Wiring Harness Manufacturer's Association (WHMA)minorOthersEstablished in 1993 to serve the global cable and wire harness industry. WHMA is the only trade association exclusively representing the cable and wire harness manufacturing industry.
• International Wire & Machinery AssociationminorOthersFounded in 1970, the world's largest and most influential corporate membership association for wire, cable and wire product industries with primary function to promote new technology and growth.
• IPCminorOthersGem Gravure Company, Inc. is an IPC member facility in good standing. IPC is a nonprofit corporate membership association serving the electronics industry.
• National Wire & Cable Machinery AssociationminorOthersA nonprofit corporate membership association with approximately 90 North American suppliers of machinery, materials and accessories used for making all types of wire and cable.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Keyence Corporation: Global supplier of industrial automation, sensing, and marking equipment including industrial inkjet printers. Comparable as a broad industrial automation incumbent offering coding and marking as part of a wider factory automation portfolio.
• ITW (Illinois Tool Works) - Marking & Coding: Diversified industrial manufacturer whose Diagraph and related brands offer industrial marking and coding equipment. Comparable as a broad industrial incumbent whose marking and coding portfolio overlaps with Gem Gravure's product lines.

Direct peers

• Squid Ink Manufacturing: US-based manufacturer of industrial inkjet printing equipment and inks for product marking and coding. Comparable mid-sized competitor to Gem Gravure in the North American CIJ and large-character inkjet printer market.
• Markem-Imaje: Another Dover Corporation subsidiary offering industrial marking and coding systems (CIJ, laser, TIJ, print-and-apply) with associated consumables and services. Highly comparable product portfolio to Gem Gravure, scaled across multiple verticals including wire and cable, food, and pharma.
• Domino Printing Sciences: UK-based manufacturer of industrial coding and marking equipment (CIJ, laser, TIJ) plus inks and consumables. Directly competes with Gem Gravure's alphaJET portfolio and ink offerings across wire and cable, food, beverage, and pharmaceutical applications.
• Linx Printing Technologies: Manufacturer of continuous inkjet and laser coding equipment plus consumables for industrial marking applications. Closely comparable product line to Gem Gravure, particularly in food, beverage, and industrial manufacturing end markets.
• Videojet Technologies: A Dover Corporation subsidiary and global leader in industrial coding and marking, including continuous inkjet (CIJ), laser, and thermal inkjet printers plus consumables. Directly comparable to Gem Gravure as a full-line industrial marking equipment and consumables supplier with broad end-market coverage.
• Hitachi Industrial Marking Systems: Manufacturer of industrial inkjet printers (including the UX series CIJ line) for product marking and coding. Directly comparable to Gem Gravure's CIJ equipment and consumables business across similar end markets.

Others

• Koenig & Bauer Coding: German manufacturer of industrial inkjet printers and Gem Gravure's exclusive OEM partner since 2008. Listed as peer because it manufactures the alphaJET hardware that Gem distributes in North America, making it both partner and parent-equivalent technology source.

Emerging players

• REA Elektronik: German manufacturer of industrial inkjet coding systems (REA-JET) for product marking across industries. Comparable as a European CIJ/inkjet peer with overlapping product offering but smaller global share than top-tier competitors.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/gemgravure

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Gem Gravure