Director Nick Mansell with the Rapid X1 digital label press
The Australian-based manufacturer of narrow web digital label printing equipment, Rapid Label Machinery reports a very successful exhibit at FESPA 2013, in London, in association with its European master distributor Impression Technology Europe.
‘FESPA may be primarily a wide format signage and display event,’ said director, Nick Mansell, ‘but many owners of wide format printer-cutters are producing short runs of labels on self-adhesive materials. As volume builds up, this solution can be very slow so taking label production onto a dedicated narrow web inkjet digital machine such as our X1 or X2 can free up the wide format machines to do what they do best. Adding the Rapid D2 laminator/die-cutter and R2 rewinder yields a complete inline system and a whole new profit centre in a growth market, for very little investment.’
The Rapid X1 desktop and X2 floor-standing presses were exhibited by Impression Technology Europe (ITE), Rapid’s European master distributor. Managing director, Roy Burton, commented, ‘ITE has exhibited Rapid X label presses at several major trade shows since Ipex 2010 and every time, people are amazed at the quality and productivity from such small footprint label equipment. FESPA was no exception and we believe we have secured orders as a result. We now look forward to September’s Labelexpo in Brussels where we welcome all label printers big and smaller to our stand.’
Rapid X equipment will also be on display at Packaging Innovations, London in October and Ipex, London in March 2014.
According to Mr Mansell, ‘Our global distribution is growing and we have now established Rapid Asia in Hong Kong to service the demand from this region. We already have distributors in Japan and Korea and our partners Impression Technology Americas are taking on the North American market. From a standing start in 2010, we have now shipped just over 200 machines.’
The Rapid X1 and X2 digital label presses use Australian-developed, US-owned Memjet inkjet technology that delivers ultra fine 1 picolitre droplets at either 1600 x 1600 dpi or 800 x 1600 dpi for the higher speed of 18 m/min. The inks are water-based and ecologically friendly and safe for use on food, beverage and pharmaceutical packaging.
