To increase capabilities and satisfy the increasing label printing demands of trade customers, Baker Labels has purchased two new AB Graphic Digicon Series 3 finishing lines.
The equipment represents an investment in excess of £650,000 and comes soon after the 10,000 sqft expansion of the company’s facilities in Brentwood, providing a total facility of over 35,000 sqft and employee numbers reaching 80.
Both Digicons have 100% camera inspection, while one has been specifically tailored to high end labels with two flexo heads, a Big Foot (50 tonne) hot foil/embossing unit, two laminating stations, flatbed screen-printing unit, die-cutting and Autoslit knives.
Having moved the company’s current finishing equipment (a Digicon HS Finisher and a Digicon Series 2) to a temporary area within the new factory unit, the first Series 3 machine was delivered in early July, with the first jobs finished a few days after installation. The second, higher specification machine was installed a few weeks later.
Steve Baker, managing director, commented, ‘We continuously invest in cutting edge equipment to be able to meet almost any demand. With so many new players entering the market the value of standard digital work is going to fall, so we need to be able to offer high end embellishments to deliver a value added product.’
‘We’ve been planning the arrival of the two Series 3 Digicons for the last few months,’ added Jamie Godson, technical and NPD manager. ‘Our operators have received training on site and have been keen to get started on testing and trialling various methods and tools. We intend to push the machine to its limits.’
The company will be promoting the new arrivals by offering trade customers a sample pack of bespoke labels that show off the new capabilities.