South Western Specialised Tapes (SWST) has invested in a Thunder Laser cutter and engraving machine, allowing it to convert tesa’s 6930 and 6940 tape ranges to create bespoke laser engraved products.
Based in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, SWST is a tesa distributor in the UK South West and has achieved tesa Industrial Partner (tIP) status.
Recognised as a supplier of technical, high-quality double sided tapes for demanding applications – automotive, industrial, communications, construction and signage –, SWST spotted an opportunity to provide a wider range of products with a faster and more efficient service to their customers and has established a label printing division.
The latest addition to its production, a Thunder Laser cutter and engraving machine, is allowing SWST to work with tesa to meet enquiries for laser engraved products, including labels using tesa’s 6930 and 6940 tape ranges. These are double layer, brittle acrylic films that can be marked and cut via laser. They are suited for tamper evidence and as a data carrier system for intelligent in-process steering. They are resistant to heat, solvents and UV. Any shape can be produced from an appropriate CAD file.
Howard Burr, SWST managing director, said, ‘The tesa range of material was something we sold as a roll to customers who have the ability to produce their own products.
‘There were many enquiries for small amounts of material or for finished labels, so we decided to stock material and sell it by the metre then offer in-house production of labels to those clients who don’t have the machinery time or expertise to do it themselves. The beauty of our laser is that rapid turn around is possible with no printing plates or cutters required.’
Burr continued, ‘We expect to see significant growth in 2020 and the early signs are that customers are receptive to purchasing bespoke labels which are resistant to environmental factors, offer tamper evidence, elevated heat resistance, in a shape and size they specify and in small runs.’
