Manchester-based Labels UK has upgraded its digital label printing capability by investing in a Konica Minolta AccurioLabel 230 press.
Labels UK supplies labels to customers in the food and drink, chemical, security and pharmaceutical markets. Investing in the AccurioLabel 230 was a natural progression for the company, as well as a decisive response to a demanding label market requiring fast turnarounds and just-in-time delivery of high-quality jobs. Labels UK previously installed a Konica Minolta bizhub Press C71cf as part of its digital offer, which has now been swapped out for the third-generation Konica Minolta digital label press. After operator training, the printer was back up and running in three days and without significant downtime.
Label UK’s AccurioLabel 230 features an overprinting option with eye mark sensor, meaning digital four-colour print can be accurately registered to pre-printed jobs coming off the flexo presses at the converter. AccurioPro Label Impose software and RIP allow for faster file preparation of variable data, another plus for Labels UK as it looks to move more work from thermal printers to the Konica Minolta press. Now jobs that previously took three days to produce can be done in an afternoon, it is claimed. Other features of the press include a splicing table with air clamps, stuck web detection, Easy Thread automatic web feeding and True Sense low unwind sensor. The press is also fitted with new internal LED lights.
Company director David Dobson commented, ‘Our order book is full of jobs that can only be done on a digital press because customers want them printed yesterday. We were finding it difficult to get reliable trade supply, so we decided to go into digital ourselves. This venture has been a real success for us, and some 30% of our business is now in digital, but we don’t want to stand still. Installing the AccurioLabel 230 was the next logical step.’
The third-generation label press from Konica Minolta is delivering significant improvements in productivity, flexibility, and stability, along with higher speed, to ensure Labels UK stays highly competitive in the rapidly expanding labels production market. Such capability allows Labels UK to respond to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and Britain leaving the EU, which has simultaneously posed challenges and created opportunities for the industry and printers such as Labels UK, which has reported demand increasing ‘beyond expectations’, in part fuelled by the pandemic and the uncertainty that existed around Brexit.
Mr Dobson continued, ‘During the pandemic, we have seen new markets appear with the demand for cleaning products and hand sanitisers going through the roof, so it was important not to miss out or let any customers down. With Konica Minolta’s reliable digital technology in house, backed up by their excellent support and service, we have been able to offer quick delivery and respond within a matter of days.’
Steve Lakin, label press sales consultant at Konica Minolta Business Solutions UK, said, ‘Working with Labels UK and seeing first-hand the difference that Konica Minolta’s digital technology can make is immensely satisfying, and we are proud to play a part in its continued success.
‘Reliability, quality, and consistency are key for companies of any size to succeed. From the outset, Labels UK invested in a solid label press that performs day in, day out, and it is now reaping the rewards, having built a reputation as a company that delivers.’
