KTEC Group is embarking on a spree of innovations to provide customers with access to enhanced label manufacturing.
This is commencing with an updated market presence in its plain label roll manufacturing, offered through the group’s new subdivision A1 Labels. Widely known as an award-winning supplier of variable data mono and colour label roll printing systems from partners such as Epson, Primera, VIPColor and OKI, company managing director Robert Knox is seeking to bring the company’s manufacturing expertise to the fore.
Mr Knox started delivering barcode labels to the supply chain back in the mid-1980s and has continued to evolve and advance production and application methods over the last four decades.
‘A1 Labels has been launched to consolidate and provide a sustained plain label manufacturing service second to none,’ he said. ‘With the launch, we want to be the best plain label supplier in the UK, if not the world. Recent shortages of label media from manufacturers exposed the vulnerability of supply chains. It is a fundamental objective of KTEC to deliver pre-cut labels, inks, printers, and support on a just-In-time basis to over 10,000 customers, exactly when needed. Increasing primary roll media stocks and adding automated turret winders to our fleet of die-cutting manufacturing machines enables dependable and super-fast manufacture and delivery of over 5000 sizes in 34 material types.’
KTEC has also launched Mini-Digi, an offering of affordable desktop and desk-size digital printing machines combined with digital cutting and finishing. An example is the OKI Pro Mini-Digi system, which prints CMYK+W onto almost any media type including clear, pre-coloured and silver label rolls as well as more conventional white label media.
For prime labels, KTEC has partnered with Kernow for the development and introduction of textured label materials. These provide a ready to use rough textured surface for key FMCG verticals including craft beers, which are often sold in decorated cans with a textured finish to create the feel of a rough surface. The results of KTEC and Kernow’s partnership sees the availability of GripLas for toner-based printing processes and GripJet for inkjet printing.
Mr Knox explained, ‘The idea came to me when queuing in a shop during the Covid-19 window, I noticed the textured, non-slip floor decals. This got me thinking if such a material could work for labels. After consulting with Kernow, we were able to provide samples and set up the first brewery with a system and supplies showing just how effective this can be. Not only as a decorative element but practicality thanks to the non-slip characteristic. The low-cost plain labels and label rolls printed digitally with variable designs in exact quantities providing flexibility in marketing and manufacturing for both for own brand and white label customers.’
A recent development has been the introduction of mobile-based label printing, suitable for various workplace environments. Marketed through the group’s Labels-U-Print operation, the Touch-to-Label offer combines an Android app with Epson’s C4000e(bk) desktop printer.
KTEC has further projects in the pipeline centred around production efficiency using Robots, with further exciting corporate and hardware developments to follow in the coming months.
