Perth-based label converter The Label Factory has installed its first digital press after almost 30 years in the business. The Xeikon 3030 Plus went in a few weeks ago to meet customer demand for shorter runs and variable data printing.
The family business has used conventional presses for decades, but Stuart Fysh, managing director, found they weren't suitable for emerging customer demands. "We made the decision that we needed a digital press due to people needing shorter runs of four-colour process work in multiple kinds. That would have required multiple sets of plates, which isn’t cost-effective," he said.
The new press is capable of printing in opaque white on a single pass, which is one of the factors that appealed to Fysh when selecting The Label Factory's first digital machine. "We were open-minded as to the technology we’d use, be it liquid toner, dry toner or inkjet. We looked at all of them, and chose the Xeikon because it would allow us to print on many different stocks without having them primed first. It also allows us to upgrade the machine in future rather than having to trade it in," he said.
The Label Factory prints self-adhesive labels for the healthcare, business, retail, and commercial sectors, and this new press is just the beginning for its digital printing arm. "As we expand the digital side of the business, there’s every chance we’ll install more machines. We plan on growing, not staying the same," said Fysh.
The 3030 Plus at The Label Factory is one of three presses installed by Xeikon since the company went direct to market in Australia last February, and according to Trevor Crowley, general manager for sales at Xeikon ANZ, a fourth is due to go in later this year. "There certainly seems to have been a significant increase in interest for digital equipment lately. From what I saw at PacPrint last year, many converters across the region are now in a position where they can invest in capital equipment in both digital and conventional," said Crowley.