Fresh off its move to a bigger premises Sydney label and packaging printer Luminar, formerly Avonlea Labels, will bolster its move into flexible packaging with a new HP Indigo 20000 digital flexible packaging press, supplied by Currie Group.
The new install comes fresh off Luminar's rebranding and its move to a 1200 square metre facility at Riverstone, in Sydney's west. According to Matt Ellis, managing director, Luminar outgrew its previous premises at Castle Hill about two years ago. "We have a team of 15 and we were bursting at the seams. We wanted premises not just big enough for our current needs, but where our staff and customers could visualise our growth potential."
According to Ellis, the rebranding to Luminar brings the company's name more in line with its goals. "As much as Avonlea Labels is a legacy and something we feel proud of, we’d taken the brand as far as it could go, and it didn’t really reflect what we had to offer. We wanted a brand that did," he said. "Luminar is a derivative of the word lum, meaning light, and we like to think we shed light on our customers’ products."
The HP Indigo 20000 Digital Press, to be installed early next year, will expand Luminar's flexible packaging capabilities with its gravure-quality print and its wider web, according to Ellis. "It will allow us to say yes more than no. Flexibles went from zero per cent to 20 per cent of our business in 12 months, and because we operate narrow web, we were limited in what we could offer the industry. Now we will be able to offer what the industry needs in terms of web width," he said.
"We partnered up with a couple of flexible packaging operators who saw the need for digital flexibles for their customers, and we have seen a huge uptick in customers, giving us the sense that there is demand for flexible packaging out there."
Ellis believes that the opportunities in digital flexibles today are similar to the opportunities in digital labels ten years ago. "We have seen what’s happened over the last decade with the change in labels and the slow adoption of digital technology. The early adopters seemed to benefit greatly, and other than the benefit for the end user, it also helped the industry as a whole," he said. "That’s something that speaks to me, because not everyone has the opportunity to take on digital technology at the forefront, but there always seems to be a need for it.
"I see a similar thing happening in flexibles – digital is still early in that sector, and flexo operators don’t like running 20 to 50 kilos of rewind, so they prefer to give that to a digital operator and focus on long runs, which is their core competency."
Ellis says HP Indigo was a natural fit for Luminar, thanks largely to its technology. "I buy into the HP ethos of always growing and innovating. We feel the same way at Luminar – we don’t rest on our laurels, we don’t like staying where we are. We want to partner with any business that feels the same way," said Ellis. "HP Indigo is at the forefront of digital technology, and it’s their business to make sure they stay there."
According to Ellis, Currie Group has been a great partner to work with and another key factor in the decision to stick with HP Indigo. "One of the main reasons I stayed with HP Indigo was that Currie Group took the time to understand my business, and asked the right questions to help me decide on the direction I wanted to go. They take the time to understand me and my needs as well. That’s not by accident - it’s something I like," he said. "Currie Group is a family business and so are we – it’s not just a business relationship, it’s a personal one as well."
Mark Daws, director of labels and packaging at Currie Group, says the supplier is proud to be involved in the project. "It’s been a pleasure for us to have watched Matt’s business evolve over time and to play a part in this. Their journey in digital printing has resulted in several technology leaps over time and Matt and his team are not afraid to drive new ideas and innovation to the industry.
"The opportunities in short run flexible packaging are apparent and it’s clear that Luminar are keen to be leaders in this space. We are thrilled to be partners with Luminar and look forward to seeing their continued growth," said Daws.