Superfast Labels has installed a second Epson SurePress label printer to improve the capacity of its expanding short run digital label printing operation.
Having invested in the UK’s first Epson SurePress L-4033A in 2012, Superfast has now installed a seven colour SurePress L-4033AW digital label press with white ink and variable data for high quality, short to medium run label printing on a variety of label substrates.
Based in Sittingbourne, Kent, Superfast Labels considers itself the fastest label printer in the country – often with a turnaround time of 24 hours. Managing director Andrew Miller said, ‘Our customers love the quality of the SurePress and, combined with our shortened lead times, this has resulted in a real influx of work. Ultimately this extra work meant a new press was inevitable.’
Delivering high print quality and accurate colour reproduction on a wide variety of standard label substrates, the L-4033AW enables label converters and commercial printers to expand their service offering and improve profitability.
The SurePress AQ ink set includes white ink for solid, opaque printing on materials such as clear film and metallic substrates for reproduction of foil colours, offering the flexibility of printing white first or last. It delivers a wide colour gamut and excellent adhesion to standard label substrates without the need for pre-treatments or coatings.
The additional features of variable data, and white ink in particular, has led to whole new markets opening up to Superfast and has contributed to the company’s turnover growth of over 25% in the last year – around £250,000 of which is new business.
Superfast continually moves work from its existing three flexo presses to digital, based on lead times and print requirements – the flexo/digital work split veers toward the digital press becoming the preferred option for short to medium runs. Mr Miller added, ‘As part of the new SurePress installation, we sold off a flexo press and replaced it with a second GM die-cutting unit. This additional die-cutting capacity allows greater flexibility in production, particularly at peak times.’
