Israeli wine label specialist Peerprint has invested in an MGI JETvarnish 3D Web a digital press to better serve its wine-making customers with embellishments, variable data and versioning. The new finishing line was installed at its facility in Ness Ziona in September last year.

The company was established in 1942 and counts the Carmel Winery (Rothschild) as one of its first customers. It continues to be in the hands of the same family and is today managed by the third generation, Adi Levy. With almost 50 staff, Peerprint’s strategy is to offer a ‘one stop shop’, including a creative agency, a packaging studio as well as the production of wet-glue and self-adhesive labels, cartons and promotional material for in-store displays.

‘The manufacturers of wine, whether they are part of groups or independent, just like cooperatives, must constantly juggle between production, marketing and commercialisation of their wines, which is not always easy,’ said Mr Levy. ‘In fact, their activity depends on the meteorological conditions and they are subject to much stronger competition since it has become international. In this context, our strategy is to make promotional campaigns for the wines easier by offering a complete service.’

In the print department, Peerprint has two HP Indigo WS6800 digital presses and a Komori H-UV press, while its finishing line up includes four machines from GM, AB Graphic and Prati with embossing, hot foiling and screen printing, along with the new installation.

Mr Levy explained the reasoning behind the choice of the MGI converting line, ‘We had been following the development of the JETvarnish 3D Web from its origin and what we saw at Labelexpo 2017 really seduced us. Our target was to keep the leadership in the sector and digital embellishment represented for us a major comparative advantage. In June 2018, we confirmed the purchase order and we received the JETvarnish 3D Web in September same year.

‘The JETvarnish allows us to offer the services which were impossible for us to realise up to now. These are varnish in flat or in relief, embossed effects or hot foil in short and medium runs. Up to now the medium runs on the JETvarnish is up to 15,000 labels, with its minimum of 200 of labels printed for one event and a maximum of 50,000. Of course, putting in place the campaigns of versioning would permit us to go beyond these figures in the next few months.

Mr Levy concluded, ‘During the acquisition process, one point which impressed us was the durability of MGI’s embellishment, as the bottles could impact one another in the cases during the transport. The tests conducted were completely satisfying and removed any last doubt before signature!’