Brazilian printer Megalabel has made a strategic investment in digital inkjet label printing with installation of a Durst Tau 330 RSC E.

Specifically, this press is allowing cost-effective, industrial scale production at very high quality and speed, filling the gap between flexo and short-run digital production.

When Megalabel was founded 12 years ago, company owner Marcio Romano had a very clear focus in mind, to offer very high quality to produce labels in short runs for the market. Today, the company has a consolidated name in the segment, producing short and large production runs. For this, it has invested in flexographic technology and also in digital printing. However, the other digital technology in use at Megalabel is noted as ‘high cost’ when larger volumes on an industrial scale were needed.

‘It was to cover this gap between flexography and digital printing in short runs that we invested in the technology of the Durst Tau 330 RSC E,’ explained Mr Romano.

‘The Durst Tau 330 RSC E puts us in a different position in the market, as we are reference in terms of production technology. In our premises, we have the three options available today for printing: flexography, digital printing for short runs, and Durst digital printing at an industrial level of very high quality.’

With support for widths up to 330mm, the Tau 330 RSC E prints at 52 linear metres a minute, with an optional speed upgrade up to 80 linear metres a minute. This corresponds to a production capacity of 1,485 sqm/h at a print resolution of 1200 x 1200dpi. It can produce in up to eight colours, covering almost 95% of Pantone colours at a lower cost.

Megalabel was also won over by Durst’s direct service structure, parts and support in Brazil.

‘Knowing that we can count on a service structure, parts and support here in Brazil is an important differential,’ said Mr Romano. ‘It gives us the confidence to bet on a technology that will certainly bring us a unique competitive advantage.’

Helmuth Munter, label and flexible packaging segment manager at Durst Group, said, ‘The Durst Tau RSC E brings affordable, industrial scale digital production to increasing numbers of forward-thinking companies such as Megalabel.

‘The fact that we have dedicated teams in Brazil offering direct service, parts and support locally is clearly going to be an increasingly important factor in decision-making going forward as we continue to build our business in South America and further afield.’