UK printer Paramount Labels has expanded its portfolio of printing presses with installation of a Konica Minolta AccurioLabel 230.

Paramount Labels offers three flexo machines to provide high throughput for customers wanting longer runs. For runs where label volumes are in the region of 10,000, digital is seen as ‘ideal’. Here it operates UV inkjet and now dry toner engines.

Paramount Labels was planning to invest in another inkjet digital press at its factory in Cannock, Staffordshire, although was also keen to explore opportunities to produce higher quality work and bring work in-house that it previously needed to outsource. This led it to the Konica Minolta AccurioLabel 230, which can produce 1200 x 1200dpi print runs, and operates at a speed of 23.4m/min, with minimal maintenance.

The new digital toner press has enabled the company to speed up turnaround, and offer shorter and higher quality runs on a much wider range of materials. As an example, the presses at the printer’s Cannock factory are running for 10 hours a day, seven days a week. The AccurioLabel 230 has enabled Paramount Labels to bring production times down to as little as five working days, for runs where time is of the essence.

Paramount Labels managing director Phil Wright said, ‘The press has a very sharp resolution, which can be applied across almost any material, making it extremely versatile. From an operational perspective, the press is both fast and quiet, and commercially the price was right.’

Further, the investment means Paramount Labels now has the capability, capacity and agility to deliver against the evolving labelling needs of its customers, today and tomorrow. Mr Wright said, ‘Many of our customers are demanding fast turnaround, shorter and more frequent runs, high-quality and low prices.’

Another consideration is the ability to respond to new style trends. ‘Right now, there is a preference for having a matte finish on an uncoated textured substrate,’ he continued. ‘The AccurioLabel 230 enables us to achieve this finish without the need for priming or varnishing. As a result, we can now serve new markets.’

For a detailed update on the market for toner digital printing, read the May/June 2021 issue of Digital Labels & Packaging; register here to receive the magazine, for free