Abbey Labels has begun production of digital labels, following the purchase and installation of a Xeikon 3300 narrow web-fed digital colour press.
Over the 20 years since its founding, the Suffolk, UK-based labelling specialist has established a strong labels business using multi-colour UV flexo presses, but had recently been investigating digital solutions.
“We had been examining the potential for digital and the equipment available for some two or three years,” says Abbey Labels chairman Tom Allum.
“Question marks about speed of digital devices, print quality, and the space required to set up a digital operation were constantly on our minds.”
Following visits to LabelExpo and Drupa 2012, the company opted for the Xeikon machine for its first investment in digital production technology.
“The latest range of equipment from Xeikon did seem to solve our speed queries, and the dramatic improvements in print quality in recent years ticked all of the boxes in that area of concern,” says Allum.
“What really made up our minds in favour of the Xeikon product though was the lack of click charge, which simply made costing and quoting for jobs a lot easier.”
Allum adds that the ability to produce short runs or multiple types of colour labels without the associated cost of plates has allowed Abbey Labels to compete for many orders that it was previously unable to, with flexo pricing.
“This has been a tremendous help to us in generating business from the food sector,” he says.
