Inkjet & Digital Printing
Limpet Labels Expand Digital Offering with Xeikon 3000
Friday 25. September 2009 - Xeikon, a division of Punch Graphix, announces that Limpet Labels, Wrexham UK, has decided to expand into digital label production with the purchase of a new Xeikon 3000 digital label press. Established in 1992, the North Wales-based company specialises in the production of self-adhesive labels for the chemical, oil, hygiene industries and other markets where high label quality and durability are required.
Commenting on the companys latest investment in digital equipment, Lee Goode, Managing Director of Limpet Labels, said: “Digital label printing is playing an ever more important role in the market, and we need ensure that we are keeping up with the very latest technology in this area. We recognise that customer needs are changing with shorter run lengths, just-in-time production, and a larger number of product variants. We believe that by moving further into digital production we will be able to help our customers to reduce their stock levels of label products, and provide labels that incorporate variable data, such as unique bar codes or sequential numbering. Undoubtedly, digital gives a label print business significantly more flexibility, and that is something that we believe our customers will benefit from.
“I believe that digital printing technology is not going to replace conventional printing methods in the foreseeable future, however, it is an important piece of a jigsaw puzzle in label production today. With our new investment we will be able to offer a complete package to our customers as well as gain a significant competitive advantage over our competitors.”
Limpet Labels currently run two Mark Andy LP3000 flexographic presses, the second of which was installed in September 2008, and automatic-feed screen printing. The company currently produces in excess of 5 million labels per month.
The Xeikon 3000 web-based press has a top speed of 31.5 feet of label production per minute, and a monthly duty cycle of 1,500,000 feet. The five colour engine provides for the four standard process colours plus a choice of spot colour, special security toner for anti-counterfeiting applications, or an opaque white for the “no label” look on transparent material. The press is capable of handling an unrivalled range of substrates including self-adhesive films, co-extruded films, unsupported films, paper, transparent and opaque foils, and paperboard. The press handles a substrate width of 330mm, and provides for an imaging width of 322mm. The environmentally friendly dry toner electro photography imaging process enables the use of conventional substrates without the need for coating or pre-treatment.
For job preparation, the Xeikon press is equipped with the truly open, scalable and modular X-800 Digital Front-End (DFE), combining extensive pre-press functionality including a high-speed RIP with impressive variable data printing processing. In addition, the X-800 DFE is designed to deliver the highest print quality level, a practical die marker function and precise step-and-repeat functionality. The system is also equipped to handle complex operations such as sequential numbering and barcodes.
Commenting on the Limpet Labels order, Greg Neesham, Sales Director for Punch Graphix UK, said: “The team at Limpet Labels have taken a long hard look at the digital market and decided that the time is right for them to invest in a product that will further advance their competitive advantage in the market place. The outstanding quality, colour consistency and accuracy of the Xeikon 3000 will fit well into this established label production business.”