After a comprehensive investigation of the label market, Label Products has invested in a Tau 330 RSC E inkjet press from Durst, manufacturer of advanced digital printing and production technologies, and Wifac to continue organic expansion. “With our spread of markets and a strong commercial presence in Belgium, the Netherlands and France we are going to benefit from that growth,” says Matthias Dhondt, Production Manager at the company based in Waregem, Belgium. “Our investment in the Tau 330 RSC E plays a key role.”
The deal with Durst and Wifac, its distribution and service partner across BENELUX, is a complete package, said Matthias Dhondt who, together with Stephan and Maarten Dhondt, forms the future of Label Products. “The Durst Tau 330 RSC E immediately caught our attention, but we needed to undertake a thorough investigation of the market,” he said. “We visited companies in Switzerland, Austria, Poland, Italy and other countries. We analyzed the operation of the various heads, the quality of the work, the speed of the machines, the price of ink and substrates.
“At the end we opted for the Tau 330 RSC E because of its impressive print quality and productivity and have never looked back. It’s a complete package. Ultimately, it’s about the total cost of ownership. At first, we wondered whether we would have enough volume on the press, but that hasn’t been a problem. More and more variable and tailor-made labels are being provided for various customers. So, a digital press is better than flexo printing.”
Another important factor for choosing Durst was the support and service provided through Wifac. “You can’t afford downtime and we have two service technicians on standby,” said Mr. Dhondt. "But since the installation in the middle of 2019, not once have we needed to use them. The relatively simple operation of the press is another positive element for the business, particularly when skilled operators are hard to find due to skill shortages. We are a real family business with an open mind to helping our employees. In our finishing department, we were able to provide one employee with the chance to work as an operator on the Durst Tau 330 RSC E. She seized that opportunity with both hands.”
Continuing controlled growth is the aim for Label Products this year, as well as certifying itself for the British Retail Consortium. The BRC’s Standard for Food covers hygiene and safety requirements for food processing companies supplying the retail sector. From special clothing and hygiene regulations to visitor registration, the BRC works well throughout the whole company. “We have a focus on food sectors, but don’t lose sight of other markets,” Mr. Dhondt. “The strength of BRC is that this approach takes Label Products to a much higher level of quality.”
The family-owned company employing 36 people, which was founded by Pieter and Marc Dhondt in 1986, produces labels and tags on four flexo and digital production machines. Originally started as an offset print business, it has expanded into new areas, including label markets.
Helmuth Munter, Durst’s Segment Manager, Labels and Package Printing, said: “Our Tau RSC platform is setting new benchmarks in growing numbers of markets for companies such as Label Products. We offer a total package to all our customers in terms of high quality, the best possible service and resulting production reliability. Across BENELUX, this is with our partner Wifac. It’s a win-win combination.”
