Superfast Labels has installed a second Epson SurePress label printer as part of the company’s investment in its expanding short-run digital label printing operation. Having invested in the UK’s first Epson SurePress L-4033A in 2012, Superfast now has a seven-colour SurePress L-4033AW digital label press with white ink and variable data for high-quality, short-medium run label printing on a variety of label substrates.
Based in Sitingbourne, Kent, Superfast Labels considers itself the fastest label printer in the country – often with a turnaround time of 24 hours. The investment in the SurePress L-4033AW was due entirely to the success of the original press. MD Andrew Miller says: “Our customers love the quality of the SurePress and, combined with our shortened lead-times, this has resulted in a real influx of work. Ultimately this extra work meant a new press was inevitable.”
The Epson SurePress L-4033AW inkjet digital label press with white ink makes high-quality, short-run label printing easier and more efficient. Delivering exceptional print quality and accurate colour reproduction on a wide variety of standard label substrates, the L-4033AW enables label converters and commercial printers like Superfast to expand their service offering and improve profitability.
Epson’s SurePress AQ ink-set includes white ink for solid, opaque white printing on materials such as clear film and metallic substrates to reproduction of foil colours, offering the flexibility of printing white first or last. It delivers a wide colour gamut and excellent adhesion to standard label substrates without the need for pre-treatments or coatings.
The additional features of Variable Data and white ink in particular, has led to whole new markets opening up to Superfast and has contributed to the company’s turnover growth of over 25% in the last year – around £250,000 of which is new business.
Superfast continually moves work from its existing three flexo presses to digital, based on lead-times and print requirements – the flexo/digital work split veers toward the digital press becoming the preferred option for short-to-medium length printed work. Andrew says: “As part of the new SurePress installation we sold off a flexo press and replaced it with a second GM die cutter unit. This additional die cutting capacity allows greater flexibility in production, particularly at peak times.”
Andrew has been very impressed with the reliability of the SurePress, with little or no downtime ever experienced – printhead maintenance is automated and ink cartridges can be replaced without stopping the press. With a solid servicing schedule and Epson engineers always available, he is confident that Superfast can cope with increased workloads and customers’ expectations.
“Overall the benefits of the second press are substantial. The factory runs more smoothly with production scheduling being far easier and, when combined with the quality produced, makes it an extremely good and profitable choice,” says Andrew. “We expect a similar increase in profit this year as last year, which may well mean another press within the next 12-18 months. Watch this space!”
