Syracuse Label makes efficiency investment

An employee-owned converter in Upstate New York has found increased efficiency with automated flexo cleaning equipment.
Syracuse Label makes efficiency investment

Syracuse Label is a 100 percent employee-owned company based in Upstate New York. With eighty associates, nine flexo presses and two digital presses to maintain, efficiency and cleanliness on the shop floor are a critical part of the converter’s Lean manufacturing and quality control directives.

At each Labelexpo Americas the business brings a handful of stakeholders to review technology demonstrated on the show floor. Explains Kathy Alaimo, president of Syracuse Label, ‘It’s so important for people from the shop floor to be at the event because they’re using the equipment every day. They know the job inside and out.’

In the wake of last year’s show, Syracuse Label invested in Flexo Wash automatic washing systems. Alaimo says, ‘It takes a lot of convincing our people since each of us is an owner and we don’t want to spend money on something that’s not going to make us more efficient.’

L&L: What issues were you looking to overcome with the investment in automated parts, plates and anilox washing systems?

Kathy Alaimo: We were looking to reduce labor and find greater efficiencies. We actively practice Lean manufacturing so minutes and seconds mean a lot to us when working to meet our production goals. The Flexo Wash anilox cleaner has provided our shop floor leaders with greater consistency in color management since the cells are more thoroughly and deeply cleaned more often. More thorough and consistent cleaning of doctor blades and plates helps us reduce time with the set ups on the press. Overall, the systems have allowed our operators to get the presses up and running faster and with improved production quality.

L&L: Is the ROI for the machinery on track with your expectations?

KA: The automated machinery has freed up time in our press room staging area, giving the person who was tasked with cleaning plates more time for mounting plates. Even with additional press capacity added to the work load, we’re still keeping up with demands. It also allows this person to support in press change overs within each cell reducing down time.

Danielle Jerschefske

  • Sustainability columnist