Nordvalls grows with digital

Nordvalls Etikett has deepened its commitment to digital transformation by installing a second HP Indigo V12 press in Sweden, deployed less than two years after the first. This follow-up investment reflects the company’s strong confidence in the HP Indigo V12 as a catalyst for profitable growth and its central role in the ‘Nordvalls 2.0’ strategy, a bold program focused on modernizing production and establishing the company as a leader in digital label manufacturing across the Nordic region.

Founded in 1907 when Victor Hugo Olsson started the company in Sjöbo in southern Sweden, Nordvalls has evolved from a traditional label printing house into one of Scandinavia’s most respected label converters, serving key sectors including food and beverage, pharmaceuticals and logistics. In its 118 years in business, the company has learned that customers appreciate a supplier that values long-term relationships and collaboration.

Nordvalls has three production facilities strategically located across Sweden: a headquarters in Sjöbo, about 40 kilometers from Malmö; one in Bjuv just east of Helsingborg and one in Mölnlycke. The company also operates in Norway, with an office near Oslo and a production facility in Trondheim. Today, the company prints on 30 presses, six of which are new Gallus Labelmasters with a 12-color configuration and screen printing.

Leading Scandinavia’s digital adoption

Nordvalls became the first label printer in Scandinavia to install the HP Indigo V12 press in late 2023, underscoring the company’s commitment to staying at the forefront of technological innovation. The installation marked a pivotal moment not just for Nordvalls but for the entire Nordic label printing industry.

‘The first HP Indigo V12 printing press we installed was revolutionary and a bit of a game changer,’ says Patrik Jenemark, CEO of Nordvalls Etikett. ‘It offered high speed, high precision, and we could sustainably print labels. The decision to be first in our region was strategic. We wanted to establish ourselves as the go-to partner for brands looking for the most advanced digital label production capabilities in Scandinavia.’

The HP Indigo V12 is an end-to-end technology that helps Nordvalls build a digitally enabled supply chain, allowing brand customers to deliver faster, more personalized campaigns that boost relevance in competitive markets.

“The first HP Indigo V12 printing press we installed was revolutionary and a bit of a game changer”

For Nordvalls, the HP Indigo V12 fills a vital production gap between short-run digital print jobs handled by the HP Indigo 6K digital press and high-volume analog work. With Indigo’s LEPx technology, which enables on-demand, nonstop performance and speeds of up to 120 m/min, the HP Indigo V12 allows Nordvalls to consolidate production from several legacy presses while increasing throughput and delivering gold-standard digital print quality.

‘Our offer becomes even more beneficial with 12 colors that allow our customers even more complex designs,’ adds Liselot Widerström, senior key account manager at Nordvalls. ‘You can truly see the speed and see the precision in results. It is absolutely phenomenal. We’re now able to produce labels that were previously only possible through conventional printing methods, but with all the flexibility and efficiency advantages of digital.’

Doubling down on digital

The decision to invest in a second HP Indigo V12 came quickly. During drupa in Düsseldorf, just months after installing the first press, Nordvalls revealed it had committed to a second V12. The speed of this decision was remarkable in an industry where capital equipment investments are typically planned years in advance.

‘After the installation of our first HP Indigo V12, I said that growth is part of Nordvalls’ DNA,’ says Jenemark. ‘Investing in the second HP Indigo V12 in less than six months represents our commitment to investing for the future and serving our customers with the latest technology. When we saw the impact the first press was having on our production efficiency and our ability to win new business, we knew we needed to act quickly.’

The second HP Indigo V12 is a cornerstone of Nordvalls’ newly expanded production facility, purpose-built to house the two digital presses. Designed to maximize operational workflow and digital output, the site reflects Nordvalls’ intent to make high-volume digital printing the foundation of its next growth phase.

‘Nordvalls is a powerful example of what non-stop digital printing looks like in action,’ says Noam Zilbershtain, vice president and general manager of HP Indigo. ‘With the installation of a second HP Indigo V12, the company is not just adding capacity; it is unlocking a new level of production agility and responsiveness. This is digital transformation at its core: rethinking the entire production model to grow the business, serve customers faster and stay ahead in a competitive market.’

Transforming operations

‘The HP Indigo V12 has fundamentally changed how we operate,’ explains Jenemark. ‘It’s a great complement to traditional flexo. It has improved our operational efficiency. We’ve reduced setup times, minimized waste and improved responsiveness across our production floor. The press has given us the flexibility to scale smarter, with fewer machines and greater output.’

The operational improvements have been both immediate and far-reaching. Setup times that previously took hours on conventional presses now take minutes on the V12. This dramatic reduction in makeready time has allowed Nordvalls to take on smaller run lengths economically while also improving efficiency on longer runs.

This move is shaping a modern production environment built around automation, end-to-end workflows and operational simplicity. By removing the complexity of analog processes, Nordvalls has created a workspace that is both efficient and appealing, especially for a new generation of operators who value digital agility. This has made recruitment and training faster and more effective.

A recent migration of a popular Swedish food brand’s labels from flexo to the HP Indigo V12 has illustrated the press’s ability to deliver color consistency across SKUs and meet complex run requirements with precision. Brands that produce multiple product variants requiring frequent design changes had previously struggled with the long lead times associated with flexographic printing.

By moving production to the V12, Nordvalls enabled the brands to reduce inventory carrying costs, respond more quickly to market feedback and introduce limited-edition variants that would have been economically unfeasible under the previous production model.

Sustainability benefits

The sustainability benefits have been equally compelling and align with growing pressure from both regulatory bodies and brand owners to reduce the environmental impact of packaging production. The HP Indigo V12’s fast changeovers and streamlined setup processes translate directly into reduced substrate waste and efficient inventory management across print runs.

Traditional flexographic printing typically requires substantial setup waste as operators dial in color and registration. With the V12, this waste is virtually eliminated, with labels coming off the press within the first few meters.

“Growth is part of Nordvalls’ DNA. Investing in the second HP Indigo V12 in less than six months represents our commitment to investing for the future and serving our customers with the latest technology”

Consolidating production on fewer presses has enabled a leaner, more agile model that increases output while lowering environmental impact.

ˆThe digital workflow also eliminates the need for printing plates, reducing material waste and chemical use associated with plate production.

‘We always strive to invest in the environment and future to give our customers the latest technology combined with our solid knowledge and expertise,’ notes Jenemark. ‘Sustainability is not just about meeting regulations. It’s about taking responsibility for our impact and finding ways to deliver better results with fewer resources.’

Finishing equipment investment

In response to the installation of the first HP Indigo V12 digital press in late 2023, Nordvalls sought to enhance its production line to keep pace with the press’s output. The company recognized early that maximizing the return on investment from high-speed digital printing required equally capable finishing equipment.

This enhancement involved the purchase of ABG’s non-stop unwinder and rewinder systems. Designed in partnership with HP, the systems integrate seamlessly with the HP Indigo V12 digital press. The non-stop capability is particularly crucial for maximizing the V12’s non-stop printing technology, allowing roll changes without stopping the press.

Building on this success, Nordvalls also invested in ABG’s flagship Digicon Series 3 with turret rewinder. The inclusion of ABG’s patented fast-track die, which now reaches speeds of up to 180 m/min in semi-rotary mode, represents a significant advancement in label production efficiency.

After drupa, Nordvalls’ investment in a second HP Indigo V12 led to the purchase of another non-stop unwinder and rewinder from ABG, as well as another Digicon Series 3, allowing Nordvalls to take production capacity to the next level.

‘We have had a strong working relationship with ABG both in England and Sweden for many years,’ adds Jenemark. ‘This company understands our needs, and we strongly believe its product offering is not just innovative but also suits our production requirements now and for the future.’

‘We are dedicated to developing cutting-edge technologies that address the evolving needs of digital printing,’ comments Matt Burton, global sales director at ABG. ‘Our collaboration with Nordvalls exemplifies this commitment.’

Looking ahead

‘Growth is part of our DNA,’ reaffirms Jenemark. ‘With our investment in the HP Indigo V12 press, we now have Scandinavia’s most modern digital label production. But we’re not stopping here. The label industry is evolving rapidly, and our customers’ needs are becoming more sophisticated.’

The company is already exploring additional applications, including pharmaceutical labels with variable data for serialization, promotional labels with personalized messaging and limited-edition packaging for craft beverages and premium food products.

With the infrastructure now in place to support high-volume digital production, Nordvalls is well positioned to capture emerging opportunities and maintain its leadership in the Nordic label market. The Nordvalls 2.0 strategy has transformed the company from a traditional converter into a digitally enabled packaging partner capable of meeting the most demanding brand requirements.

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