Cover Label installs Domino N730i digital press

Cover Label has installed a Domino N730i digital UV inkjet label press at its Los Angeles facility, marking a strategic move to accelerate growth and expand production capabilities for its food, beverage, cosmetics and health sector customers.

The Southern California-based converter, which operates with fewer than 20 employees across staggered shifts, upgraded from its existing Domino N610i to gain enhanced speed, resolution and efficiency. The N730i delivers a 1,200 DPI resolution, compared to 600 DPI on the previous model, while operating at 60-70 m/min, versus 25-30 m/min.

'We went from 600 DPI to 1,200 DPI, and from 25-30 m/min on the N610i, to 60-70 m/min on the N730i,' commented Pat Wafer, co-CEO of Cover Label. 'That alone doubled our capacity. The improved resolution also lets us print small text and fine gradients with unmatched clarity.'

Co-CEOs Wafer and Ryder Fyrwald acquired the business, formerly known as Alros Label, seven years ago with plans to transform it into a modern label printing operation. Since then, the company has rebranded, expanded into digital printing with Domino, added multiple flexographic presses and acquired Crown Label.

Cover Label's current equipment lineup includes one Domino digital press and four flexographic presses: a 17-inch Nilpeter FA7, a 13-inch Mark Andy 2200, a 7-inch Mark Andy 2200 and a Webtron 7550. Finishing capabilities include a Grafotronic laser die-cutter.

The company initially installed the N610i in early 2020, when its revenue was under 1 million USD.

'At the time, we were doing under a million in revenue and took a big risk investing in digital,' noted Wafer. 'But it paid off immediately. COVID created unexpected demand, and we doubled our business that year.'

Digital printing has enabled Cover Label to pursue multi-SKU work and win customers who subsequently place flexographic orders. 'Having digital allowed us to win customers who later gave us flexo work, too,' added Wafer.

The enhanced capacity from the N730i has prompted Cover Label to shift longer jobs to digital production and invest in additional finishing equipment. The company is adding a semi-rotary die cutter to complement its laser system after noticing that finishing equipment could not match the press's increased output.

'We have a health and beauty customer with fine 4-color process text that we struggled to run well on flexo,' explained Fyrwald. 'With the N730i, we delivered digitally printed samples that were spot on. That job is now fully digital.'

Looking ahead, Cover Label plans to grow to full capacity before expanding outside California and exploring additional packaging formats, including shrink sleeves, flexible packaging and folding cartons.