Kinetic Label Services moves forward with Martin Automatic butt splicer

US-based Kinetic Label Services has invested in a Martin Automatic MBS unwind/butt splicer to automate production from its 4-color Gonderflex flexo press.

Kinetic Label Services moves forward with Martin Automatic butt splicer

Situated in Alpharetta, 25 miles from Atlanta, Georgia, Kinetic was founded in 2016 and began operations in January of the following year. Kinetic Labels produces a vast range of products in its 12,500 sq ft facility, including direct and thermal transfer labels, barcode, tamper evident and security labels, as well as inventory control labels and blanks, all the way up to holograms.

It is led by Greg Bishop, managing partner with responsibility for growth strategy, client development and innovation, and Shane Martin as vice president of operations and responsible for manufacturing, production and delivery. Bishop and Martin are joined by Steve Hangartner, also managing partner and who is overseeing the company’s business strategy, financial operations and new product innovation, and Elizabeth Todd as customer service director.

Kinetic began work with two used 10in, 6-color Aquaflex presses and a focus almost exclusively on labels for international logistics and distribution clients. The company quickly established demand for its work that saw sales double in a matter of months. Kinetic is now producing work that fills five trucks per month (with a capacity to fill eight). This has seen it invest in a 16in, 4-color Gonderflex press, fitted with automation technology from Martin Automatic for greater productivity. 

With his production department working a 20-hour day, Bishop knew he needed to increase efficiency. ‘I’d had 18 years of good experience with Martin technology in my past and to my mind there was never a question of looking elsewhere,’ he explained. Bishop described the Martin Automatic MBS unwind/butt splicer as, ‘strong, uncomplicated and reliable – just what you need from a machine that works hard for a living in a competitive commercial environment.’

He added: ‘It has performed flawlessly, but of greater importance to me are the people who stand behind the product from the order through to the installation and beyond.’

Martin noted that, in cooperation with AB Graphic turret rewinder, the Martin Automatic equipment allows Kinetic to process around 320,000 feet of substrate a day on the Gonderflex press. This equates to around 3.5 million feet per month. With a roll change every 15,000 feet, he estimates it saves around 2.5 hours every shift and allows him to fill a truck in two fewer shifts. Doing the math, Hangartner said: ‘We’re looking at saving around US$57,000 a year with the Martin and have reduced waste levels from between 3-4 percent to less than one percent. The machine makes its own case financially and has a very short payback period.’

Bishop continued: ‘We know we have to be competitive but also reliable in terms of delivery and our ability to problem-solve in a crisis. This is why we have a stable portfolio of customers. They demand reliability from us, as we do from our suppliers. The Martin equipment is a good example of this.’