Mercian partner offers integrated design service

Mercian partner offers integrated design service

Short run label and carton printer Mercian Labels and packaging design house Pillbox Design have partnered in an exclusive arrangement to offer an integrated design service for digitally printed labels and packaging.

Mercian Labels recently expanded its product offering into short run digitally printed cartons and quickly identified a requirement for specialist packaging design support to assist its customers. 'We found our early customers loved the quality and concept of digitally printed cartons but were trying to ‘copy and paste’ their label designs onto cartons, said Dr Adrian Steele, MD of Mercian Labels. 'It often doesn't work that simply, and through Linkedin we sought a strategic packaging design partner for the new market we are building in digital cartons.  Pillbox were introduced to us through the business networking site and with their specialist skills and award wining track record in packaging design they were the ideal choice for us to work with.  Having carton design experts integrated into our workflow has really enabled our customers to get the best from their conceptual carton designs.  For our operators its also ensured that we get the most from our press and converting process by reducing costly mistakes for both us and our customers, many of whom have never specified carton designs before.'

Duncan Robinson, MD of Pillbox Design added 'Folding carton packaging design is an area that we excel in, and it's great to finally get to try out some new digital printed carton concepts with customers through Mercian that can’t feasibly be done using the conventional three stage litho-based carton manufacturing process.  Digital cartons is still very much a niche market, but we can see it growing significantly, especially with the reduced lead times and shorter viable run lengths that Mercian are now able to offer the UK market.'

As well as a carton design service including both structural design and artwork that is consistent with the capabilities of the Xeikon printing process, Pillbox is also offering a fixed price label design service for Mercian’s labelling customers as part of the formal agreement.

Pictured: (L-R) Adrian Steele, Mercian Labels and Duncan Robinson, Pillbox Design with one of the early digitally printed carton jobs from the Xeikon 3300

Read more about Mercian Labels here

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