Smyth Companies announces press acquisitions & facilities restructuring

Smyth Companies, Inc., one of the nation’s largest label printers, headquartered in Saint Paul, Minnesota, has purchased two new presses, strengthening the company’s ability to serve its focused markets. The new press equipment will increase both Smyth’s roll-fed label product offering for full body shrink sleeves and pressure sensitive labels, and its sheet-fed printing for cut-and- stack paper, synthetic, and in-mold labeling applications.

The first press, destined for Smyth’s Bedford, Virginia sheet-fed operation, is an eight color Mitsubishi. The press is equipped with interdeck curing and specialized feeding to handle the film materials Smyth prints for synthetic wrap and in-mold label products. In-mold labeling is a rapidly growing segment of the label industry, and Smyth has been on the forefront in the development of this process. ‘The new Mitsubishi press will help Smyth serve this segment in addition to our traditional cut-and-stack paper and synthetic label customers,’ according to Tony Parker - EVP Sheet-fed operations.

The second press, destined for Smyth’s Minneapolis, MN roll-fed plant, is an Omet servo-driven, UV flexo rotary-screen press. This press, manufactured by Omet of Italy, is state-of-the-art, capable of producing high-end printing for Smyth’s pressure-sensitive label, shrink-sleeve label, promotional and specialty label markets. ‘This is the next step up in technology for narrow and mid-web presses,’ said Bill Weernink, executive vice president of Smyth’s roll-fed operations. ‘This press allows us to print high quality graphics, quickly and efficiently, using servo drives and gearless technology.’

These latest capital investments are part of Smyth’s customer focused strategy of being fast, innovative and performance driven within the markets they serve. An additional component of this strategy is for Smyth to consolidate its three sheet-fed divisions into two locations. Smyth’s existing Bedford, Virginia and Austin, Minnesota locations will be enhanced to accommodate the requirements currently being fulfilled from their Saint Paul, Minnesota facility, which will be closing this fall.

‘Restructurings of this nature are not easy, and we are very proud of the hard work and dedication of our Saint Paul employees. Our commitment to meet changing market needs and to better serve our customers has led us to this more efficient structure,’ stated John Hickey – Smyth’s chairman and CEO.

Smyth has a 129 year track record of reinvestment in capital equipment and infrastructure improvements which help the company better serve its customers. The main markets Smyth services are food & beverage; personal care; household products; and beer, wine, & spirits.

Smyth Companies operates production facilities in Minnesota, Virginia, and Colorado. In addition to primary package labels, the company also produces promotional in-pack and on-pack labels including IRC’s and extended text devices, their patented SNAP! packaging device, point-of-purchase displays, and label application equipment.