Baker Labels installs ws4050 and supplies digital stock for trade customers

Baker Labels of Walthamstow, East London has invested in an HP Indigo ws4050 digital press. Developing new products for its extensive customer base in the trade sector, Baker Labels will also use its digital capability to penetrate new markets, working closer with agency and end-user customers.

Steve Baker, managing director, Baker Labels said, 'Investing in a digital printing press from HP Indigo offers our customers something completely new, with the ability to deliver affordable short run label printing without compromising on quality or substrate flexibility.

'As a comprehensive supplier of packaging and label solutions across offset-litho, flexo, silkscreen and letterpress, we wanted to invest in technology that would really drive our business in a new direction and offer customers something truly innovative. We didn’t want to simply purchase another press, we wanted to generate new profit-making opportunities.'

With HP’s ElectroInk liquid ink technology, Baker Labels is successfully utilizing the six-color Indichrome ink-mixing system to accurately print an extended gamut of colors, plus white. Still delivering its clients the quality of offset, but with the added-value of short-run, variable data printing with fast turnaround, the HP Indigo press ws4050 has presented a host of new opportunities for printing high quality versioned labels on a broad range of substrates.

'As we work within the label and packaging markets, substrate flexibility is fundamental to our clients, being restricted in this area would mean losing significant business,' said Steve. 'As it doesn’t use a heat process, the new press delivers optimal quality output on infinite materials from paper to PVC and silver laminate to clear plastics.'  

Baker Labels currently has a large trade customer base, due to its extensive range of services that other printers cannot facilitate. Now with its new capacity for cost-effective short-run digital printing, this market can be expanded further yet.

Steve said, 'Digital printing is a means for us to complement our existing printing processes, not replace them, it simply adds further services to our already expansive capabilities in a low-risk investment.

'As well as offering our trade customers greater opportunities, we are also aiming to target more agency and end-user clients with this new digital capacity. Short-run, versioned labeling is a trend that is increasingly in-demand across a number of commercial markets, and we feel we can really capture this area successfully with the HP Indigo press ws4050.'

Baker Labels’ subsidiary, Baker Materials, will also be appointed as an HP center of excellence for coatings. From April 2006 Baker Materials will supply roll-substrates to other HP Indigo users in bespoke quantities for up to 350 stocks.

'This will reflect Baker Labels’ position as a progressive business, delivering excellence and expertise in the rapidly developing digital labeling industry,' said Steve.