Barthel Gruppe adds first EcoLeaf unit to hybrid press

Barthel Gruppe, one of the largest label printers in Germany and the Netherlands, has joined Actega Metal Print's beta program with the world’s first installation of the EcoLeaf Metallization unit in configuration with a hybrid press.

L-R: Mischa Barthel, owner of Barthel Gruppe; Jan Franz Allerkamp, managing director of Actega Metal Print

Ecoleaf unit has been installed on a Mark Andy Digital Series HD press at Barthel Gruppe eprint facility in Bünde, Germany. It enables the company to offer an alternative to traditional cold foil, while providing its cosmetics-based customers with high quality, cost effective but sustainable short to medium-run metalized silver labels.

Additionally, by using the Mark Andy press to overprint the EcoLeaf trigger image, the converter can now offer new forms of profitable decorative effects including a rainbow of metallic colors.

‘We are always looking for new ways to support our customers with labels that leap of the shelf and increase retail sales. Through finding and testing new technologies, we ensure that we have an eye on sustainable production processes that could reduce our environmental impact. EcoLeaf is a great opportunity of this, and one we wanted to utilize,’ explained Mischa Barthel, owner of Barthel Gruppe.

‘Our team has already run commercial jobs through EcoLeaf. As a result, we are now very optimistic that EcoLeaf will provide us with an important competitive edge – while enabling us to dramatically reduce our use of foil. We can also see that in time, we’ll be able to expand our business with new types of spectacularly decorative, profitable metallic labels too,’ added Barthel.

Jan Franz Allerkamp, managing director of Actega Metal Print commented: ‘It has been a privilege to add Barthel Gruppe to our beta program. Not only is their new facility at eprint just an hour’s drive from our own location, but they also share our vision for superior customer service as well as the future of sustainable and profitable metalized labels.’

‘As our first unit in a hybrid solution, we can’t wait to see how Mr. Barthel and his team utilize our technology to develop their business. With eprint now being part of the larger Barthel Gruppe, we expect EcoLeaf to help them unlock many other growth opportunities,’ concluded Allerkamp.

You can find out more about Ecoleaf technology in L&L Issue 3, 2020.