Direct Labels UK opts for AccurioLabel 230

In response to changing label buying trends, Direct Labels UK has continued to invest in printing and finishing equipment. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the company has seen demand for more flexibility, with customers, reducing the number of labels in each order but ordering more frequently.

‘Out of adversity comes opportunity, and we are taking that opportunity and extending our offering to cover all possible label needs of our customers, whether they are small startups or bigger companies,’ said Chris Eveson, managing director of Direct Labels UK. ‘We can now take on very small jobs that we would previously not have been able to look at, because it is so cost-efficient to print on the AccurioLabel 230. We are also moving work over to the press simply because of how quick it is to run the jobs on it.

‘Our unique combination of digital toner and inkjet presses, along with flexo, makes us extremely competitive. We now have the capacity to print digital labels at 100m/min (330ft/min) and print anything from 25 labels on demand.’

The toners featured in the AccurioLabel 230 are TÜV Rheinland compliant, making them suitable for food packaging labels. The international product certification service has tested the toners according to the PROOF Criteria Catalogue for Printed Papers in Contact with Foodstuff. The compliance aspect was important for Direct Labels UK, when making their decision.

‘Investing in the AccurioLabel technology will allow us to extend further into new markets, such as food packaging, and find more customers. The ability to print on textured materials is also one of the major advantages of this press,’ added Eveson.

More finishing machines that will help maintain production speeds and add more embellishment options have also been installed at Direct Labels UK, as the company gears up for more growth.

‘As a result of all our investments over the past four years, which amount to some £1.2 million (USD 1.6 million), customers can expect us to keep to our usual three to five-day turnaround despite a big increase in workload,’ commented Eveson.

‘We are increasingly seeing companies that are already printing digital labels take on the AccurioLabel 230 to complement their existing inkjet presses, and they soon find that they are printing many more jobs on the machine than they initially planned,’ said Steve Lakin, label press sales consultant for Konica Minolta Business Solutions UK.

‘I’m very pleased to welcome Direct Labels UK to the Konica family as I know this press is the perfect choice for their needs. The AL230 is highly versatile, very cost-effective to run and a great all rounder. And as Chris and the team have discovered, it is particularly strong in printing on textured paper and other uncoated media,’ concluded Lakin.