DLS expands production capacity

DLS has seen significant growth in the demand for pressure-sensitive labels. To continue to meet customer demand and expand production of specialized products, including small roll labels, DLS has installed new equipment in its Reno, NV, Duluth, GA, Arlington, TX, and Itasca, IL facilities.

‘For the last year and a half, we have seen unprecedented demand for labels. Growth has been especially pronounced in large volume label orders for manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, and logistics operations,’ said Jim Kersten, CEO of DSL. ‘This new equipment allows us to substantially increase our capacity while also expanding our geographic reach. As growth in label sales continues, we will continue to invest in people, equipment and process improvements to support this growth.’

DLS’ Reno facility has completed the installation of a Mark Andy 17in 2200, 2-color flexographic press, and ABG’s Vectra AutoSet Model SGTR1700-4 glueless turret rewinder allowing the company to save set up and changeover time. A Martin Automatic roll slicer completes the line-up. In addition to expanding label printing capacity, this press and finishing equipment provides additional capabilities for the efficient production of small roll labels like those used in mobile thermal printers.

The Duluth, GA facility has added a Mark Andy LP300 8-color 17in press, while the location in Arlington has installed a Mark Andy 4150, 1-color, 21.5in press and die-cutter. In DLS’s Itasca, IL facility, two new press lines have been installed, including a Mark Andy 2200XL, 4-color 17in press and Mark Andy 2200XL, 2-color 17in press. Both press lines have Martin Automatic roll splicers and ABG turrets for complete in-line production capabilities.

These additional presses add redundancy to the company’s wide web fleet. This allows the DLS team to produce multiple large orders simultaneously, increasing long-run label production capacity. The new presses are strategically located throughout the country. The investments in the Reno, Duluth and Arlington facilities will provide additional service for customers located in the West, Southeast and Southwest regions of the US, respectively.

‘As a trade-only label supplier, our customers depend on us to get production completed as soon as possible,’ added Bill Johnstone, COO of DSL. ‘Ultimately, our goal is to help our distributors better serve their label customers. In addition to the new presses that we have already installed, we are continually exploring opportunities to improve our processes to optimize production capacity to meet our customers’ demand for quality labels.’

DLS has also recently invested in additional equipment, including a digital inkjet press, a new in-line barcode verifier, die-cutters, turrets, and tabletop rewinders.

These presses and new equipment have added to DLS’s significant production capacity. With five nationwide locations, DLS maintains a fleet of over 50 presses, including flexo, digital, HP Indigo and hybrid equipment.