Willowbridge Labels moves into digital with Xeikon

Bury St. Edmunds, UK-based Willowbridge Labels has installed its first digital label production press after investing in a Xeikon Label Discovery system.

Willowbridge Labels moves into digital with Xeikon

This has seen the printer install a Xeikon 3030 entry-level web-fed digital label press and entryDcoat digital converting line.

Willowbridge is a part of the specialist print and labeling group, Denny Bros. The Xeikon press represents the company’s first investment in a digital production press. It will join three flexographic presses that will continue to be in use at the company.

Karl Seeley, managing director at Willowbridge Labels, said: ‘Flexo is still the core of our label production business but more and more customers are asking us for a fast delivery of short run labels. The Xeikon unit will help us to meet those demands, and produce them at a lower cost.

‘Having surveyed the market, Xeikon was our first choice, though our parent company, Denny Bros, also use the same technology. We will now be in a position to support each other when either operation is in need of extra capacity.’

Another important factor behind the purchase decision was the ability to produce thermal direct labels with Xeikon’s QB-IC and QB-CH toners – Ice toners –, suitable for heat sensitive substrates.

‘The move into the digital arena will allow us to produce an even more diverse range of label products for our customers,’ added Seeley.

Xeikon introduced Label Discovery, which combines the 3030 and entryDcoat, as an entry-level label printing and converting option, allowing more printers to, ‘embrace digital technology and capture a business potential that previously required a steep investment – the crucial business of producing short-run labels.’

Duncan Sargeant, UK sales area manager at Xeikon, said: ‘Label Discovery is a turnkey label production system that provides everything needed for a label printer to offer an expanded range of services to their customers, and to experience the benefits digital production can bring to their business. In addition to enabling an affordable entry into this lucrative market, Label Discovery is a platform that can be field upgraded in terms of productivity as the business grows, ensuring long-term viability of the investment.’