Rako wins Fespa Digital Print Award in packaging category

Witzhave, Germany-based label converter Rako Etiketten scooped the accolade of Packaging Category winner at the recent Fespa Digital Print Awards 2008, supported by HP. 

One of two German companies to enjoy success as category winners at the awards ceremony, Rako Etiketten was singled out for its work on the launch of the Schwarzkopf & Henkel got2b haircare products. A challenging brief to print onto a denim-look textile label substrate led Rako down the digital production route with its HP Indigo label press.

Although having previously achieved success with printing onto fleece fabric, Schwarzkopf & Henkel’s request for a textile adhesive label presented a new challenge for the Rako team. In order to overcome registration problems and issues with the denim’s absorbent surface, Rako used its HP Indigo ws4500 press to deliver the desired registration, consistency and color adhesion. 

‘We printed more than 30 different color variations in order to find an appropriate and suitable design,’ explained Rako’s Ralph Koopmann. ‘By opting to use digital printing for the invariably costly adhesive laminate, we also enjoyed significant cost-efficiencies as a result of low waste-paper rates. Having been involved in the industrial production of adhesive denim labels for over a year, the excellent results achieved have deemed this project a complete success.’

Koopmann celebrated with other category winners at a dinner event in Geneva on March 31, where he received his prize certificate from HP’s Lucien Moons and Fespa board member Lascelle Barrow.