Greg Hrinya, Associate Editor01.05.16
Labels in Motion serves as an in-plant facility for its nutraceutical parent company Xymogen, which will often require vitamins, supplements and medicine labels. For the most recent project, Labels in Motion faced the challenge of producing single-serving supplement packets for its parent company.
According to Steve Kirchof, vice president of sales and operations manager, Labels in Motion, the company’s previous technology could not handle the substrates necessary for the Xymogen supplement packets. “We’ve grown out about 200%, so we got this press to handle the workflow,” says Kirchof. “Also, our owner wants to take all our protein powders and turn them into single-serving packets, so now we can offer private label single-serving packets. This gives doctors the option to give their patients a week’s supply or two weeks supply instead of buying a tub. One of the main reasons we went with the HP, with the inline primer, was its ability to print on those single-serving packets.”
Kirchof recognized the HP Indigo WS6800 Digital Press for its ability to support a wide range of standard, off-the-shelf substrates with inline priming, as well as pre-treated materials. The press also offers up to seven ink stations for a wide color gamut. “The speed and color accuracy have improved with the HP,” adds Kirchof. “We ran into some color issues before, but nothing too major. I’d say more than anything, it’s the ability to print on a lot more variety of materials than we were able to before.”
Labels in Motion primarily is primarily running White BOPP Metallic and Clear substrates on the press. The company has also started experimenting with flexible packaging materials.
The HP Indigo WS6800 Digital Press operates at speeds up to 196 fpm (in 1- or 2-color mode) and can handle a wide range of pressure sensitive labels, sleeves, IML, wrap-around labels, flexible packaging and folding cartons. Kirchof believes the press helping Labels in Motion reach new markets. “Having this press is really going to help our business,” explains Kirchof. “The HP Indigo name helps, because when we talk to customers they’re familiar with the name as opposed to some other brands. They understand HP and they know the brand name, so that helps us earn their business.”
Kirchof anticipates expansion into pouch materials, which he sees as growing trend, especially in the food industry. “Right now we’re in the food industry and we print on a lot of outside stuff for sauces and condiments, and I think being able to offer that single-serving aspect will help, even just different ways to market the product with labels. We had a couple substrate providers come in here and explain all the different things we can print on now with the HP Indigo and it’s endless.”
The press also offers high-definition imaging at 2438 x 2438 dpi and widths ranging from 7.87” to 13.39”. It can support substrate thicknesses of 0.5 to 18 pt. Esko powers the WS6800’s Workflow Suite, and it also features an array of integrated MIS, pre press and converting solutions from partners, as well.
“The customer feedback has been great,” says Kirchof. “They like where the colors are and the detail, especially with some of our supplement customers, the detail on the supplement pack box and how crisp the information and the text looks. It’s been really great so far.”
In addition, Xymogen prints variable data, including QR codes, to help with product safety. “We put a unique QR code on every one of our labels. Since it is exclusive, we’re able to track and trace where every product goes,” adds Kirchof. “About two weeks ago, we were 100% with eBay, Amazon and all the major retailers online. I know for the pharmaceutical industry, they’re having everyone move to that track and traceability for their products. We’re pretty proud of that, how we can track and trace everything that we ship out of here.”
Labels in Motion can work with existing labels or create new designs from the ground up, and its team of designers provides free design assistance. The company also utilizes a Xeikon 3500 digital press, which features true 1200 dpi resolution with variable dot density. The two presses enable Labels in Motion to handle an increased workload on a greater range of materials.
