11.20.15
Process Label Systems (PLS), a custom converter based in Minneapolis, MN, USA, reports great success running short run labels with Colordyne’s Production Class Rotary Pro, installed in late 2011. Frank Bobick, marketing and business development manager at PLS, opted for digital technology for these orders in favor of its previous flexographic printing business model.
“Imagine someone has 10 different items, all with four-color process artwork, and they only want a few hundred of each,” says Bobick. “If you gave them a price for that job using traditional flexographic printing, their jaws would hit the floor. This is the kind of work we wouldn’t even bother to quote.”
The Production Class Rotary Pro is a full-featured digital label and tag production system that offers complete inline printing, laminating, varnishing (aqueous or UV), rotary diecutting and rewinding. Digital label printing has opened up new streams of business for converters like PLS by giving them the platform and tools to be profitable.
PLS offers promotional products, primary labels and custom converted products for a variety of industries, including automotive, airline, industrial, security, and food and beverage.
Some of the industries PLS now serves include organic health, beauty and craft brewing. Bobick says some of those customers may only require a few thousand labels annually, but those may include several different designs. Additionally, the explosion of craft beers has been a particular boon for PLS, as those types of labels are a perfect fit for digital printing. Typical PLS customers have short runs that are multi-SKU – some up to 30 different designs and layouts.
“Craft brewers are making some of the craziest looking labels with their designs and names,” explains Bobick. “If you did these types of orders on a traditional flexo, you’d have so many plate costs and set-up charges on the initial run that it would cost more than the labels themselves. The Colordyne press is outstanding for the kinds of jobs we would have turned down in the past.
“Installing our Colordyne Rotary Pro has brought us new business,” he adds. “It has introduced us to some customers that we otherwise would have had to walk away from. My advice to converters would be to stop thinking about it and not be afraid of switching to digital printing. If you’re hesitating, you will be left in the dust by your competitors who are going digital.”
“Imagine someone has 10 different items, all with four-color process artwork, and they only want a few hundred of each,” says Bobick. “If you gave them a price for that job using traditional flexographic printing, their jaws would hit the floor. This is the kind of work we wouldn’t even bother to quote.”
The Production Class Rotary Pro is a full-featured digital label and tag production system that offers complete inline printing, laminating, varnishing (aqueous or UV), rotary diecutting and rewinding. Digital label printing has opened up new streams of business for converters like PLS by giving them the platform and tools to be profitable.
PLS offers promotional products, primary labels and custom converted products for a variety of industries, including automotive, airline, industrial, security, and food and beverage.
Some of the industries PLS now serves include organic health, beauty and craft brewing. Bobick says some of those customers may only require a few thousand labels annually, but those may include several different designs. Additionally, the explosion of craft beers has been a particular boon for PLS, as those types of labels are a perfect fit for digital printing. Typical PLS customers have short runs that are multi-SKU – some up to 30 different designs and layouts.
“Craft brewers are making some of the craziest looking labels with their designs and names,” explains Bobick. “If you did these types of orders on a traditional flexo, you’d have so many plate costs and set-up charges on the initial run that it would cost more than the labels themselves. The Colordyne press is outstanding for the kinds of jobs we would have turned down in the past.
“Installing our Colordyne Rotary Pro has brought us new business,” he adds. “It has introduced us to some customers that we otherwise would have had to walk away from. My advice to converters would be to stop thinking about it and not be afraid of switching to digital printing. If you’re hesitating, you will be left in the dust by your competitors who are going digital.”