Print-Leeds buoyed by beer label contract win

Print-Leeds is looking to strengthen its digital print capabilities after winning a £2m contract to become the sole wet glue label supplier for Marston’s Beer Company.

Following a competitive tender process, specialist house Print-Leeds won the contract for the entirety of Marston’s label production for its bottled beers, including brands such as Wainwright, Hobgoblin, McEwan’s and Pedigree. The firm had previously worked on “about 60%” of its client’s labels, having gradually grown its share over time.

The win comes following an extensive £5m investment programme over the past two years, which has involved Print-Leeds moving into a larger 2,787sqm factory and installing a £2.5m Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 106 seven-colour plus coater.

It will next look to invest further in its digital department, with managing director Rod Fisher eyeing up reel-to-reel digital-flexo hybrid presses for new applications.

He said: “With Marston’s, we know the work and have dealt with them more and more over the past eight years. We have expanded as they have, investing in more equipment to print more of their brands.

“I am now looking out for a digital press, likely a hybrid which we can use to fulfil growing client demand for self-adhesive, pressure-sensitive labels. We are dealing with bigger brands and people work with who they like so we will continue to invest.

“Some companies buy new and others do not. We always try to do so on an ongoing basis and because of that, our customers get a better service and a better quality of print.”

Print-Leeds specialises in wet glue labels, UV litho on plastic and digital print, running a seven-colour Heidelberg Speedmaster CX 102 hybrid-UV press alongside the XL 106 and a Screen Truepress Jet W3200UV alongside finishing capabilities supported by a Dyss digital cutter and a Gietz foiling machine.

Formerly a repro house before moving into print in 2001 and into labels in 2013, the company employs 36 members of staff on £5m turnover.