ProPrint Group boosts linerless labels capacity

(L-R) ProPrint Group sales director Graham Bonus and linerless sales manager Andy Clark
(L-R) ProPrint Group sales director Graham Bonus and linerless sales manager Andy Clark

ProPrint Group has expanded its linerless labels division after taking on a Ravenwood Packaging Com500 Coater, with an Edale FL3 flexo press set to follow.

The Wellingborough-based business installed the Ravenwood device in January while the 10-colour Edale press is due for delivery later this month.

Overall, the business has now invested more than £1m in its linerless labels division, which has grown by 43% during the pandemic, and the new kit –combined with its recently opened new site that offers additional storage facilities – will significantly boost its capacity in this area.

Commenting on the investment, the company stated: “The linerless market is on the rise. Appetite is increasing from companies that are becoming more aware of the sustainability and automation linerless provides.

“With the known shortage of board within the industry, linerless presents companies with a more cost effective and time efficient option, with less wastage. Since starting printing linerless labels in May 2019, ProPrint Group has taken on customers over a variety of sectors.”

The Com500 will enable ProPrint Group to offer urgent lead times on linerless label orders due to increased speeds and longer run times. The coater has a modular construction that applies silicone and hot-melt adhesive to pre-printed labels to produce a linerless label reel.

Meanwhile, the Edale FL3’s autonomous inking impression and registration settings that are storable in its icon-based control panel will simplify job recall and repeatability, meaning less waste, shorter setup time, and fewer rejects.

ProPrint Group was formed in 2015 when co-owner and director James Denny and co-owner Nigel Tollman merged their firms CopyPol and Promo Labels. As well as linerless labels, the business also offers self-adhesive, peel and read, digital, and retail promo labels, as well as cartonboard packaging.

In September, the 110-staff business invested in a Screen Truepress L350 SAI S in response to an increased demand for self-adhesive premium digitally printed labels.

With its new, third site, a 3,066sqm facility close to its existing two sites, the business now occupies a total 7,246sqm of space and its anticipated turnover for 2021 was £15.8m.