Commissioned at the end of March, the printer now runs around 3,000–4,000 metres of labels per day, roll-to-roll, with Sprite Labels largely running the machine in a mono UV print configuration, and has opened up a new sales channel for the team as it responds to customer demand.
“Our decision to invest wasn’t just about equipment,” said Tony Katsouris, managing director at Sprite Labels.
“It was about aligning with the evolving needs of our customers. Over the years, we’ve made targeted investments and add-on equipment to existing presses to stay close to what our clients require – especially around variable data like barcoding and numbering.”
Speaking to Printweek, print supervisor Andrew Stevenson added: “It’s a good machine, and reliable.
“It’s definitely a good selling point, and gives the sales team confidence having something else to sell to customers.”
The latest i-JET joins another, installed pre-pandemic on Sprite Labels’ Profiteer label press, which handles jumbo 2,000m rolls and can reach up to 25,000m of labels printed per day.
And while the new machine had teething issues that saw commissioning delayed to late March following the late January delivery, the team was confident that the machine would deliver results.
“We’d already had a successful experience with John Richardson, [director at Inkjet Solutions],” added Katsouris.
“Even when we encountered implementation challenges, John’s experience as both a printer and engineer meant he provided a cost effective, reliable solution. We’ve had no issues since – just solid, commercial success.”
Richardson said: “The first project we undertook together was a completely new application, involving industrial-grade labels for tyres.
“We had to learn fast and adapt to non-standard materials, but the system proved flexible and robust. It’s been a win-win – delivering versatility for Sprite Labels while extending the life of their existing equipment.”
That trust proved pivotal in deciding to go with Inkjet Systems, Katsouris emphasised.
“For us, trust is everything,” he said.
“We don’t play the market – we stick with a few trusted suppliers. That’s how we’ve succeeded for more than 40 years. We’ve learnt as we’ve progressed, which means we can now better advise and support our clients. At the end of the day, it’s about building real, respectful relationships.”
