Installed at the Bury St Edmunds-based company’s premises at the end of February, the entry-level package, which cost the business around £300,000, consists of a Xeikon 3030 web-fed digital label press and the entryDCoat digital converting line, which can be used inline with the Xeikon 3030 or in offline mode.
The kit has joined three flexo presses, two K2 KDOs and one Arsoma, which will continue to be used by the company.
Willowbridge Labels managing director Karl Seeley said: “We had a small digital machine, but we’ve gone for the bigger guns now. It means we can now do longer digital runs whereas before we were very short run.
“Flexo is still the core of our label production business; the Xeikon will be used for new business. It gives our customers a broader range of products, we can start from a lower quantity and take it right the way through.”
The 3030 is a dry-toner printer suitable for producing labels for a wide range of applications using standard flexo materials. Its five-colour printing features CMYK and white or a special spot or gamut-extending colour.
The entryDCoat, meanwhile, is a compact converting unit which consists of a varnish, die-cut and rewind station.
“Having surveyed the market, Xeikon was our first choice, though our parent company Denny Bros also use the same technology. We will now be in a position to support each other when either operation is in need of extra capacity,” said Seeley.
“It was about finding something that gave us enough options; this one had white and the finishing kit included as well. Plus, we’ve got ice cold toners so we can print on a variety of different stocks.”
Founded in 1983 and acquired by Denny Bros in 2005, Willowbridge Labels has 14 staff and is looking to turn over around £1.25m this year.
The company supplies labels to the trade as well as a variety of industry sectors including the informational, cosmetic, food and drink, safety, and distribution markets, with products and formats designed to suit most packaging containers, including bottles, jars, cartons and boxes.
