Product category:
Label converting and sleeving materials, equipment and services
News Release from: Harlands Labels
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 07 April 2005
Flexo-Screen Combo Press's Quality
Boosts Labels
Since commissioning a new MPS 300 flexo and screen combination press, UK label producer Harlands said it has begun to compete with the traditionally perceived higher quality of litho printing.
Since commissioning a new MPS 300 flexo and screen combination press, UK label producer Harlands said it has begun to compete with the traditionally perceived higher quality of litho printing Harland's largest market is the health and beauty sector and the business is making further inroads in to the market with the subtle tones, vibrant colours and exceptional print quality of the new press opening many doors, said the company
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 27 Sep 2002 at 8.00am (UK)
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Ian Wright, the managing director at Harlands commented: "This investment has given us a number of improvements to offer our clients.
The main one obviously is the fact that this press has really pushed the envelope of flexo in terms of a quality printing technique.
It's been great to see the reaction of some of our visitors as the labels come off the end of the press.
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We can now confidently compete against Litho." One customer who is singing the praises of Harlands new investment is DDD of Watford.
DDD produces the Astral skin care range stocked by Boots, Superdrug and grocers.
DDD made the decision to move to a decorative label over direct print for a number of reasons but thought that the complexity of design would mean litho was the only option.
Adrian Miles, packaging technologist at DDD explained: "The design contains an extremely fine vignette and we were sceptical as to whether it could be achieved without using litho but were willing to give Harlands new press a try." The Astral label needed to be colour matched to the blue container and was printed in three colours with a high shine silver ink and a gloss varnish.
Miles continued: "The results Harlands achieved using flexo really has changed my perception of the technology, it has clearly developed in leaps and bounds." The nine-colour MPS 330 is a servo-driven machine and achieves its standards of print and minimum dot gain through a system known as 'automatic-register', making a claimed 14,500 checks per second.
The process means that quality can be sustained with minimal adjustment during the print run, added Harlands.
As a combination printing press offering flexo and screen (on nine print stations) it can produce work in one pass, giving a range of different effects and finishes.
The sequence of the stations can be adjusted according to the requirements of a particular job along with the added ability to include hot and cold foil blocking, embossing and varnishing.
Harlands said its production flexibility has been enhanced by the addition of the new machine, which can print larger labels on a wider range of substrates and with more rapid turn-around times reducing downtime and associated costs.
Harlands Labels, based in Hull is a producer of printed self adhesive labels and has developed many label ranges that meet the needs of specific market sectors including health and beauty, toiletries, alcoholic beverages and premium food.
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