Paramount Labels extends digital with the Konica Minolta AccurioLabel 230

Packaging Solutions

Paramount Labels has expanded its portfolio of flexographic, UV inkjet and dry toner presses with the Konica Minolta AccurioLabel 230 (AL230).

The new digital toner press has enabled the company to speed up turnaround and offer shorter and higher quality runs on a much wider range of materials.

Paramount Labels was planning to invest in another digital inkjet machine at its factory in Cannock, Staffordshire. However, it was also keen to explore opportunities to produce higher quality work and bring work that they previously needed to outsource in-house.

Managing director of Paramount Labels, Phil Wright, comments on the AL230: ‘The press has a very sharp resolution which can be applied across almost any material, making it extremely versatile. From an operational perspective, the press is both fast and quiet, and commercially the price was right.’

The AL230 produces 1200 x 1200 dpi print runs, operates at a speed of 23.4 metres per minute and requires minimal maintenance.

Paramount Labels now has the capability, capacity, and agility to deliver against the evolving labelling needs of its customers, today and tomorrow. Phil explained, ‘Many of our customers are demanding fast turnaround, shorter and more frequent runs, high quality and low prices.’ He also points to the need to be able to respond to new style trends. ‘Right now, there is a preference for having a matte finish on an uncoated textured substrate. The AL230 enables us to achieve this finish without the need for priming or varnishing. As a result we can now serve new markets.’

Through the combination of inkjet, flexo and the new AL230, Paramount Labels offers a one stop shop for any organisation’s labelling needs. For customers wanting longer runs, its three flexo machines provide the high throughput. However, for runs where label volumes are in the region of 10,000, the new Konica Minolta press is ideal. ‘We are often asked to make changes between runs and with a digital press there are no set up costs and changes can be made in a matter of minutes,’ added Phil.

The presses at the Cannock factory are running for 10 hours a day, seven days a week and the AL230 is enabling Paramount Labels to bring production times down to as little as five working days, for runs where time is of the essence.