In the six decades since The Label Makers was established in Bradford, West Yorkshire, the company has always invested in the latest label equipment. Leading press manufacturing technology from Gallus, Nilpeter, MPS, Xeikon, and Durst have all been part of the development program that has produced award-winning work.

Today, the company supplies labels to a wide range of industries, from food and beverage to personal care and petrochemicals and decorative coatings. According to Zenna Parfaniuk, managing director, “It’s the attitude of mind that gets the best out of our technology. Our people all buy into problem solving as a way of working, so phrases like ‘it can’t be done’ and ‘it will do’ have no place here because we thrive on perfection. It’s what makes a job both challenging and rewarding.”

This approach permeates throughout the company from start to finish, from studio and prepress to delivery. In today’s competitive marketplace, it’s often the small things that make the difference.

Going with MPS

Combining this work ethic with the most appropriate technology for its customer base and specific demands has always been top priority at The Label Makers. These requirements have changed over the years as print processes have developed, from rotary letterpress, through offset to flexo and digital. One of the requisites for high-quality embellishment is good web tension and accurate register, and according to operations manager Jamie Hyde, this is the reason for the latest tranche of flexo presses being manufactured by MPS.

The third and latest press of its type at the company’s Bradford facility is a 10-color MPS EF-430 model that the company decided to equip with automation to improve its performance on both short and long run work, in particular the roll handling at both ends of the line. “We knew we could reduce waste on partially used rolls and make significant cost savings. And that’s in addition to the benefits of continuous running and reduced operator fatigue,” he explains.

Adding Martin Automatic

The equipment chosen and installed at The Label Makers is a Martin Automatic MBS 04-17-40 automatic unwind butt splicer at the front end of the MPS EF 430 and a Martin LRD 05-18-31 automatic transfer rewind at the delivery end. The Martins were chosen for their design principle and robust construction that provides the all-important reliability required. 

Hyde says, “Martin has a great reputation for keeping things simple and making them work. The functions being performed do not need sophisticated electronics, which add to the price and often reduce reliability.”

The installation in the Bradford factory was seamless but far from straightforward, with both floorspace and height restrictions. However, Martin tailored the design of its units specially to match the footprint available on the production floor. 

Chris Chappel, sales manager at Martin Automatic, says, “Although floorspace and ceiling height were initial concerns, these challenges are nothing new to us. Our portfolio of space-saving designs, including the MBS compact 90-degree turn bar model and reduced-height festoon, allows us to meet customer requirements without compromising efficiency or reliability.”

Well-proven technology

The Martin MBS butt splicer and LRD transfer rewind are well-proven across a wide range of production lines, reliably handling substrates from paper and film to laminate and board. Engineered for performance and durability, they accommodate web widths up to 660mm, roll diameters up to 1,250mm, and transfer speeds of up to 300 m/m. 

As the units were fitted onto an existing line at The Label Makers the installation was carefully planned to ensure minimal disruption. This allows the new equipment to be integrated seamlessly while production continued smoothly.

“Because we all operate on tight margins these days, every incremental improvement in productivity yields financial rewards and if it also improves quality, that’s an added bonus when you are specializing in embellished finishing at the top end of the market,” says Parfaniuk.

Currently, The Label Makers runs both paper and filmic substrates on its presses.  A typical job might be 50,000m run off on 4,000m rolls.  This is where the Martin MBS really comes into its own offering non-stop production even on the longest runs, on which Hyde estimates its saves at least 80 meters of material per roll change.

Future

Hyde also believes that future investment will include Martin Automatic technology added to the two other MPS presses, as well as automated waste extraction to maximize efficiency.  “Martin machines are renowned for longevity. I know of instances where the same unit has been fitted to successive generations of presses, so while the ROI is short, the long-term investment return is excellent too.”

Parfaniuk concludes, “We are our own harshest critics here, but it pays dividends with both customers and staff alike. And there’s nothing we enjoy more than showing end users how we’ve solved a problem for them. It’s motivational for our staff and ensures we get the very best out of the technology we invest in.” 

Chappel adds, “Martin Automatic is delighted to be a part of The Label Makers’ success story, and we look forward to extending our close working partnership going forward.”