CS Labels is a longstanding user of both Xeikon and HP Indigo kit and with Xeikon has developed a way to print food safe stand-up pouches. This provides packaging customers with a faster turnaround and reduced inventory option because the pouches are digitally printed. It also creates interesting opportunities to develop the market for short run packaging. CS Labels is printing on the reverse layer of the packaging substrate and then laminating the additional layers separately in a second phase, so the press is only using a single layer of a standard substrate for printing. Currently most of this type of work is of variable quality and produced using flexo printers in China and takes eight to ten weeks.

CS Labels installed its first digital press in 2007 and got rid of its last flexo press in 2012. It now has multiple Xeikons and prides itself on the quality of it its services. But managing director Simon Smith says that it’s not enough to differentiate on quality, service, delivery and/or competitive pricing.