The Label Makers Improves Efficiency with Martin Automatic
The new Martin Automatic LRD is fitted to the same MPS flexo press. Both units were custom designed to accommodate restricted workspace. | Credit: Martin Automatic
In the six decades since The Label Makers was established in Bradford, West Yorkshire, the company has always invested in the latest equipment to steer a path towards excellence in label production. Press manufacturing technology from Gallus, Nilpeter, MPS, Xeikon and Durst have all been part of the development programme that now sees the The Label Makers’ offices adorned with trophies and certificates acknowledging its manufacturing excellence.
Today, the company supplies labels to a wide range of industries from food & beverage to personal care and petrochemicals and decorative coatings. And it’s the company’s attention to detail that sets it apart from the competition. According to Managing Director Zenna Parfaniuk: “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 pre-press to delivery and is assisted by the fact that the company enjoys great stability of staff so that customers form long-term relationships that build trust. In today’s competitive marketplace, it’s often the small things that make the difference, especially when you specialise in products at the top end of the scale.
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 – and 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 the Dutch firm MPS.
The third and latest press of its type at the company’s Bradford facility is a 10-colour 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 explained.
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. Commenting, Mr Hyde added: “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, but Martin tailored the design of its units specially to match the footprint available on the production floor. Sales Manager for Martin Automatic Chris Chappel takes up the story: “Although floorspace and ceiling height were initial concerns, but 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.”
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 660 mm, roll diameters up to 1250 mm, and transfer speeds of up to 300 m/min. As the units were fitted onto an existing line at The Label Makers the installation was carefully planned to ensure minimal disruption, allowing the new equipment to be integrated seamlessly while production continued smoothly.
Praised by the operators for ease of use and reduced wear and tear, the Martin technology has made improvement to the press’ efficiency. “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 specialising in embellished finishing at the top end of the market,” said Mrs 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 Mr Hyde estimates its saves at least 80m of material per roll change, not to mention the issues of time lost and variable print quality associated with stopping and then ramping up to full production speed afterwards. But the rewards are equally worthwhile on short run work that is now much in demand.
He also believes that future investment will include Martin Automatic technology added to the two other MPS presses as well as automated waste extraction to maximise 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.”
Concluding, Zenna Parfaniuk stated: “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.” Few could doubt the success of the company’s philosophy because enjoys annual sales of around £11.5m from a customer portfolio that reads like a brand owners’ ‘Who’s Who’.
Chris Chappel added: “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. In particular, I’d like to extend sincere thanks to Zenna, Jamie, and their entire team who have been easy to work with and a valued partner throughout this project.” With the current global problem of recruiting and keeping quality personnel, especially in production, the use of automation where possible is the only way forward – and Martin is well placed with its expertise to tailor the optimum solution.
The preceding press release was provided by a company unaffiliated with Packaging Impressions. The views expressed within may not directly reflect the thoughts or opinions of the staff of Packaging Impressions.
