PRESS RELEASE
January 9, 2025
Abbey Labels’ journey with Xeikon continues as it welcomes the new LX3000 digital press into its business in Suffolk. Known as a pioneer in the label industry, the company is the first in the UK to install ‘The Lion’ press which features high performance, advanced inspection and eco-friendly toners.
(L–R): Ser van de Graaf (Sales Manager Labels, Graphic Arts and Carton Packaging, Benelux, UK & Ireland, Xeikon), Tom Allum (chairman, Abbey Labels) and Hans Gerinckx (VP Sales Labels & Packaging, Xeikon)
Once again demonstrating its commitment to innovation and dedicated customer service, Abbey Labels has made a strategic investment in the latest high-speed digital label press from Xeikon. The new powerful LX3000 (aka ‘The Lion’), which joins two Xeikon CX300s at the company’s modern production facility, is already off to a roaring start. Printing at up to 42 m/min (138 ft/min), this five-colour, dry toner press offers a significant jump in productivity. It features Cruise Control inspection to ensure that only the highest quality labels leave the building in Bury St Edmunds, according to chairman Tom Allum.
“As expected, the Lion has quickly settled into our label operation. This new beast gives us fantastic speed, excellent 1200 dpi print quality and industry-leading sustainability in one high-productivity package,” he comments, adding, “As the first full installation in the UK, the Lion is another great opportunity for Abbey Labels to bring more value for our customers. And not only does the impressive 40% speed increase provide more printing capacity, it also reduces the energy consumption per linear metre.”
In addition to higher speed, the LX3000 press takes advantage of Xeikon’s new ECO toner technology which reduces the carbon footprint of the process by more than 10%, making label production even more sustainable. ECO toners are made with 60% recycled plastic materials, are free from PFAS and are certified vegan. Like Xeikon’s older toners, they are also food-safe and contain no harmful Bisphenol-A (BPA), mineral oil or photoinitiators.
“More than simply offering faster speeds and guaranteed high quality with the new Cruise Control system, the LX3000 is also the environmentally friendly choice. Our brand owner clients demand proven sustainability to help reduce their carbon footprints, so we’re particularly pleased to be able to offer all the green benefits of Xeikon’s new ECO toners. This was a definite selling point for us,” explains Allum.
Keen to fulfil his long-held ambition, the deal with Xeikon was sealed at drupa last June when Allum travelled to Germany for the official handshake. “Ever since I first started visiting drupa as a teenager with my dad, I’ve dreamt of signing for a new press at the world’s largest print show,” he says with a smile. “We’d only just agreed to invest in the LX3000 the day before the show opened, so we had to make quick arrangements for the trip to Düsseldorf. It was well worth it though, because it’s so much better to finalise these deals in person.”
Having accelerated digital printing capacity over the past couple of years by 50%, Abbey Labels has also made significant investments in new converting capabilities and built a dedicated finishing hall, which positions it well to take productivity and sustainability to the next level with the new Xeikon LX3000 press.
Allum concludes, “Just a few weeks in, we’ve seen a big change in our turnaround times and output speeds, as the Lion is literally eating label job after label job in no time at all. With this press and the new ECO toners, we’re ready for the next chapter in our history. Most importantly, we have invested in what I truly believe is one of the most, if not the most, environmentally friendly and sustainable digital label printing technology on the market today.”
For enquiries, please contact Chairman Tom Allum: tom@abbeylabels.co.uk
ABOUT ABBEY LABELS
Tracing its roots back to 1982, Abbey Labels is East Anglia’s leading label supplier. The company works closely with businesses across the United Kingdom, from global brand owners to small artisan producers, delivering high-quality, full-colour labels printed on its fleet of flexo and digital label presses. Due to continual investments in best-in-class machinery, it has the capacity to fulfil orders of unlimited size, in high quality, with an extremely quick turnaround.
With BRC Grade AA and ISO 14001 certification, Abbey Labels is committed to providing the best possible service while at the same time remaining conscious of its environmental impact.
