One of the UK's leading label printing companies

Abbey Labels invests in Xeikon machines to boost production capacity & support sustainability

James Thomas of Xeikon (left) and Abbey Label’s Tom Allum (right)

Suffolk-based Abbey Labels increases its digital label capacity and buys a second Xeikon CX300 press after buying the UK’s first model last year.

Abbey Labels are one of the UK’s leading label printing companies, specialising in over 27 product types and servicing companies across the UK, both large and small. They first added Xeikon’s dry toner technology to its production in 2013 and have recently added the latest Xeikon press model to its digital print department.

The Xeikon CX300 has some impressive features and operating capacities, for example:

  • Runs at 30m/min in full colour
  • Boasts a production capacity of over 50,000sqm in a single shift
  • Equivalent print quality to gravure
  • LED imagine head operates at 1200 x 3600dpi
  • Ability to add custom colours or single-pass opaque white

Abbey Labels have launched a £1 million investment programme to increase their production capacity whilst improving sustainability and print agility. The pair of Xeikon CX300s will replace two Xeikon CX3 presses and will be complemented by a new finishing area. The area will host three new converting machines acquired from A B graphic to boost its finishing and embellishment offering.

Chairman Tom Allum adds, ‘As the most productive press with a 330mm width, not only does the Xeikon CX300 retain the highest print quality on a broad range of challenging substrates and deliver in terms of speed, it also minimises the environmental impact of label manufacturing by not emitting any harmful substances (VOCs) or generating water pollution, and by using only a minimal amount of electricity.

‘The speed and automation on the CX300 delivers 25% more efficiency compared to our existing Xeikon CX3s, allowing us to operate the business in a very agile and responsive manner. We have added 50% more capacity in less than a year, whilst retaining a very similar footprint and the same operators, so the implementation has been very smooth.’

Tom continues, ‘By being the most food-safe digital print technology on the market with an output that is compatible with existing recycling processes, it also gives our customers the reassurance that they are choosing the most food-compliant and environmentally friendly production method for their labels.’

Filip Weymans, Xeikon’s VP of marketing adds, ‘The two Xeikon CX300 presses with next-generation Cheetah 2.0 technology will give Abbey Labels the boost in capacity needed to take its business to the next level and continue to deliver high-quality labels at speed.’

Xeikon’s UK sales manager for labels and packaging, James Thomas, says that ‘Abbey Labels is a progressive, growing business and Xeikon is proud to be its partner. It’s great to be supporting the company with its investment decisions and play a part in the company’s future success.’

This was originally published in Digital Labels & Packaging Magazine.