Baker Labels, the noted printer of trade label printers, has scaled up finishing abilities of BakPac, its facility for digital pouch manufacturing, by deploying half a million pounds for a new Digicon 3000 courtesy of ABG and Edale. This is a digital converting and finishing system (wide-web) which enables web widths ranging between 400 and 762 mm. It was tailored and produced as a partnership with ABG and Edale and is the first-such UK installation for the flex-pack category.

It has been installed at the company’s site sometime earlier and will function simultaneously with the HP Indigo 20000 digital press of Baker Labels for ensuring a complete converting line and single-pass printing for flexible packaging (short-run). Some top features include flexo or hybrid gravure print station, rewinding and slitting, water-based lamination, cold foil, and dual-function unwind station.

The General Manager at BakPac, Baker Labels, Phil Smith, stated that the Digicon 3000 was a natural option, taking all factors into account. It will help the company come up with more value additions for flexible packaging, including spot varnish, added coatings and embellishments of cold foil. The optional gravure coating system has also been introduced for enabling the operation of development chemistries to ensure newer effects and coatings. There has also been an extension of the facility throughout the break during Christmas with a view towards making space for hits new press. 93 square meters have been added for the factory floor for digital pouches, along with one more floor overhead for the press services. Steve Baker, the Managing Director at Baker Labels, stated that there is high demand for quicker turnarounds and supreme quality along with shorter and medium rums of digitally-printed pouches and the flow wrap. The Digicon 3000, according to him, will enable the company to foray into newer markets while enabling higher job value. Baker Labels was established by Roy and Marian Baker in 1973 and has a total of 112 employees with a £16m turnover.