AA Labels has invested in a cutting table, lamination and foiling technology from Vivid Laminating, as well as flatbed inkjet printing from Canon as it prepares to expand its online label printing business into short run cartons.
“We are broadening our product range with a plotter, foiling and laminating for sample and possibly for shorter runs,” says business development manager Ian Axelsen. The equipment from Vivid comprises a Matrix laminator with foiling capability and a Veloblade Volta digital cutting table. The target is the customer in the luxury goods sector.
The company has built an online business supplying labels ordered via the web from its factory in Peterborough, where the line up of label presses includes an HP Indigo and a 330FB embellishment line from GM. This was purchased at the end of last year, along with a further finishing line, the DC350, and PNT160S core cutting machine.
That investment was made following research showing that luxury goods, and therefore packaging, markets continue to grow. Now similar work has underpinned the step into cartons. “We have undertaken market research, including with our own customers, to confirm that they are looking beyond labelling,” says Axelsen. “This has involved research from the financial sector which predicts that the packaging industry is set for growth over the next five years and the choice of fibre based packaging will be driven by greater consumer awareness of the need for recyclability.”
The Peterborough business was founded in 2006, initially as a supplier of plain labels before expanding into printing and the development of its own workflow and web to print software. Like many, lockdown has given the company the opportunity to produce work for businesses that have started as micro operations.
One such company is Hot Scotch, a chilli sauce producer, for whom AA Labels has created a design and labels package.
Axelsen adds: “One of the core parts of our business involves the supply of plain and printed labels to a range of customers transitioning from hobby and home production to a small business.
“To give these businesses as much support as possible, our customer care team will assist with thoughts and ideas around packaging, plus support with design services.
“Over the years, we have seen a lot of initially small producers grow to become significant suppliers within their market sectors. There is no doubt that the level of interest and enquiry has grown during the lockdown periods, caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Now it hopes that it can take customers on the same path with cartons. The hope is that everything will be ready by the end of the year. “Our business model will not change. There will be the same customer experience, web to press and customer fulfilment – all online. We are hoping that this will prove interesting and innovative for customers.”
