Harkwell Labels is making preparations for the arrival of an HP Indigo 25K later this year. The Poole company will use the machine to produce larger labels more economically than on its narrow web Indigos and to increase its expanding pouches business.
The 720mm wide press will be installed in an extension to the current building along with lamination and pouch making line and spout inserting equipment.
Business development director Andrew Mansfield says: “The 25K will be a multitasking machine. The wider web will allow us to be more efficient because we can place multiples of labels across the web and so eat into longer runs that are currently printed flexo.” This will apply especially to larger labels that can only fit one across on Harkwell’s four other Indigos.
The real opportunity will be through the ability to offer a greater range of packaging products for customers: an energy products company can stay with Harkwell as it migrates from tubs to pouches for example, or a gin producer from labels in bottles to pouches for example. “It’s almost a one-stop shop approach,” says Mansfield.
“We have a lot of expertise so we can talk about the options and advise customers about flexible packaging requirements. That can be about managing expectations and making recommendations about what will work.”
The real opportunity lies with pouches and flexible packaging. Harkwell can produce a 70cl pouch with spout that is being used by gin companies to send their product through the post. The pouch fits inside a flat pack that can fit through a standard letterbox. This, says Mansfield, is a great advance over glass bottles. “It is too expensive for these companies to send glass bottles. If one breaks in the post, they have to replace it but do not get paid again so they are making a profit. The larger web suits these pouches.”
The company has already installed Indigo 6K at the start of this year and is helping the business develop its range of sustainable and recyclable products, according to Mansfield. “We have a range of responsible, compostable, sustainable materials. We are printing on materials with 30% recycled content that is compostable and sustainable,” he says.
Harkwell can also print with invisible ink and other effects which both add value and have a security aspect. With the same printing technology across the factory, the company can move from small labels to labels for tubs to pouches with consistent quality.
Which the customer chooses, will be worked out in consultation. “We find out what they want to achieve and we can come up with a better way to do it because we have the options,” says Mansfield.
