South Wales label printer Reel Label Solutions has taken delivery of a Durst Tau 330 RSC E inkjet press to meet increasing demand after 12 years operating inkjet presses.
A £1.2 million management buyout backed by the Development Bank of Wales in May last year allowed Paul Prothero to step back from the business with a partial exit for Chris Duffin, leaving Jonathan Wright the third of the founding trio to become its managing director. The MBO was the preferred option over a trade sale.
Further investment in capacity was part of the management buyout plans, culminating in installation of the Durst a year later. The company first installed a Jetrion 4830 inkjet press in 2011 followed in 2019 by a Domino N610i. This offered a resolution of 600x600dpi. The Durst represents a further step forward with a 1200x1200dpi resolution.
Says Wright: “We have long experience with inkjet and have in-depth knowledge of its capabilities,” said Wright. “Having carried out extensive testing, we found the Durst Tau 330 RSC E to be the best press on the market to fulfil our needs, not just for now but for our future growth. No other manufacturer could match the Durst technology.
“With the 1200dpi print resolution, we have found this not only provides a leap in print quality, but we are also seeing a reduction in ink usage that allows us to compete with longer run work. The operators are saying that the Durst Tau 330 RSC E is smoother and easier to operate and have been blown away by the print results.”
Pharmaceutical labelling is a key sector for the 27-strong business in Pontyclun. As well as digital, it runs flexo presses for pressure sensitive labels. Sales are in the region of £3.5 million.
Wright adds; “The initial support from the Development Bank of Wales for the management buyout put us in a position of real strength to build a long term sustainable future. The bank has stayed true to its word and stood by us as we’ve continued to grow over the last year. This latest investment is a real vote of confidence in our business, giving us the extra growth funding required to invest in the latest printing technology as we scale up production to meet growing demand.”
