Print Processes
FLEXO: Talk about any recent equipment purchases, upgrades or developments Lorpon Labels has made lately.
Pontarollo & Sommer: We made an investment a year ago in a new HP Indigo WS6800 Digital Press. We felt that of all the choices currently in the market for digital label and packaging production, the Indigo platform allows us to produce the absolute highest quality. The color gamut and control is really second to none. This allows us to meet even the most stringent brand standards. We did not want to have our clients compromise on anything to have digital labels and packaging.
FLEXO: What percent of the company’s product is printed flexographically? How does digital complement the flexo operation?
Pontarollo & Sommer: With the recent addition of the HP, currently 90 percent of the jobs are run on flexo, but we anticipate that number to shift in the next year. We’ve profiled our flexo to print identical to our digital, allowing our clients to test markets without incurring high costs. Using the digital technology allows our flexo to focus on what it is good at—running larger volumes
FLEXO: Does Lorpon Labels operate any combo or hybrid presses? If so, what type—what processes’ decks are added to the flexo press? Are these relegated to specific types of jobs?
Pontarollo & Sommer: At this time we are not offering any combo or hybrid process, but it’s on our radar for the near future.
FLEXO: As a flexographic printer, what made you invest in digital printing?
Pontarollo & Sommer: Market demands have been changing for quite a while now: SKU proliferation, CPCs wanting to reduce inventory, faster speed to market, smaller order volumes with more frequent ordering, growth opportunity in personalization and customization. Adding digital output complements our flexo offering and allows us to be nimbler.
FLEXO: How do you see digital printing affecting the printing industry, now and going forward?
Pontarollo & Sommer: It is here to stay. The technology continues to improve; digital puts pressure on analog print technology, which is in turn bringing improvements to analog. But there is a time and a place for each technology. The flexo process really shines with larger printruns. Digital fills in the gaps where flexo is not the best choice. It’s really about using the right tool for the job.
Flexo/Label Markets
FLEXO: Where has the flexo market gone in Lorpon Labels’ history?
Pontarollo & Sommer: Flexo used to be considered a low cost, low quality process. The changes in the presses and the input technology (anilox, stickyback, photopolymer plates and improvements in water based and UV inks), have increased the quality of flexo where it is comparable to offset.
FLEXO: Specific to labels, what has Lorpon Labels seen in terms of customer demands, new capabilities, etc.?
Pontarollo & Sommer: There are always pricing pressures—customers are looking at ways to save money or improve productivity. We have seen a trend to more films, less inventory, shorter lead times and more decorative options to stand out on the shelf
FLEXO: Where does the company see demand from consumers affecting operations? Are there any specific products seeing a surge?
Pontarollo & Sommer: Really, it depends on the client. We are always focused on bringing the most value to the client and this means different things to different customers. It depends on the product and their offering. There is definitely a trend moving to clear labels, and of course we are seeing more demand from the consumer for digital prints.
FLEXO: Do your clients’ demands differ depending on the region they do business in? Do you notice regional trends?
Pontarollo & Sommer: Yes, Canada tends to be smaller volumes. Also, Canada always has to account for French language requirements. Canada is not a homogeneous country; many of our clients are very region focused, which can lead to different branding, graphics and flavors of products in different regions. This rationality can favor different print processes depending on the volumes. However, in terms of materials and client demands, things are pretty consistent.