The Kidderminster-based business took delivery of a Nilpeter FB3300 four-colour flexo press in January and followed this with a RotoMetrics Versa-Cut dual-adjust anvil in February.

The new Nilpeter machine is the company’s fourth, meaning it can now print up to 10 colours using both UV flexo and water-based inks.

The company also operates four additional presses, including a plain label machine and a digital Trojan T4, and offers laminating, cold foiling, perforation, slot punching and undercutting services.

Aztec Label managing director Colin Le Gresley said: “Despite the challenges of the global pandemic and lockdown, we have continued to experience record sales at Aztec. The industry is very busy responding to the shifting needs of brands and the consumer demand volatility that has been unprecedented in recent months.

“This further Nilpeter investment provides us with significant additional capacity to respond to our customers quickly and with the quality we have become known for.”

He added the investment also futureproofs the business, along with a recent extension to its warehousing facilities. It acquired additional space in July 2020 and refurbishment was completed in November, taking the company’s total footprint to around 1,850sqm.

The purchase of the RotoMetrics Versa-Cut dual-adjust anvil has made Aztec Label the first company in Europe to have four installed on its lines.

“With the range of materials we handle, and the production efficiency we’re always seeking, Versa-Cut enables our press operators to maintain precise control irrespective of the varying nature of each job,” said Le Gresley.

“Having Versa-Cut on all of our Nilpeter presses provides us with complete die-cutting control, consistency and accuracy.”

The Versa-Cut anvil gives the press operator precise control of liner strike. With both parallel and single-side adjustability, it is designed to overcome the challenges associated with material inconsistencies, thinner liners, and uneven die wear.

Finally, the business also invested in a second license for the native pdf editing Packz software from Hybrid Software in February.

“Adding an extra seat to our pre-press department ensures we are eliminating any potential bottlenecks as the company grows. I’m delighted that my eldest son, Oliver, who is currently completing his degree at Birmingham University, will be taking on this work,” said Le Gresley.

“Packz acts like a pre-press one-stop-shop for us. With such a broad array of customers, we need the ability to deal with lots of files, coming from multiple sources, in a simple way.

“There are no file conversions needed, it’s universal, secure and self-contained. Packz offers the ability to check font issues and embedded information and deals with trapping, editing, and full step and repeat, all in one file that can go straight to platemaking.”

Established in 1993, Aztec Label manufactures a wide range of self-adhesive label and tag products.