JWEI is targeting the European market with its first digital label finishing line, the fully automatic RSF-330.
The 330mm-wide line uses QR-codes to identify and automatically set-up cutting and cold lamination settings between jobs.
It uses eight cutting heads and cuts at up to 12m/min, with waste automatically removed and other automated features include deviation correction, positioning, continuous cutting, sheeting, slitting, and winding.
Launched last month, the machine is receiving its European debut at Fespa.
International Graphics Supplies (IGS), which enjoys exclusive distribution rights for JWEI's cutting machines In the UK, had a hand in the Chinese manufacturer’s entry into the label market, according to managing director Peter Flynn.
He told Printweek: “We’ve spoken a number of times to label manufacturers who said: ‘If only you had a label cutter, we’d be interested.’
“So we fed that back to JWEI, along with a number of their other European distributors, and – bless them – they took our comments on board and came up with this label cutter. It has been very successful in China – they have sold over 50 of them so far.”
IGS will charge £79,000 for the machine in the UK, including delivery, installation, training and twelve months’ parts and labour warranty – a price point that Flynn said would give printers a quick return on investment.
“We’re looking at the short to medium-run market,” Flynn said.
“Looking at shorter runs, the return on investment is very quick – a typical die used for the labels market is costing you £300 - £400 a time.”
Despite the unfamiliarity of the British market with Chinese brands, in three years ISG has made 58 JWEI installations from a standing start.
Flynn put the growth down to the high quality of the machines, and their competitive pricing compared to their European counterparts.
He said: “Our very first installation was down in Falmouth, four and a half hours’ drive away - but he has not had a service call in three years.
“We’ve found the same thing with all our customers: that these machines are very, very, reliable.”
Flynn added that he would be attending Fespa 2023 at JWEI's stand in hall A2, booth C80.
