The Screen Truepress Jet L350UV label press is being installed this week at the trade label printer's site in Brentwood, Essex, and complements a Nilpeter FB-3 flexo press and three HP digital presses, a 4050 and two 6800s.

Before choosing the Truepress Jet L350UV press with Screen Equios workflow, managing director Steve Baker looked at various machines before making his final decision at Labelexpo.

“We looked at Durst and Domino machines: we liked the Domino but it was a bit more industrial for our needs. We do 40 to 60 jobs a day with lots of fast changeovers.

“We felt a need for a machine that was suitable for short to medium-length runs and the Domino was more for medium-length and longer runs. The Screen machine also better complemented our HPs.

“However, it addresses some of the minor weaknesses of the HPs such as the strength of white, scuff resistance on some substrates and punchiness of colour on clear substrates.”

Baker Labels, which paid circa £500,000 for the Truepress, offers a design, pre-press, print and finishing trade service and specialises in bespoke self-adhesive and non-self-adhesive labels.

The Truepress Jet has a 50m/min top speed and a maximum printing width of up to 322mm, enabling it to deliver 16.1sqm per minute.

It features an automated head-cleaning function, which Screen said simplifies maintenance and reduces the amount of time required to keep the press in an optimum condition.

Baker said he hoped the new purchase would open up new markets such as outdoor work for sectors such as agri-chemicals.

“There was not a specific need for the Screen kit but many of our customers have jobs that absolutely need it. We also like the machine.

“We used to be screen printers and the new buy is more digital screen print as opposed to our HPs, which are more like digital litho.”

Baker Labels' 60 staff generate sales of just under £8m.

“A few companies purport to be trade printers but undertake as much work for end-users as possible when things are tough. We don't go looking for end-users; the only ones we have are very long-established customers.”

He added: “We produce labels in short to medium-length runs to tight deadlines so we have to rely on highly efficient presses that deliver maximum uptime and consistent results.

“The new Truepress Jet not only boosts our production capacity but, as a UV inkjet press, gives us the ability to produce great-quality labels with good light, chemical and water resistance.

“We have a wide variety of customers with diverse label needs and this latest investment gives us the freedom to choose the best press to produce the best label for a specific application.”