The Rotherham-based business has replaced an existing Xeikon 330 machine with the new model, which will help the printer cater for shorter run lengths.
Managing director of the 25-year-old company, Bill Hine, said its original Xeikon purchase gave the company a foot in the door to the digital labels arena and complemented its flexographic operation.
"We were definitely seeing demand for shorter and shorter runs of a hundred or so metres that would not have been economical to carry out on our flexo machines," he said.
"The further enhancements in both image quality and production speed for the Xeikon 3000 meant that it was the next logical step for us."
Hine Labels, which employs 40 people, primarily serves other printers, including other label businesses and print brokers.
"Our business comes from trade customers. They generally don’t have a preference with regard to the printing process that we use. What they want is high-quality, colour-consistent labels in the shortest possible production time," Hine said.
The Xeikon 3000 has been designed for the production of short- to medium-run lengths. Its can print at speeds of up to 9.6m a minute at resolutions of 1,200dpi, compared to a top output rate of 19.2m a minute on Xeikon's 330 machine.
As well as printing on standard stocks, the Xeikon 3000 can handle substrates including self-adhesive films, co-extruded films, unsupported films and transparent and opaque foils.
Hine Labels builds on labels demand with UK's first Xeikon 3000
Hine Labels has boosted its digital print setup by investing in the UK's first Xeikon 3000 label press.
