What is it?
It’s a roll-fed digital label press, which uses liquid electro-ink technology for up to seven colours, including white.

Why did you choose it?
We were very impressed by its high quality of print and believed it was the best digital press on the market to meet our needs. It’s ideal for short- to medium-run print jobs, which is our main market sector.

Did you look at other similar models?
We looked at various other machine options, but in terms of quality and flexibility of substrates, the WS4050 was head and shoulders above the competition.

What features did you particularly like about it?
We loved the ability to combine variable data, for example consecutive numbers and barcodes, along with litho quality print. In the past, this would have taken more than one pass through the machine – costing more time and money. We also found each job had virtually no set up, waste and time between jobs. Our customers like that there are no plate charges and alterations can be easily made on repeat orders. We attracted several new clients by offering a free printed sample of their label straight from the press.

Is there anything that you dislike?
The costs involved are quite high over and above the cost of purchase, like click and service charges. But the machine is very productive so we make savings in other areas.

How easy is it to use?
Two of our operators were trained in Maastricht at HP Indigo’s training centre, which was essential to the operation of the machine. It was quite daunting at first because everything was very new and we’re still learning now. Transferring files across from our art room to the Indigo is easy, but things seem to go missing – so careful checking is a must.

How quick is it?
The machine, like all digital presses, is not particularly fast at 16m per minute full colour and 32m per minute one- or two-colours. But set up is fast compared to conventional presses.

How reliable is it?
We’ve had some problems, but it is fair to say we were told from the beginning that this type of technology does take time bedding in. The service and back-up has been great.

What’s the quality like?
Exceptional. Printing dense blacks along the side, tiny print or very fine reverse-out text is absolutely no problem.

Would you say that it’s saved you time?
For some jobs, the time saving has been great. For example, one job we produced conventionally, multiple sorts ie plate changes and colour changes, took one day. On the Indigo this job was completed in 35 minutes with another 30 minutes on the finishing unit.

Has it helped you to find new work?
Yes, we can undoubtedly produce variable information labels cheaper than before, which is encouraging new business. We have picked up new work based purely on the print quality and ignoring some of the other advantages of digital production. We are picking up new customers every day, but as we are trade printers, we obviously cannot divulge any names. I can say that one new market we have picked up is short run and prototype shrink-sleeves for the drinks market.

Did you experience any difficulties during the installation?
Installation was a major upheaval, moving machines to create space – building an HP Indigo air-conditioned clean room environment was a big expense. But we took advan-tage by building a mezzanine floor above, thus creating more space.

How good was the service?
As I mentioned before, the service has been good. We will be undertaking more training in the future to enable in-house maintenance, which will give us more experience and self-reliance in the future.

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CONCLUSION
User’s verdict
Service 5/5
Quality 5/5
Reliability 4/5
Ease of use 4/5

Supplier’s response
“The 4050 has been a marvellous product for us and so far we’ve got 170 European installations, which we’re delighted with in such a short space of time,” says EMEA industrial specialist at HP Indigo Syd Roberts. “Label printers have been trying to work out how to make a good profit margin on short-run work for some time and the 4050 is the perfect business solution for short- to medium-run jobs.”
Price 370,000-£430,000
Contact HP Indigo UK 01923 242402

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