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If you don’t think “Hawkeye State” when it comes to leading edge digital
web printing and finishing – think again.
A traditional Des Moines label manufacturer meets the growing demands for digital web printing in the mid-west
with technology from HP and Rotoflex International. |
Owners Tom Weisner and Brian Patterson with Rotoflex Vericut 2 digital finishing system |
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In 2007, Forbes magazine ranked Des Moines, Iowa as the fourth
“Best Place for Business” in the US.
That might come as a surprise, but with its big city bustle
and small town charm, Des Moines has become a hub for big business nationwide.
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Just ask Label Advantage owners Tom Weisner and Brian Patterson
what digital means to their customers and you will
hear comments like, “…shorter time to market…brand inspired
label designs” and “…package prototypes in just hours.” Servicing
clients in food and beverage, medical, automotive, agricultural,
advertising and cosmetics – Label Advantage has quickly learned that digital
printing is all about the brand.
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Established in 1996, Label Advantage is a custom manufacturer of labels and tags for companies not just in Iowa,
but coast-to-coast.“"We provide a closed loop system for label
manufacturing that incorporates the latest design software, platemaking,
production, and finishing equipment. This system provides our customers
with fast turnaround
and state-of-the-art quality,” notes Weisner.
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“
…saved a significant amount of production time and material, enabling us to increase the bottom line and
become more competitive through short-run product diversification.
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With over 19 years of industry experience, partners Weisner and Patterson are involved in every aspect of the
company’s operation from customer service to shipping. “We had
a company mission to become the premier supplier of labels by providing
superior customer
value though continually improving our procedures and processes.
In 1998, we acquired our second flexo press and then in 1999
purchased an image setter and platemaker to become a complete
in-house operation. In 2003, we moved to a 12,000 sq. ft. facility expanding
our capabilities
with
a third press. Our success in the marketplace has resulted
from having a team of dedicated employees, adding new technology,
and meeting the need of our customers. In 2007, we added the Hp ws 4050
digital web
press and
the Rotoflex Vericut 2 putting us on the cutting edge of
technology for label printing,” adds Patterson. |
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“
Digital is all about the customer’s brand and getting products off the shelf.
It supports our business building goals, but more importantly supports the needs of our customers.
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Package Prototypes in Just Hours
According to a Packaging Strategies study, digital printing for packaging will grow at a compound annual rate of 20%
through 2007. The typical new package development process involves multiple concept designs and extensive test
marketing. So what does digital printing have to offer the package design market in the mid-west? Faster time to
market and significant cost savings compared to traditional flexo methods.
“Our innovation is derived from our ability to prototype different material constructions and inks for specialized
applications. We help customers resolve difficulties in the design, production and application of labels.
We are currently producing 4 color process short runs with multiple design skews both on paper and film.” comments
Patterson.
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Complete Digital Label Production
“The label business is very competitive, but our new HP Indigo
and Rotoflex finishing system quickly changed the playing
field in our favor. The combination is the ideal compliment to our traditional
flexo business,” notes
Weisner.
“We like the HP Indigo because it provides us with the ability
for quick change overs with little to no material waste.
This is important in our business as paper is the number one cost of doing
business. The HP
Indigo ws 4050 has
helped in adding new accounts for new markets and expanded
our customer base,” comments Patterson.
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Vericut 2 magnetic die adds flexibility and easy set-up |
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“The Rotoflex Vericut 2 is the ideal finishing solution because it is a second generation and Rotoflex is a trusted
brand in die cutting and label converting. We like that we were able to get more features for our dollar with the
Vericut 2 system versus other finishing units on the market. We also like the user-friendly interface for entering
job information and the fact that once the job is set up, it maintains outstanding registration. The Vericut 2 system
has been reliable and has exceeded our expectations for finishing of the HP digital label production,”
adds Patterson.
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“We joke that we’re the first ’digital house on the prairie’,
but the fact remains that we won’t be the last. Digital is all about the
customer’s brand and getting products off the shelf. It supports our business
building goals, but more importantly supports the needs of our customers.
We’re pleased to be at the forefront of the digital
evolution in the mid-west,” notes Weisner.
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