Feb 21, 2008

Label printer John Watson installs world's longest Heidelberg


John Watson & Co, the Glasgow label printer, has installed the world's longest B2 Heidelberg press, which has 15 units and forms part of a £4m-plus investment.

The Speedmaster CD 74 UV press, ordered last summer, has a pre-coater and drier prior to nine printing units, and a double coater with two interdeck driers and an extended delivery system at the end.

The machine will print wet labels and tube and box wraps for the whisky market, which represents 90% of the Glasgow firm's business.

John Watson & Co joint managing director Robert McLachlan said the whisky industry was putting value back into its brands by adding more colours.

"We are keen to have the ninth unit for those extra colours or specific varnishes," he said.

The £9.5m-turnover firm will use the pre-coater to apply metallics, white or pearlescents, and the double coaters to apply spot gloss and overall matt finishes for maximum lift and shelf appeal.

The coaters are also equipped with infra red and hot air dryers.

"Our goal is to have one-pass production with maximum clarity," said McLachlan.

The press will be housed at the firm's 3,000sqm factory.

The investment also included a six-colour Heidelberg CD 74 and Gietz foil-blocker.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Hi there,

I just found your blog, it has been a really interesting read! On the subject of labels, a while back i managed to find a british labels company who sold me a batch of plain labels for a really low price.