Baker Labels adds two new A B Graphic Digicons to Finishing capabilites.

Continuing his commitment to re-invest in the latest equipment, Steve Baker has purchased 2 new ABG Digicon Series 3 finishers to increase capabilities and satisfy the increasing label printing demands of trade customers.

The equipment represents a financial investmentment in excess of £650,000 and comes soon after the 10,000 sqft expansion of Baker Labels facilities in Brentwood providing a total facility of over 35,000sqft and employee numbers reaching 80.

Digicon Series 3 systems are modular in design, so ABG can tailor make them to suit different companies’ requirements. The Digicons delivered to Bakers have a very high spec. One of the units in particular will provide customers the opportunity to achieve fantastic high end labels with two flexo heads, a Big Foot (50 ton) hot foil/embossing unit, two laminating stations, flat bed silkscreen, die cutting and auto slit knives. Both Digicons have 100% camera inspection.

“We have no real idea of what the next enquiry will be so we have to continuously invest in cutting edge equipment to be able to meet almost any demand. The only real guarantee is that the value of standard digital work is going to fall with so many new players entering the market so we need to be able to offer high end embellishments to deliver a value added product. We obviously have a long relationship with ABG and their quality is really second to none which made the purchase decision much easier.” Steve Baker, Managing Director

Installation of the equipment has taken place in 3 stages. Having moved the current finishing equipment (an ABG Digicon HS Finisher and ABG Digicon Series 2) to a temporary area within the new factory unit, the first Digicon Series 3 was delivered on Wednesday 4th July and installed over the next 2 days by ABG’s expert engineers. Training and testing on the machine started straight away and the first jobs were finished on the Digicon just a few days after installation.

The second, higher spec Digicon was delivered on Monday 23rd July and installed expertly onto the factory floor. The Technical and NPD (New Product Development) manager Jamie Godson welcomes the new Digicons and the new challenges it brings to the production team and machine operators.

“We’ve been planning the arrival of the two Series 3 Digicons for the last few months. Our operators have received training from AB Graphic on site and have been keen to get started on testing and trialling various methods and tools. We intend to push the machine to its limits enabling us to produce the highest quality labels in Bakers customary quick turnaround times. Understanding every aspect of the press is integral to this process.” Jamie Godson, Techical and NPD manager.

To promote the arrival of the new Digicons, trade customers will soon be able to request a new sample pack of bespoke labels produced and finished at Bakers that emphasise and show off the new capabilities. These un-branded label samples will allow our trade customers to promote sales and provide graphic designers a whole new level of creative opportunities for product labels.