Pioneering new technology in the label-printing industry is well-traveled territory for Pemara. The label and packaging printer was the first company to bring rotary self-adhesive label machinery to Australia, and it has always used progressive printing technology to evolve alongside its clients.
Recently, the Melbourne-based company began to re-evaluate its conventional printing process, which offered affordable, large-volume print runs, but fell short on smaller runs. Consequently, inventory management and cost control had become prevalent issues.
Pemara needed new technology to serve its fast-paced clients who demanded shorter print runs, including many clients in the pharmaceutical industry. The company found the solution to its problems in digital printing—HP Indigo digital presses.
Meeting changing demands
Prior to adopting digital technology, the pharmaceutical industry’s need for high-quality, eye-catching labels on an ever-changing schedule proved particularly challenging for Pemara. Damien Prunty, general manager at Pemara, explains:“In Australia the amount of time and money spent on regulatory changes and artwork for pharmaceutical packaging is exorbitant.”
“In terms of offset printing, we’re looking at four-color artwork, up to 300 SKUs, and three or more changes per year dictated by legislation or branding,” says Prunty. Using conventional printing, Pemara couldn’t keep up with demand, often leaving customers with out-of-date inventory.
It wasn’t until Pemara began using HP Indigo digital presses that the company achieved the short-run versatility and price points to satisfy customers. Having the technology to produce labels and packaging in low numbers—including product samples—was key in meeting industry demands.
Affordable quality and speed
“HP Indigo presses have opened up whole new potential areas of business for us, without compromising on print quality,” says Prunty. The company began using an HP Indigo digital press in 2001, and today owns one HP Indigo WS6000 and two HP Indigo WS4500s.
The digital presses deliver reliable, high-quality results at an affordable price—and offer the fast turnaround customers demand. “Not having to go through the plate-making process has definitely saved time in getting jobs to press,” says Prunty.
The HP Indigo WS6000 Digital Press gives Pemara the ability to transfer jobs up to 16,404.2 linear feet (5,000 linear meters) from conventional printing to digital—at a lower cost. The digital presses are also compatible with a wider variety of materials for greater output versatility. “The HP Indigo WS6000 gives our customers the flexibility and quality the market demands,” says Prunty.
In addition, HP Indigo digital presses have increased the company’s amount of saleable material by minimizing media waste and boosting efficiency. “One of the inherent advantages of digital printing is the reduction in print media wastage, both in setup waste reduction and run waste,” says Prunty.
Digital is the future
Digital printing is now vital to Pemara’s success. After using HP Indigo digital presses for more than a decade, the company plans to continue investing in the technology. “There is no doubt in my mind that HP is the leader for digitally printed labels,” concludes Prunty.“We’ll remain at the forefront of digital printing with HP and we’ll certainly be the first in line to install the next wave of Indigo technology.”
Source: www.hp.com
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