Having converted to PureTone for its flexo printing production, Hungerford based Berkshire Labels is an advocate of the UV flexo ink system as part of a digital colour management solution and drive towards new generation flexo printing.

With a focus on applying digital principles to UV flexo printing and the goal to have a fully ISO certified colour management system, Paul Roscoe MD of Berkshire Labels, witnessed the company’s live PureTone colour matching demos first-hand at Labelexpo 2015.

“I instantly saw the benefits and was convinced PureTone was the concept to help take Berkshire Labels to the next level of flexo printing.” Paul Roscoe

Berkshire Labels recognised that, as well as investing in new print, anilox and HD plate technology, the choice of ink would be critical to achieving its goal of ISO 12647-6 certification (the flexographic printing standard) and ISO 12647-7 (the standard for a digital flexo workflow).

The company’s ultimate goal was to fully embrace digital colour management and run all colours under a dE 2000 tolerance of 2.0. Finding the right ink partner to help Berkshire Labels achieve its aims, whilst allowing its printing presses to reach maximum output, was vital.

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PURETONE CONVERSION -AN EASY TRANSITION

“The transition to PureTone was easy and was completed within just one week,” said Roscoe. Not something most label printers say when they switch to using new inks from a different manufacturer.

A new ink kitchen with buckets of PureTone on the shelves is proudly located alongside the UV flexo production area of the factory - all set up with full technical support and training provided by Pulse Roll Label Products. An X-Rite eXact spectrophotometer with InkFormulation 6 software, ink mixing scales and blending station, plus an RK FlexiProof, together provide a total digital colour management system.

CASE STUDY: Berkshire Labels Formulating a brighter future

INK MANAGEMENT IN THE DIGITAL AGE

Label print quality and colour consistency, as part of the overall product package, play a vital part in maintaining brand integrity on a global scale. Brands need to stand out on the shelf more than ever before as consumers are offered a myriad of product choice.

There is also growing demand from label printers for greater production efficiencies, waste and cost reduction, as well as downtime minimisation and the desire for support from their

ink partners to help make this happen. All these factors drove the development and subsequent launch of narrow web ink specialist Pulse Roll Label

Products’ UV flexo PureTone ink system at Labelexpo Europe in 2015.

We understand how critical it is for brand owners to have accurate and standardised colour. We also wanted to develop an innovative ink solution for the narrow web printer to support a more

efficient production workflow offering complete pre-press colour control and optimum print quality.

Gary Seward, Managing Director, Pulse Roll Label Products

ADDRESSING THE NEED FOR STANDARDISED COLOUR

The PureTone high strength UV flexo ISO process inks and mono-pigmented mixing bases, along with ink formulation software, digital colour measurement and pre-press proofing, are today part of Pulse Roll Label Products’ solution to meet the needs of brand owners, label printers and retailers alike.

The PureTone ISO process set (depending on anilox, plate, tape and substrate choice) allows the printer to achieve ISO compliance.

The PureTone mixing base range offers cleaner and brighter colours due to the single pigment formulation. Optimised colour strength allows lower film weights of ink, meaning more can be printed with less, and the potential for metamerism is reduced. Jobs can be moved from press to press and still achieve the same colour consistency and print quality. And greater flexibility is provided for printing half-tones and full-tones using just one printing plate.

Pulse Roll Label Products LtdUnit U, Lawrence Drive, Stover Trading Estate, Yate, Bristol, BS37 5PG, United Kingdom

www.pulserl.com

Main: +44 (0)1454 272 433

technical@pulserl.com

Technical: +44 (0)1454 272 437

sales@pulserl.com

Proud winners of The Queen’s Award for Enterprise:

International Trade 2015

CASE STUDY: Berkshire Labels Formulating a brighter future

A TOTAL COLOUR MANAGEMENT SOLUTION

Pantone books are now a thing of the past at Berkshire Labels. Today at Berkshire Labels, all PureTone process inks hit ISO standards in terms of density and colour readings. PureTone mono-pigmented mixing bases are formulated to match Pantone and spot colours, all achievable using the same plates and standard volume anilox rollers ensuring standardisation across all flexographic printing presses. The PureTone and digital ink management concept fits perfectly within Berkshire Label’s lean manufacturing workflow.

THE VALUE OF PURETONE

“PureTone really has surpassed our expectations. We have accurate and consistent colour every time, minimal downtime and so much more flexibility.”Paul Bailey, Pre-Press Co-ordinator

Press down-time at Berkshire Labels is minimal (everything is approved and ready pre-press), make-ready waste has been greatly reduced (on the new Mark Andy press from 500 metres to just 50 metres).

Brand owners are guaranteed the highest level of print quality and consistent colour matching each and every time.

Having successfully integrated PureTone inks and digital colour management into its lean label manufacturing process, Berkshire Labels is on course to achieving its aim of having a fully certified colour management system.

Paul Roscoe, Berkshire Labels

Complete colour control pre-press

Accurate and repeatable colour

Optimum print quality

Greater flexibility across printing presses

Reduced waste and downtime

Paul Bailey, Pre-Press Co-ordinator, Berkshire Labels

About Berkshire Labelswww.berkshirelabels.co.uk

Founded in 1983, Berkshire Labels Ltd manufactures both UV flexo and digitally printed self-adhesive labels and sleeves from its factory in Hungerford and is today one of the largest privately-owned label companies in the UK. Producing high quality labels and sleeves for leading consumer brands, the company is an approved supplier to all the major food retailers. All of Berkshire Labels’ commitments are underpinned by its ISO9001/2008, ISO14001/2004 and BRC/IOP certifications.

About Pulse Roll Label ProductsPulse Roll Label Products Ltd has been supplying high quality inks and varnishes to thelabel industry since 2001. Focused on providing innovative ink and varnish solutions for the narrow web market, Pulse Roll Label Products is fast building a strong reputation as a significant player in the global label ink market.

We are so confident with the PureTone ink system, that we give live demos to all our customers, including the major retailers to show the level of print quality and colour accuracy that can be

achieved. We see CMYK and Pantone colours matched digitally under a dE of 1.5 every time.

NEXT GENERATION FLEXO PRINTING

“Colour is consistent, all backed up with reports and data.” Paul Roscoe

There is no need for brand owners to approve jobs on press as spectral data taken from the print run is immediately reported directly back confirming the colour criteria has been met.

“We’ve been told by customers, that our PureTone ink system has exceeded all expectations - not just a game changer in the UV flexo and narrow web label market - but maybe, in fact, a real game winner.” Gary Seward, Managing Director, Pulse Roll Label

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