Digital printing continues to garner significant interest in the label and package printing industry, and that trend is only expected to surge in the future. As McKinsey & Company states, we are in an era of packaging “defined by digital.”

The data illustrates this point, too. According to Jennifer Dochstader, managing director, LPC, Inc., “One in five converters indicated that they will be buying a digital press in 2023 while less than 10% of companies indicated that they planned to purchase a conventional press next year. We predict that from 2023-2025 we will once again see digital press sales outpacing conventional press sales by a wide margin.”

Epson, a California-based digital printing manufacturer, has just seen its flagship SurePress line installed for the 100th time – to Sticker Mule, based in Amsterdam, NY, USA. This is not the only milestone at Epson, as the company can proudly say that its first installation, which took place at Tape and Label Converters in Santa Fe Springs, CA, is still in operation today. The first and most recent installations are a testament to Epson’s commitment to quality and service.

Tape and Label Converters installed the press on June 28, 2012.

“Tape and Label Converters runs the press daily and has had minimal service intervention,” explains Mike Pruitt, senior product manager, Industrial Labels, Epson America. “The fact that the press remains operational day in and day out is an example of the stability and robustness of an all-Epson platform, which includes the ink.”

Tape and Label Converters boasts multiple traditional flexo presses, as well as the Epson SurePress L-4033. Headed by Robert Varella Sr., the converter has a wide customer base that serves numerous industries.

“Our Epson SurePress L-4033A has been a warhorse in the full sense of the word,” states Varella. “We have it dialed in, and with proper maintenance and upgrades from Epson, it is producing the same showroom quality labels today as it did when beta testing was completed and the press was turned over for day-to-day production over 10 years ago.

“Before obtaining the SurePress, we had to buy out digital work,” he continues. “This meant we had no control over price and delivery schedule. Entering the digital era was vital to the viability of our company. Without the SurePress, we were at a disadvantage by not being able to provide short runs and full-color labels without the high cost of making plates and having to set up and run them on our flexographic presses. The savings provided by running them on our SurePress eliminated the high cost for plates and time to set up and run on a flexographic press. Having the SurePress made us more competitive and allowed us to be price competitive with our customers who wanted lower quantity, high-quality process labels.”

“Tape and Label Converters’ food, agricultural, personal care orders were typically long runs, while its entertainment, advertising, marketing and gourmet/specialty foods jobs are shorter runs and require quick turnaround times,” adds Pruitt. “Ten years later, the same market segments and others, like cannabis and craft beverages, continue to have short runs, multiple versions and the demand for an even quicker delivery. SurePress offers versatility and streamlined workflow from proof to press.”

The press has been especially helpful to Tape and Label Converters in the growing cannabis industry. With evolving brand requirements, SurePress continues to be suited for any market that requires full color, high-quality imaging and fast delivery times, such as specialty foods, craft beverage, personal care, nutraceuticals and more.

The SurePress, of course, has improved in the past decade to continue meeting customer demands like those of Sticker Mule.

“Since the first Epson SurePress aqueous press came to market, the press has evolved,” notes Pruitt. “The first upgrade was the addition of white ink in late 2012. To this day, the SurePress aqueous digital label press is the only digital press under $250,000 with white ink, delivering brand-quality, pressure-sensitive labels and thin films at an industrial standard. Today, the SurePress L-4733AW comes with automated features such as remarkable advanced auto head cleaning, technology that verifies the health of each nozzle, an optional inline spectrometer and increased film printing production versus the previous generation.”

“Epson helped us take over the online label market, and it’s a great honor to install the 100th Epson SurePress printer sold in North America,” says Anthony Constantino, co-founder and CEO of Sticker Mule. “No one can touch the combination of Sticker Mule magic and Epson print quality. Not only is the SurePress a great machine, but the Epson team behind it is an innovative powerhouse. They deserve a big congratulations for reaching such a major milestone. I only wish we owned all 100.”