Last year in February 2020, Abbott Label added the Domino N610i digital UV inkjet press to expand its digital capabilities. Soon after, COVID-19 led to a surge in variable data printing applications. Abbott Label again turned to Domino with the installation of the K600i dual bar digital UV inkjet printer.

John Abbott, president of Abbott Label, recently detailed his company’s growth, the impact of COVID-19, and how Domino digital printing has been a “game changer” in taking his label manufacturing business to the next level. The interview below was captured in a recent video from Domino.

Abbott Label is a manufacturer of stock and custom pressure sensitive labels, carrying over 400 different sizes on its floor, ready to ship out the same day. For Abbott Label, the ability to come through for its customers is paramount. “Everything is a priority with us,” says John.“The one thing that Abbott Label does better than anybody else is service. We’re strategically located in four manufacturing facilities across the United States.  All plants run three shifts 24-hours a day. Home office is here in Dallas, TX, and we’ve got great people – and we focus on our people. 

“Pre-Covid, we were at 163 employees. Now, we’re at 205 employees… 25% we’ve added on workforce, so hiring has been a major focus on the corporation…as it has to be. We know our price is competitive, we know our quality is excellent.  We’ve gone with quality vendors all the way through. We’ve got so many great accounts and great relationships over our 40 years of business…there’s really not much that we can’t do.”

According to John, the Domino N610i press has been a “game-changer” for his business. “We were so impressed with Domino coming out of the gates, but at that time there weren’t a whole lot of Dominos out in the United States…there weren’t a lot on the floor.  There’s one thing my dad told me… ‘John, don’t ever be the guinea pig.  Let other people hit their thumb with the hammer and then build off of that.’  So, we had the HP in first.  It served its purpose, and I’ve got no issues with HP whatsoever.  Great company, great service, great quality…everything.  But we were limited on how much footage we could run through the HP, and that’s where we brought the Domino in.  We had a limit on the HP of about 5,000 feet…7,500 feet depending on the number of copies. And Domino, we’re up to 35,000-40,000 feet.  It’s given us such an ability to go a different direction volume-wise through the press.  More than anything was speed.  We were able to get twice as fast through the Domino as we were through the HP.  The quality looked just as good – the quality is excellent. We’ve never had an issue with quality.”

The requests for variable data led to Abbott Label’s decision to go with the Domino K600i. The installation has helped with a wide range of needs, from QR codes to consecutive barcodes. “The reasons we went with the K600i are one, quality.  The barcodes are unbelievable. And two, speed. That thing can go up to 492 fpm. You can run this stuff, and it verifies it. So, time is money. With the Domino, there’s no downtime. It’s heaven for us.”

Just as Abbott Label is committed to providing excellent service and support, the same can be said of the company’s suppliers. John Abbott has emphasized Domino’s commitment to customer service in their partnership.

“Domino has always been a favorite of mine,” he says. “They’re great people that stand behind what they say.  COVID had just stricken, and the Domino guy literally loaded up his trailer, loaded up his car, drove down here, parked in our parking lot, slept in his trailer, and worked on our piece of equipment. I mean, how much more loyal and dedication can you get in that point in time in life where an employee for them did that…drove down from Chicago. It was awesome. and it meant a lot.

“Domino is family, just great people,” he adds. “David Ellen is one of those vendors who is more than a vendor…he’s a friend. And to work with Domino is a blessing. It was just a win-win for Abbott Label, and our customers.”