Building on the company’s commitment to the label converting industry, APR used Labelexpo Americas to launch an extended range of products and services tailored to the narrow web marketplace. 

Earlier in the year, APR commissioned an extensive market research study that polled narrow web converters across the US. The research showed that converters’ presses are down, on average, 32% of the time due to setup and changeovers and that nearly one third of all conventional label jobs in the US are less than 5,000 linear feet.

For companies seeking a digital print solution to address these issues APR offers Colordyne Technologies’ 3600 Series Retrofit System, allowing converters to transform their existing flexo press into a state-of-the-art digital/flexo hybrid system. In addition to the Colordyne system, to further assist converters with the transition to digital APR offers a range of services to help converters migrate conventional jobs over to digital.

Dave Nieman, president and CEO of APR, comments, “The assistance converters need goes far beyond acquiring the ability to print digitally. Once the technology has been installed, companies need help with the way they are preparing job files and color management. If they are going to be successful at bringing in digital print technology, file preparation and the ability to manage color are a huge part of that formula and this is a core area of expertise for APR. We are the only company offering digital retrofit technology who can also walk label printers through exactly what it takes to move the jobs they have been preparing for their flexo presses over to their new digital print system.”

The company’s solutions for narrow web converters extend beyond digital printing. With extensive polymer science, prepress and platemaking expertise, APR’s internal teams are constantly testing and evaluating plate technology and performance on press. APR is Bobst’s North America-based demo center and the newly installed Bobst M5 flexo press at APR’s headquarters is the ideal system for testing plate performance and helping converters fine tune job repeatability. APR’s Technical Solutions Group (TSG) shows companies ways to better achieve total process control for improving productivity and drive waste out of the workflow.

Nieman continues, “The independent research we commissioned identified that two of the technologies that narrow web converters view as the most influential to their businesses are digital flexo plates and automated platemaking. In today’s competitive marketplace, print consistency is essential. APR’s Technical Solutions Group has some of the top experts in their fields, helping companies optimize their plate processes to achieve highest quality and consistency levels. With a world-class team in place, APR gives narrow web clients the chance to bring advanced technical know-how in-house to ensure they are fully leveraging the technology investments they make.”