www.thelabelteam.net
By Lisa Rouh

In 1998 in northeastern Ohio, Dean McDaniel had a vision of a label company that would prioritize teamwork, quality, speed, and customer satisfaction. In addition to being the son of a label professional, McDaniel had already spent a quarter-century becoming an expert in the label industry in his own right. He took a leap of faith and founded The Label Team (TLT), filling a niche for high-quality, short- to medium-run labels in a market underserved by larger companies.

Since its modest beginnings with a single Comco Cadet 10″ 6-color flexo press and a 4,500-square-foot facility, The Label Team has expanded several times to its current 17,300 square feet of space and a variety of advanced production machines and services.

The shop’s versatile equipment includes two more Comco presses (5-color and 8-color), a 16″ Mark Andy 6-color flexo press, a 13″ Mark Andy CMYK and white digital hybrid press, three Mark Andy Rotoflex slitters, and the new kid on the block – a cutting-edge 17″ Mark Andy PRO series 8-color flexo press acquired through a beta site program. As a testing facility for this first model of its type in the US, TLT has fully lived into its commitment to staying ahead of industry trends, working with Mark Andy engineers to suggest software improvements that have enhanced quality and speed in this state-of-the-art flexo press. An additional 13″ Mark Andy digital hybrid press is on order to meet the growing customer demand for digitally-produced labels.

“A lot of people want fast turnaround on smaller runs with specific design elements,” states Jordan McDaniel, administrative vice president, and a third-generation leader in the label industry, “and the digital press has brought us a lot of opportunities to make our customers happy.”

Committed to supporting customers throughout the production process, The Label Team established its prepress department in 2004. Its skilled graphic arts team manages everything from customer artwork to production, including overseeing the creation of all flexo plates in-house to maintain competitive prices and fast turnaround times.

The site’s recent Graphic Measures International (GMI) certification, a rigorous process championed by TLT’s in-house color expert, is a testament to the team’s exacting standards for color accuracy and quality in every design.

The Label Team’s diverse product offerings include pressure sensitive labels, tags, dye sublimation, coupons, and automotive and industrial labels in markets such as food and beverage, pet care, horticulture, and even the gaming industry. Deliverables range from food labels to manufacturing tags to flower pot barcodes to printed sublimation paper used in the production of dog collars, lanyards, and gift ribbon. With such a wide customer base, every project brings new challenges, and that’s where TLT shines.

“We brainstorm with our customers,” Dean McDaniel says. “We’re fortunate to have two senior employees who worked at Avery and are experienced in label R&D. Their innovative approach helps us tackle unique dye sublimation orders, individual numbering, multiple layers, and even special projects that have thousands of variable configurations for image placement.”

The Label Team’s success is built on a foundation of strong relationships and family values. “I chose our company name to keep our founding philosophy paramount: a team-oriented, collaborative approach to serving customers,” Dean McDaniel explains. “Our name permeates everything we do. We’re a family business, and the people who work here are like family as well.”

Some of TLT’s employees have been with the company for almost its entire 26 years, and many more have been on board for more than 20 years. Now the company is starting to add second- generation staff, such as Jordan, who joined three years ago, as well as a recently hired slitter operator who is the son of a pressman.

“We’re so grateful to have been able to build this business that can provide great jobs for families in our community,” Dean McDaniel says.

With this singular focus and strategic investments in production assets, systems, and skilled professionals, TLT stands out by offering premium quality and service at extremely competitive prices, solidifying its reputation as a leader in the label industry.

However, the McDaniels know they’re not the ultimate source of The Label Team’s brilliant success. “From the beginning, I dedicated this company to God, and I give Him all the credit for everything we’ve achieved,” Dean McDaniel affirms. “The day I was let go from my previous employer, as I considered starting my own company, I saw a double rainbow in the sky. I brought Jordan out and showed him the rainbow as God’s promise that we should do this. We started from scratch, we put our faith and trust in God, and He has provided through the years. Now it’s coming full circle, and I’m proud to have my son come along and learn the business so he can take it over one day.”