San Diego-based label manufacturer Label King continues to uphold its reputation for delivering high-quality, sustainable solutions for a diverse range of clients. The company recently won a prestigious Best-in-Class honor at the TLMI Printing Excellence Awards for its production of the Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Soap label.

This award, part of a program that celebrates outstanding achievements in the North American label and packaging industry, was announced at TLMI’s Annual Meeting in Orlando, attended by over 400 industry members. The award-winning label was produced on Label King’s Mark Andy P5 press, an eight-color machine that provides consistent, high-quality results, critical for demanding projects like the Dr. Bronner’s label.

Founded and led by company president Robert Parker, Label King has cultivated a long-standing partnership with Mark Andy, with a fleet of presses that also includes a Mark Andy 2200 and the DF3 digital finishing system.

According to Parker, this relationship has been instrumental in Label King’s growth, particularly due to the dependability and consistent quality of Mark Andy’s machines. “My goal as a business person is to minimize risk,” says Parker. “I feel going with Mark Andy presses minimizes the risk because they’ve been around for a long time, their products are workhorses, and there’s strong support behind them.”

Label King has long been at the forefront of sustainability in the label printing industry. Its relationship with clients like Dr. Bronner’s, known for their eco-conscious practices, aligns perfectly with Label King’s own sustainability initiatives. The company has been actively engaged in liner recycling and they continue to seek ways to advance their efforts, including offering customers options for reducing their carbon footprint even further by opting for more sustainable materials. This approach demonstrates Label King’s commitment to innovation, not only in print quality but also in eco-friendly practices.

Printing Award-Winning Excellence
The Dr. Bronner’s label posed several challenges, with its intricate design requiring precise, consistent quality. The large areas of solid color and reverse text made any imperfections highly visible. According to Parker, one of the reasons Label King was able to submit the Dr. Bronner’s label right off the press was due to the reliability of the Mark Andy P5, which minimizes chatter and ensures consistent ink laydown – crucial for such a demanding project. “We didn’t have to go over these labels with a fine-tooth comb. We literally pulled them off the floor,” Parker says, highlighting the confidence Label King has in the production quality of their Mark Andy presses.

Winning the TLMI Best-in-Class award has positioned Label King as a leader not just in California but also on a national stage. Although they have not yet fully harnessed the award for business growth, Parker plans to use this recognition as a platform to enhance their market visibility and strengthen their brand. “We’re going to start leveraging that award,” says Parker, noting that the visibility provided by TLMI and the recognition from their peers will help solidify Label King’s position as a trusted, innovative partner.

Looking forward, Robert Parker sees continued growth opportunities for Label King, driven by both sustainability initiatives and their enduring relationship with Mark Andy. “At the end of the day, we get quality machines that do what they’re supposed to do, allowing us to be efficient and win awards,” he remarks, underscoring the mutual benefits of their collaboration.