A New Year, and a new change of focus on multi design labelling

Posted by Adrian on Feb 2, 2012 in Labels | 0 comments One of the most powerful technologies we have benefited from at Mercian Labels is a powerful custom built database that allows us to analyse buying trends amongst our customers. We presented some of these recently at the BPIF Labels Event in late 2011, and after further analyses we are making a small but important change to our market offer. Over the past decade our “Mercian Labels”...
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How can we improve in 2012?

Posted by Adrian on Jan 6, 2012 in A C Labels, Labels | 1 comment Its a simple question, and one that is often not asked enough to customers.  How can we improve?  In some of the business areas we operate in it is hard to interact with customers face to face regularly, and so the online medium is vital for us.  So to commence the year we would like to invite any and all comments and suggestions, positive and negative, on how we could improve. Questions we...
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Tour around the @Xeikon digital label printing factory

Posted by Adrian on Nov 22, 2011 in business, Labels | 0 comments   Last week I presented a case study on the adoption of digital label printing at an event organised by Xeikon in Lier, Belgium, and enjoyed a tour around their factory where our new digital label printing machine is being made.     It was really interesting to see how the 100+ machines a year are build and tested to such high standards, and the fantastic technology that is able...
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Xeikon 3300 Digital label printer upgrade

Posted by Adrian on Nov 10, 2011 in business, Labels | 0 comments   At Label Expo 2011 we announced the exciting news that we are upgrading our digital labelling capability to include the new Xeikon 3300 – the fastest, highest quality, most environmentally friendly digital labelling solution available with fantastic lightfastness, no origination charges and brilliant colour resolution. The installation will take place during the first week of...
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Recycling resources for label industry waste in the UK

Posted by Adrian on Oct 24, 2011 in A C Labels, Labels, Open Source | 0 comments   I have blogged for years on the problems facing the labels industry in managing its waste streams, and to a large degree most of the problems are  still here, but getting closer to a solution. This is a summary of the options as far as I know:   Siliconised glassine paper release liner (“backing paper”) – this cannt be recycled with normal paper as you need a...
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£1000 bounty for introducing us to our new Operations Manager… | #labels #jobs

Posted by Adrian on Oct 20, 2011 in business, Labels | 0 comments We are seeking to make a strategic appointment for our Cannock Operation by appointing a talented rising star in the labels/packaging industry to a new post of Operations Manager. If you know of a suitable candidate who we should talk to through your network, then please email adrian.steele@mercianlabels.com with their name and we will do the rest. If you are the first person to nominate them...
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Comparison of HP, UV Inkjet and Xeikon digitally printed label images exposed to sunlight

Posted by Adrian on Oct 6, 2011 in innovative labels, Labels | 0 comments At last weeks Label Expo 2011 a poster caught my eye, comparing the pigment fading of the 3 principal digital label printing technologies in an easy to see and understand way, the best comparison I have seen to date.  Put simply it showed the same image printed at the same time using 3 different processes (HP Indigo solvent based liquid toner, UV cured inkjet inks used by Xaar, Konica Minolta...
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We are attending the BPIF Digital Printing for labels Seminar #in #bpiflabels

Posted by Adrian on Oct 5, 2011 in business, Labels | 0 comments We will be attending the digital label printing technical workshop run by BPIF Labels in Daventry, UK, on 2 November 2011.  It looks like a really good day for those in the UK labels industry to meet up and discuss a really important trend towards increased digital labelling, and one that we have just again invested into. Speakers include Xeikon, Xaar, HP, LabelTrax, UPM Raflatac, AB Graphics...
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#Labelexpo 2011 review

Posted by Adrian on Oct 3, 2011 in A C Labels, business, innovative labels, Labels, Security Labels | 2 comments   LabelExpo 2011 is the world biggest labelling show   Last week I was at the biggest Labelling show in the world, Label expo in Brusells, Belgium.  It was a fantastic event, certainly the best of the 6 Label Expos I have been too.  This is a review of my thoughts on the show and developments relevant to our customers and marketplaces in the same manner in which I did for the...
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Most Wanted Label Technologies Published

Posted by Adrian on Sep 7, 2011 in innovative labels, Labels | 0 comments     Our Label Innovations Division has published a list of the top 5 MOST WANTED label innovation solutions.  You can read  them here or meet me at Label Expo to...
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#Labelexpo 2011 later this month looks exciting!

Posted by Adrian on Sep 6, 2011 in A C Labels, Labels, Security Labels | 0 comments Its an exciting time again for those in the world of labelling and narrow web packaging, as its time for the biennial Labelexpo show in Brussels later this month. As always we expect to see a lot of exciting new technology launches, some product line refreshes and a bit of the “same as always” offerings from some suppliers. The core innovations in the digital space from Xeikon and HP...
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New makeover of our short run labelling website

Posted by Adrian on Aug 23, 2011 in Labels | 0 comments We have just overhauled our www.selfadhesivelabels.com website dedicated to the UK short run labels market with a new homepage and side navigation to include a twitter feed on every page.  Any comments would be appreciated below!  
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Book review: GUIDE TO PACKAGING AND LABELLING LAW 2011

Posted by Adrian on Jul 28, 2011 in Labels | 1 comment We have been provided with a review copy of a new book on packaging and labelling published by Content Publications aimed at managers in the packaging industry.  Written by solicitor & law lecturer Charles James, “Guide to packaging and labelling law 2011″ is to our knowledge the only book of its kind, and is of potential interest to customers at our short run printed labels...
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Use QR barcode labels on your packaging to drive visitors to your website

Posted by Adrian on Jul 7, 2011 in Labels | 1 comment   Many switched on brand owners including SME businesses are starting to interact with packaging using free barcode reader apps on smart phones. We have blogged on this subject previously. By far the most popular format is the QR barcode format, pictured above.  If you scan this one it directs you to a website (its interesting, try it!) .  At Mercian Labels we have the ability to offer...
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New no residue peelable adhesive for standard labelling applications

Posted by Adrian on Jun 29, 2011 in Labels | 2 comments There is a new removable adhesive on the market for peelable labelling applications that is designed to leave no residue whatsoever on surfaces from glass to cardboard, unlike most conventional peelable adhesives. It works from -10 degrees to 80 degrees C. If you are interested in using this material for a high volume application then please contact us and we can discuss the details with...
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