“Signature” Wine Label Printing Using the APEX 1290

Wine label printing just got easier with iSys Label’s short run digital label printers. With a wide variety of approved substrates for beverage industry, the APEX 1290 digital label printer provide the utmost in versatility, providing different options for customers looking for quick turn-around times, low to moderate quantities of labels,  and variable information.

Using the APEX 1290, there are two different options for printing beverage labels,  each with its own benefits. The first print method is full graphic label printing with the addition of variable information, all done in a single pass. The second is signature printing, which is the ability to overprint wine labels previously printed by an offset or flexographic machine.

Ideal for companies with multiple SKU’s, signature printing is best explained as a two stage printing process. Stage one is printing all of the static elements of the customized label such as the brand or winery name including foil stamping and embossing. Stage two is overprinting using the APEX 1290 for the dynamic elements of the label design including variable data, images, and text. By utilizing this printing process, end users will be lowering their cost per copy and are capable of printing the exact quantities of labels they need on demand. This ensures maximum print efficiency and minimizes inventory and spoilage of pre-printed labels not used for that year’s production.

Here are a couple videos to elaborate on how this can be done.

How Many Labels Are There On An EDGE 850 Roll?

Are you trying to estimate the overall cost per label? Have you ever wondered how many labels you would approximately have on a roll? Are you wondering about the quantity rolls needed for a certain job?

With these simple calculations, you will be able to get an approximate quantity of labels per roll.

What We Know About the Roll

*Length of Material on the Roll = 450 Feet = 5400 inches per roll

Size of Label = 8 inches wide x 3 inches high

Gap Size = 0.125 inches

Width of Roll = 8.125 inches

Core Size = 3 inches

Max. Roll Outside Diameter for the EDGE 850 = 8 inch OD

 

Step 1

Add the height of the label plus the gap.

3 inches + 0.125 inches = 3.125 inches

 

Step 2

Divide the Length of the Roll by the overall height of the label.

5400 inches/3.125 inches = 1728 labels per roll

 

There are 1728 labels per roll.

 

Please note: In most cases, the industry uses +/- 10% as a general rule of thumb.  While the calculation above is the “best case scenario” for labels per roll, you must take into account the potential wastage during setup, proofing, alignment, etc. Therefore using the +/- 10% scenario, you’re more likely quantity of labels per roll is actually 1555 labels.

*Length of material on a roll depends on the thickness of material being used. For example, a wine label material will be thicker than a matte paper, and therefore will have less material on a roll. For the purpose for this example, we used 450 feet of material and that creates an OD of 8 inches, which is the maximum OD that can fit in the EDGE 850 printer.

Part 1: The Printer/Converter - Integrating Digital Label Printing

It is no secret that there is an increasing demand for short run digital label technology. With the rise in private labels, there has been a corresponding demand in the need for shorter runs, higher degrees of personalization and reduced turnaround times. Digital label printing has carved out its niche in the print and packaging market and defined its place for those who are weighing the transition to digital label printing.

For the converter, an understanding has been established that digital printing is not going to replace the existing technology, but rather, compliment the current resources in the production workflow. More information has come available and users are now able to determine the crossover points for jobs currently being done on conventional presses. This is the largest benefit for the converter, as they will be able to reduce their costs and see a quicker return on investment by offsetting jobs that were previously done by larger printers. By adding digital technology to the product fold, converters/printers will have the added benefit of being able to:

  • Digitally job cost within seconds, and give quotes based on the pricing model chosen
  • Accept smaller jobs and produce a higher profit based on reduced setup costs, quantities needed, and turnaround times
  • Increase label creativity by using offline options such as UV coating, lamination, foil stamping and slitting options to name a few
  • Offer the ability for start-ups/small businesses an easier way to enter the market with more personalized branding approach at a cost-effective rate

The APEX 1290 and EDGE 850 digital label printers have the ability to produce professional-grade short run labels with brilliant and consistent color, from the first label to the last. This digital printer has a wide degree of substrate flexibility and rolls can be purchased from appointed converters throughout the world. For companies that require precise colors to be used with their branding, the Harlequin® RIP allows for complete color management and is capable of producing approximately 82% of the Pantone® color gamut.

These platforms were designed to be highly configurable and allow users to pair it up with offline finishing systems or be used as a standalone roll to roll printer - making it a complete digital label printing solution. This printer can purchased or leased from distributors throughout the world, contact us for more information.