Minimum order quantities, long-term planning, high coordination effort, low flexibility and rising costs - for the Witten-based company Compurei, it was already clear a few years ago that it no longer wanted to outsource the printing of coloured product labels to a professional print shop, but to produce them in-house as required.
Compurei started out in 2007 with products for cleaning computers: sponges for the screen, swabs for the keyboard and suitable cleaning agents. The start was manageable, but then more and more orders were added via the company's own online shop and Amazon. The product range gradually expanded. Today, the agile company's portfolio includes cleaning agents, air fresheners and corresponding fragrance dispensers, insect repellents, mould removers, painting supplies and products for wildlife deterrence and control. A second ColorWorks C3500 from Epson has now replaced the previous model.
What was the problem?
„As we have to label a lot of liquid, long-life products in particular, we need Labels that are resistant to moisture or wetness and can be read over a long period of time without any problems,“ explains Stefanie Mehlmann, who takes care of all aspects of labelling in the company. The decision was finally made in favour of the flexible C3500 from Epson. The colour inkjet printer replaces the previous model of the same type at Compurei, with which they were always satisfied. It offers excellent print quality thanks to the latest MicroPiezo inkjet technology. The fast-drying pigment ink is highly resistant to light, ozone and most liquids thanks to its resin coating.
Business owner Gerd Fippke is particularly pleased with the problem-free integration and easy handling. The C3500 system is designed in such a way that even inexperienced users can intuitive and be guided safely through every single step right up to the media settings. The creation of the suitable layouts is easy thanks to the integrated NiceLabel SE for Epson labelling software.
In addition, the costs for consumables and wear parts remain low. The print head is designed to last the lifetime of the printer and the separate colour cartridges can be replaced individually. Last but not least, the all-rounder impresses with a print speed of up to 103 millimetres per second and a print resolution of 720 x 360 dpi.
What can the labels do?
The company initially used Epson labels for product labelling, but then switched to the attractively priced MARKENetiketten from Mediaform Informationssysteme GmbH, Reinbek.
„After the North German solution provider was able to offer us the slightly thicker premium BRAND labels from its own production at an extremely favourable price, we switched,“ says Stefanie Mehlmann.
The format is flexible, as it can be Continuous labels on roll which are cut to the exact height by the cutter integrated in the printer. The corresponding dimensions are individual to the respective products and saved in the recipe.
The labels are now ordered at very short notice in a 14-day cycle. Just like the individual ink cartridges, they can be ordered as required via the Mediaform online shop or the telephone hotline.
The current blank labels are the MARKENetiketten premium matte labels on a roll 102 millimetres wide and 33 metres long. White continuous labels with a width of 51 millimetres and a length of 33 metres are used for labelling smaller products. The colours dry quickly on their smooth, bright white, matt surface and the printed image is brilliant. The printouts are also resistant to scratches, liquids and heat up to +80 °C. The permanent adhesive provides a secure hold on various surfaces, even at low temperatures down to -40°C.
Colours as signposts
At Compurei, however, the labels do not stay white for long. For example, the various room fragrances such as Air-Fresh or organic fragrance oil feature the Compurei logo in colour and, above all, colourful illustrations such as pineapple or rose blossom in photo quality alongside the product name, safety instructions, ingredients or manufacturer information. This allows the user to immediately recognise which fragrance it is.
„We print a lot with colour in order to attractively label different products and to provide consumers with clear, unambiguous information,“ explains Stefanie Mehlmann.
For smaller bottles that do not offer enough space for large-format photos, the fragrance is highlighted in colour for better differentiation. Labels with a coloured background are also used. „We are constantly monitoring which products are currently in high demand and what specifically appeals to customers when it comes to the goods. We organise our range accordingly,“ explains Gerd Fippke.
At present, the main focus is on compact fragrance dispenser are very popular. They can be used in offices, canteens, hotels and restaurants as well as at home. „The subtle room fragrances create a feel-good atmosphere and, depending on the product, have either a calming, revitalising, fruity, strong or subtle effect. And if you want to experience a different fragrance, the felt cushion in the tin can be infused with a different favourite scent at any time.“
Flexibility, efficiency and cost-effectiveness
Overall, in-house colour printing offers advantages. „Today, we can print much faster respond to customer requirements, because our labelling process has been significantly accelerated and simplified overall,“ says Gerd Fippke, summarising the most important aspects for him briefly and concisely.
As soon as a label is required, the operator selects the layout and format stored in the printer, feeds the printer with the relevant information and, at the touch of a button, the C3500 produces a single adhesive label or even hundreds of them. Around 1,600 labels with a maximum print width of 104 millimetres can be processed per day.
According to Stefanie Mehlmann, another effect is also not to be sneezed at: „Mediaform always delivers super-fast, so that we can No large quantities of blank labels have to stock up. The days when we had to adhere to minimum order quantities at a print shop and then store the labels here until they were needed are finally over for us.“
