£1m investment opens up another label market for specialist print house

Leeds-based specialist print house, Print-Leeds Ltd, has launched a self-adhesive label division after investing £1m in a new printing press, finishing equipment and MIS system.

This has been a year-long project for owner and managing director, Rod Fisher – putting together the finance, buying the equipment and hiring the right team to take this new division to market.

The company is already well known as a labels expert, supplying wet glue (paper) labels to the beverage and food industries. It has operated a digital printing division since 2009.

Print-Leeds has invested in a Screen LS 350 SAI seven colour press and the Digicon 3, a modular finishing system which is tailored to the company’s requirements.

Fisher said: Adding self-adhesive labels to our offering is the obvious progression for the company.  It’s been a real lockdown challenge for me – organising the finance, buying the machinery and recruiting the team.

“When Covid-19 hit I didn’t think I’d be able to achieve this – I thought my plans would be delayed.”

The new division has created six more roles – three salespeople, another role in IT and estimating, along with two technical staff deployed to operate the equipment.

Malcolm Bunn, who has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the self-adhesive labels market has joined the firm as sales director with Chris Whitehead and Jerry Dugdale joining as sales executives.

Sam Nightingale-Smith has joined as IT and Estimating and is heading the transition to the management information system CERM.

Fisher continued: “Over the years I have made a point of investing in new equipment so we are the most technically advanced printing company.

“This technology means we can print the best quality products for our clients.

“I don’t believe in the cheapest being the best – it’s the same with whatever you buy – our clients stay with us because our print is high quality and we provide superb customer service.”