How Letra has mastered the art of digital label printing

Digital printing is no longer seen as an additive feature for variable data printing. Rather, it has emerged as a standalone technology to cater to short-run jobs, even in segments such as labels and packaging printing, which has traditionally been the domain of flexo, offset and gravure. 

According to the Smithers report, The Future of Digital Printing to 2032, with increasing installations of digital presses, more and more printers have changed the landscape of the label market.

Now, the million-dollar question is, can digitally printed labels deliver in terms of quality, especially with post-press embellishments? 

Ahmedabad-based Letra Graphix says it can. And there is proof. The company took home two major Awards at PrintWeek Awards 2023 – Digital Printer of the Year and Packaging Conveter of the Year (Pharma) – on the strength of its products printed digitally, using a Gallus Labelfire hybrid press.

The samples the company submitted for the Digital Printer of the Year categories were printed on multiple substrates including PP clear-on-clear, PP-white, and PE-clear. This is a testimony to the rise of digital printing.

The first sample, a hair serum label for the brand, Kaya, looks deceptively simple at the first glance, giving it a naturalistic look to convey the brand image. Yet, the work that went behind making the label was anything but simple. The company digitally printed a special colour on foil to generate copper colour, which it stated, cannot be produced on a flexo machine.

The Vedi label portrays as an ayurvedic medicine label. Special features included small fonts and high details in graphics, while the Nivea PE clear label was produced using a combination of printing using both digital and flexo – CMYK + white + silver and varnished using flexo. The label boasts both, gloss and matt varnish, a striking black and white vignette effect with tiny dots, and precise registration of gloss varnish. The stunning Nivea Soft label produced on PP-clear used CMYK+OBG with white+white screen.

The runs of the labels ranged from 400 to 3,000 running metres.

Based in Ahmedabad, Letra Graphix is a veteran in the label industry. Since its inception in 1997, its ultimate goal has always been to provide quality support to customers.

With a production capacity above 30,000-sqmt/day, Letra Graphix provides a wide array of products, including self-adhesive labels for the cosmetics, foods, pharmaceuticals, toiletries and homecare, agro-chemicals, auto, beverages, FMCG, electronics and liquor industries. 

Nirav Shah, director of Letra Graphix, told WhatPackaging? “At Letra Graphix, all the labels are subjected to rigorous testing and careful inspection at its own testing lab to make sure they meet the quality requirements. Our penchant for meeting and exceeding global quality standards also enables us to participate in and win many Indian and international print awards. We endeavour to continually drive the quality of our offerings upwards with the support of Pinmark and Kodak Flexcel NX Plates.”

Shah added that producing award-winning labels involves comprehensive research and development, which encompasses several phases of concept and design. The goal was to create labels that are not only visually appealing but also highly effective in conveying our brand message and enhancing the overall product experience.