How Print&Cut wide format label printers can ‘Get on a Roll’ with OKI

May 15, 2023

At last month's Visual Impact show, lurking in a far corner of Smartech's impressive stand, was a secret that can add excellent sales and profits to any wide format signage printshop - the little OKI Pro 1050 roll-to-roll CMYK+W self-adhesive labels device, with Graphtec DLC1000 finishing, slitting and matrix stripping.

OKI's Steven Richards was on hand to demonstrate how the Pro1050 can take print&cut labels to the next level

Most leading wide format printers have Print&Cut devices that can produce amazing quality labels including contour-cutting and kiss cutting. The problem is, as demand increases, customers need pre-cut labels on rolls. Read on to see how OKI is addressing the issue.

Visual Impact 2023 was the trade show that keeps on giving! Tucked away at the back of Smartech's stand was a stand-out solution to production of high-quality labels, delivered on rolls suitable for machine application, rather than hand-application of labels and stickers printed and die-cut on wide format devices. And yes, it offers white ink too!

If the label side of your sign business is growing, it may well pay you to take that production off of the wide format machine – all except for the very largest labels – and move it to a dedicated narrow web roll-to-roll label system. This will leave wide format machines free to do what they do best – large output – and develop a more advanced label printing channel to cater for the suging boutique products boom – beverages, preserves, pet foods, FMCGs etcetera. 'Proper' roll label kiss cut, matrix stripped and rewound from Graphtec with OKI

Roll labels are presented more in harmony with the greater label and packaging industry, there is less waste and production efficiency means lower costs and room for better profits. But hang on, I hear you say: "Don't such machines cost $200,000 to $1 million?" The answer is, yes they can if you leap right into 60 metre-per-minute 350mm web digital machines capable of Flexographic speeds and quality. But, for around $50k (Smartech show special), you can get an OKI/Graphtec solution that will do for most sign printers branching into labels, even less for the printer alone.

While both the OKI Pro 1050 label printer and wide format print & cut machines have their respective advantages, there are several reasons why using the OKI PRO 1050 may be more beneficial for serious label printing:

Ultimately, the choice between an OKI Pro 1050 label printer and a wide format print & cut machine depends on the specific requirements of the printing project. If label printing is the primary focus and high-quality, fast, and efficient production is essential, the OKI Pro 1050 label printer is likely to be a better option. However, for applications that require larger formats or a broader range of materials, a wide format print and cut machine may be more suitable. for short runs at least. But, with both options, the label market world is your 'Oyster' - and sticks just as well!

https://www.oki.com/au/printing/products/label/narrow/index.html

https://www.smartech-aust.com