6 Labels Plus
Over those four years, the business has grown to the Over those four years, the business has grown to the
extent that premises they started out in was too small, and extent that premises they started out in was too small, and
business demands were such that they needed another digital business demands were such that they needed another digital
press to satisfy customer demand. So they have bought their press to satisfy customer demand. So they have bought their
own premises – the smartest looking building in the court. own premises – the smartest looking building in the court.
Th ey also placed an order for a Durst Tau 330 after making a Th ey also placed an order for a Durst Tau 330 after making a
lightning trip to Brussels to see it in action at Labelexpo. Th is lightning trip to Brussels to see it in action at Labelexpo. Th is
will be the fi rst one of its kind in Australia. will be the fi rst one of its kind in Australia.
“Labels Plus” asked Marc to give a potted history on the “Labels Plus” asked Marc to give a potted history on the
establishment of NDP and what has changed in the past establishment of NDP and what has changed in the past
four years. “Well obviously, its grown - from catering to small four years. “Well obviously, its grown - from catering to small
producers you might call the market-stall businesses – to producers you might call the market-stall businesses – to
customers who are now supplying reasonable size orders to customers who are now supplying reasonable size orders to
supermarkets,” Marc explained. “And we’ve grown as our supermarkets,” Marc explained. “And we’ve grown as our
customers’ businesses have grown. It’s been an exciting ride.”customers’ businesses have grown. It’s been an exciting ride.”
Marc said they have been quite selective when it came to Marc said they have been quite selective when it came to
clients, and have walked away from business that didn’t make clients, and have walked away from business that didn’t make
sense to them. “So we’ve grown conservatively and now have sense to them. “So we’ve grown conservatively and now have
a staff of seven from an initial three. We have the right people a staff of seven from an initial three. We have the right people
in place to go forward confi dently. in place to go forward confi dently.
“About six months ago we commenced the process of “About six months ago we commenced the process of
looking for our next investment because we have been at near looking for our next investment because we have been at near
production capacity for some time and we were challenged in production capacity for some time and we were challenged in
trying to maintain the market’s high expectation of quick turn trying to maintain the market’s high expectation of quick turn
around times for digital print.”around times for digital print.”
Success comes with vision and hardwork at NDPSome four years ago, “Labels Plus” was invited to meet two young Melbournians who were the fi rst local digital printers to invest in the latest (at that time), Xeikon 3030 Plus machine, as they proudly opened a small digital label business. Like all businesses starting out, both partners knew that the future would be built on hard work, a great product, and above all customer satisfaction. Th e two, Marc De Amicis and Nigel Gainey had a strong belief that digital printing would give customers the kind of brilliant reproduction, quick turn around, and sensible prices that many of the traditional forms of printing couldn’t.
6 Labels Plus
t Th e new NDP purchase, the Durst Tau 330 press, the fi rst of it's kind in Australia.
NDP partners Nigel Gainey (left) and Marc De Amicis with product hot off the press.
Labels Plus Issue 30_Text.indd 6Labels Plus Issue 30_Text.indd 6 20/11/2017 5:46 am20/11/2017 5:46 am
Labels Plus 7
To get a grasp on how the press market has changed in To get a grasp on how the press market has changed in
four years Nigel and Marc met with many press manufacturers four years Nigel and Marc met with many press manufacturers
who outlined their technologies and provided detailed samples.who outlined their technologies and provided detailed samples.
After much research and consideration on what would After much research and consideration on what would
complement our existing press, they decided on the Durst complement our existing press, they decided on the Durst
TAU 330 – a 7-colour inkjet (CMYK orange/violet and white) TAU 330 – a 7-colour inkjet (CMYK orange/violet and white)
running at a reasonable speed of 48mpm. “Yes, there are running at a reasonable speed of 48mpm. “Yes, there are
others brands running 60mpm, but they don’t have the same others brands running 60mpm, but they don’t have the same
dpi or the native 720 x 1200. dpi or the native 720 x 1200.
“We also wanted a extended Pantone gamut and the Durst “We also wanted a extended Pantone gamut and the Durst
gives us up to 90% of the Pantone Range with the seven gives us up to 90% of the Pantone Range with the seven
colours. We were confi dent with the speed of 48mpm colours. We were confi dent with the speed of 48mpm
- a job that is taking us a full day today - we’ll be able to - a job that is taking us a full day today - we’ll be able to
print in just three hours Admittedly, you’re looking at two print in just three hours Admittedly, you’re looking at two
diff erent technologies, toner-based versus UV, and both diff erent technologies, toner-based versus UV, and both
have their own place. Th ey both have advantages and have their own place. Th ey both have advantages and
we feel that investing in UV technology, complements we feel that investing in UV technology, complements
what we have and opens up further opportunities.” what we have and opens up further opportunities.”
Marc said the Durst also off ered some special Marc said the Durst also off ered some special
features, like pattern weave. “It’s able to give the features, like pattern weave. “It’s able to give the
substrate the look of certain textures. We don’t substrate the look of certain textures. We don’t
have too many embellishments in our repertoire, have too many embellishments in our repertoire,
so having something like that is something extra so having something like that is something extra
we can off er our clients. we can off er our clients.
“Jobs are getting more complicated. We have “Jobs are getting more complicated. We have
a new chemical label run coming up which is a new chemical label run coming up which is
10,000m and around 11 hours of print. Th ey’re 10,000m and around 11 hours of print. Th ey’re
very big labels and have 34 SKUs with individual very big labels and have 34 SKUs with individual
batch numbering. And it’s these sorts of clients batch numbering. And it’s these sorts of clients
who now recognise the benefi ts they can achieve who now recognise the benefi ts they can achieve
today with digital, and get a more professional-today with digital, and get a more professional-
looking label. looking label.
“We were lucky enough to get some work “We were lucky enough to get some work
from Masters Hardware before they folded, which from Masters Hardware before they folded, which
gave us an intro into that market. But mostly it’s that gave us an intro into that market. But mostly it’s that
a good percentage of our clients have just grown. a good percentage of our clients have just grown.
For instance one particular client four years ago was using For instance one particular client four years ago was using
a direct thermal label with his printed logo, and then overprint a direct thermal label with his printed logo, and then overprint
30 SKUs of information. We took an iPhone across every 30 SKUs of information. We took an iPhone across every
product, mocked-up the artwork, and his sales have more than product, mocked-up the artwork, and his sales have more than
quadrupled – going from 20,000 labels to 125,000 labels a quadrupled – going from 20,000 labels to 125,000 labels a
month at its peak.”month at its peak.”
Marc said it’s one of the things their clients appreciated. Marc said it’s one of the things their clients appreciated.
“NDP has became something of a partner to them. We take “NDP has became something of a partner to them. We take
some ownership. some ownership.
“And having a partner like Nigel - who is an artist - plus our “And having a partner like Nigel - who is an artist - plus our
pre-press operator Katherine, also a graphic artist, has pre-press operator Katherine, also a graphic artist, has
been pivotal. Th ey have the talent. And Nigel can pick a been pivotal. Th ey have the talent. And Nigel can pick a
fault in a fi le before he prints it. fault in a fi le before he prints it.
“We knew the emphasis was going to be on the “We knew the emphasis was going to be on the
digital pre-press. Obviously, with fl exo, the printer has a digital pre-press. Obviously, with fl exo, the printer has a
great responsibility and has to have a great eye. From great responsibility and has to have a great eye. From
what we have seen, the UV inkjet and the technology what we have seen, the UV inkjet and the technology
behind the Durst, makes it easier to run for the operator. behind the Durst, makes it easier to run for the operator.
You can turn it on with your iPhone before you get to You can turn it on with your iPhone before you get to
work, all that kind of thing, rather than spending the work, all that kind of thing, rather than spending the
fi rst 45 minutes of your day, getting the press fi rst 45 minutes of your day, getting the press
ready for production. So there are time savings ready for production. So there are time savings
available.” He said the support and exchange of available.” He said the support and exchange of
information between Fuji Xerox (Durst’s distributor) information between Fuji Xerox (Durst’s distributor)
had been excellent with upmost professionalism. had been excellent with upmost professionalism.
And fi nally, asked what he considered was And fi nally, asked what he considered was
the core of NDP’s success, Marc said: “Educating the core of NDP’s success, Marc said: “Educating
the market to what digital would off er, having a the market to what digital would off er, having a
plan and staying with it.”plan and staying with it.”
At the World Label Awards held in Brussels in At the World Label Awards held in Brussels in
September, NDP won a Highly Commended for a September, NDP won a Highly Commended for a
label called “BadLaddie” beer, for a brewer called label called “BadLaddie” beer, for a brewer called
Red Duck Beverage. Th is was printed on NDP’s Red Duck Beverage. Th is was printed on NDP’s
Xeikon 3030 Plus.Xeikon 3030 Plus.
Fuji Xerox Australia are the exclusive distributors Fuji Xerox Australia are the exclusive distributors
of the Durst Tau 330 Label Press in Australia. of the Durst Tau 330 Label Press in Australia.
Labels Plus 7
UV Consulting Pty LtdUnit 3, 41-49 Norcal Road, Nunawading Victoria 3131Ph: 03 9874 7455 Web: www.uvconsulting.com.au
Australia’s leading supplier of High Performance replacement lamps for all types of UV curing systemsExperience Amba Lamps Plus – Performance Quality + Service
UV curing lamps
Labels Plus Issue 30_Text.indd 7Labels Plus Issue 30_Text.indd 7 20/11/2017 5:46 am20/11/2017 5:46 am