Accu-Label68 | tests, sometimes having to go back and make changes, it becomes a labor-intensive process, but obviously, being a digital press, the Tau doesn’t have this problem which has made things much easier for us,’ says Manning-EwaldMaintaining a visionSince the business was founded in the garage of Accu-Label president, Dave Manning, in 1987 with a 7in Allied Gear press, the company has developed a vision of being family-centered and dedicated to surpassing the expectations of its customers. In 1989, as the ambition of the founders and the work being done could no longer be supported in the garage space, the company moved to a larger facility, added another press, and hired more employees. And in 1996, the company moved to its current 38,000sqft facility, where that Allied Gear press is still chugging along and printing jobs that make sense to run on the press.Accu-Label still holds the family-frst vision. Four of Manning’s children work at Accu-Label in some capacity, with cousins, nieces and nephews coming in and working as well. Accu-Label operates as a true family business.‘We have a really great dynamic that works out in our favor,’ says Manning-Ewald. ‘We’re in kind of a unique situation, I think, where we even have cousins who come and work for the summer and help. I think we’re really fortunate in that regard.’While learning a new workfow is always a task, Accu-Label says With roughly 25 employees working at Accu-Label today, they were able to get a hold of the machine in less than a few weeksthe company operates with a swath of both digital and fexographic presses. “We have a really great dynamic On the digital end, the company runs both the Xeikon CX3 and Durst Tau RSCi at full capacity, but it also runs fexo on the Allied that works out in our favor. We’re Gear press, a Mark Andy Performance Series P7, a Mark Andy 2200 and a Mark Andy 4150. in kind of a unique situation, The company also operates converting equipment from AB Graphic International and Grafsk Maskinfabrik.I think, where we even have Accu-Label runs a very tight feet, only adding to it when it makes sense.cousins who come and work for ‘Our success doesn’t just come from adding a new press, and the summer and help. I think we’re if you look at the scope of any company’s success, it’s really determined on how well it knows what it needs. My dad, my really fortunate in that regard”brother and sister are very keen on knowing what our company exactly needs,’ says Manning-Ewald. At Accu-Label, there are multiple questions the Manning family asks itself before making a capital investment. Second of firstsFor one, it needs to know whether there are benefts to investing The installation of Durst Group’s Tau RSCi isn’t the company’s in new equipment. Will a new piece of machinery add anything frst the North American installation. to its shop foor? Will it make its operators’ jobs easier, or will it Accu-Label was part of Xeikon’s pilot program for its new be more diffcult to run? And fnally, will it add anything for its toner-based press and became the frst North American customers, or will the quality be compromised in the long run?converter to install the Cheetah digital system in 2015. The And while Accu-Label’s purchase of the Durst press was made other two were placed in CS Labels and Mercian Label, both at a time when the company was looking to retire other systems based in the UK.on its shop foor, it was not made on a whim. The company did its Running at a top speed of 30m/min, the Cheetah was due diligence, talking with peers, and conducting extensive research among the fastest digital presses on the market at the time, beforehand to make sure that the Durst press was the right ft not but speed, like with the Tau RSCi, wasn’t the company’s sole only the for the company, but what it can provide to its customers, reason for the installation.and whether the press will allow Accu-Label to be more effcient.Accu-Label’s purchase was a response to evolving client ‘We knew that we needed stability on our digital end,’ says demands and expansions into new markets.Manning-Ewald.‘Of course, speed was a big consideration, but there was She adds that due to the Xeikon toner-based digital presses it more. We are a company that has always been dedicated to already had, Accu-Label was ready to start its search on the inkjet providing the best quality printing and a high level of service. side of the digital press business. For us, it doesn’t matter how fast a press goes if we can’t ‘We also wanted to know if it can get jobs done right and deliver a quality product,’ says David Manning, president at effciently because, at the end of the day, that is what’s important.’Accu-Label, at the time of the installation.This press was complemented by Accu-Label’s Xeikon 3500, which was installed in 2014.For more information on Accu-Label, visit www.acculabel.comlabelsandlabeling.com