Above: Easy Signs co-owners Adam Parnell and Andy Fryer

Easy Signs has started selling rolls of labels for the first time in the company’s history following the installation of a new HP Indigo and ABG finishing equipment purchased almost a year ago at drupa.

“We can finally say that this equipment has arrived, and we are up and running in the custom label rolls category,” Easy Signs co-owner Andy Fryer told ProPack.

“We literally turned on the Custom Label Rolls page on our website two weeks ago and we are already offering labels within 48 hours. Sales are already very strong, and we are looking to reach 24-hour turnaround in the near future.

“We have tested all of our processes and systems and based on the orders we have received so far we feel this will be a very good product line for us,” Fryer said.

“Previously we were selling labels printed on our sheet fed Indigo that were being cut on our Zund. This is a very labour-intensive process for labels, and we can now provide the same labels for approximately two-thirds cheaper – so we are now a real player in the label market and competing with the major companies in this space.”

Shortly after Easy Signs purchased the new equipment at drupa, the business was already targeting 24-hour production.

“One of our main points of difference in the market has been producing products within a 24-hour production time and the new ABG DigiLase laser technology is a game changer,” Fryer said in June last year.

“Using traditional methods, it is possible to lose 24 or 48 hours with the shipping of dies and there is also a cost. The introduction of the ABG DigiLase laser cutting finishing equipment by the end of this year will be critical for us to meet the expectations of our customers.,” Fryer said.

“We realised that we needed to make a substantial investment with the HP Indigo 6K to compete on higher runs as we know our clients want their stickers or labels on rolls, but we have not been able to provide this until now.

“We will continue to do some of the stickers on the wide format table for UV stability when needed as well as for bigger stickers, but the smaller stickers will migrate to the Indigo and the ABG finishing equipment with DigiLase laser technology.”

Currie Group director of labels and packaging ANZ, Mark Daws told ProPack in June 2024 the sale to Easy Signs will help the company further enhance its labels and web-to-print business.

“It wasn’t an easy decision for them, we took Andy and Adam to visit a very similar operation in the UK. They spent a bit of time doing their due diligence. It gives them the most versatile solution on any media off the shelf and it complements their existing verticals that they operate in.”

Daws also explained the benefits of the ABG DigiLase, that was also purchased at drupa – including web-to-print, fast turnaround, speed to market and automatic set-up.

“This will allow them to get product out, in the shortest possible time with the best technology on the market. We’re so excited to be on the journey with Adam and Andy and the rest of the team at Easy Signs.”