Screen has installed its 200th Truepress Jet L350UV SAI inkjet label press at Hickman Label Company of Lebanon, Tennessee.

Released in 2019, the Truepress Jet L350UV SAI follows its earlier models, the Truepress Jet L350UV+ and Truepress Jet L350UV+LM, plus the original model, the Truepress Jet L350UV, which was launched in 2014.

The Truepress Jet L350UV SAI series offers greater stability with printing speeds of up to 60 meters per minute and allows for seven printhead channels with the option for an eighth. The seven-colour set includes special Blue and Orange for an extra vibrant colour gamut.

Hickman Label Company chose the Truepress Jet L350UV SAI S to expand its business into a full-service label production operation.

The company got its start in 2015 by supplying blank labels to the industry. Its founder, Neil Hickman, needed a compact press that was easy to operate and one whose manufacturer offered exceptional training and a great service program.

Immediate plans for Hickman Label Company include constructing a 2,800 square meter facility to accompany its existing 1,700 square meter building and 370 sqm warehouse. The company also plans to purchase additional Screen equipment and hire more operators.

“I expect that the printing side of the business will grow to be as big as or even bigger than the blank side of our business. The press is already running every day. It’s been a great investment for us,” Hickman said.

To better serve its wide range of customers in a variety of industries, Hickman Label Company will be expanding its website to include an online store for its label side of the business. The company will offer label manufacturing throughout the United States.

Screen Graphic Solutions Co. president Yukiyoshi Tanaka said, “While the severe situation caused by COVID-19 has continued in recent years, the volume of label shipments has shown steady growth. This has made it even clearer that label printing is an ‘essential business’ for people’s lives.

“In addition, expectations for digital printing are increasing year by year, as the need for remote working and smaller workforces as well as the shortage of intermediate materials created by supply chain management disruption have led to a greater re-evaluation of the shortening and optimisation of printing processes than ever before.

“The Truepress Jet L350UV SAI not only offers the features of digital printing, but also delivers ease of use and market-leading high uptime thanks to its high stability in maintaining print quality, extensive after-sales support, and proactive service systems. We believe these are the reasons why so many of our customers have adopted our systems. Many of them own multiple units of our systems.”

Locally, Screen GP Australia managing director Peter Scott said 200 is a great milestone for the Truepress Jet L350UV series.

“And I am happy to say, all of the original ones are still in production and in demand if traded-in for upgrade. Eleven are installed in the A/NZ region, which is 5.5 per cent of the world total – far more than would typically be expected. For this I must thank our dealer partner Jet Technologies, who will be co-exhibiting with us at PacPrint.”

Live demonstrations of the L350UV SAI will take place on Screen’s stand E48 at PacPrint at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre from 28 June to 1 July.