Continuous Change, Continuous Challenge

Every printing technique has its advantages and disadvantages. UV printing is no different. Although the colors are often vibrant and cleanup simplified, there are environmental considerations to address. Every printer has a different reason for trying out a new technique or process, but for LogoTech (Fairfield, N.J., www.logotech-inc.com) UV printing has been a way of life since its inception.

Far-away origins

LogoTech has been in existence since 1996, but its origins are in Israel. The Tadbik Group, founded in 1982, grew to be Israel's largest packaging group, starting with pressure-sensitive labels, and growing to in mold labeling (IML), shrink, flexible packaging plus label and shrink sleeve application equipment, according to Leslie Gurland, LogoTech's president. In 1995, Tadbik began researching the American market and decided to open a plant here. LogoTech has always produced pressure-sensitive labels at the Fairfield location.

Gurland states that for a mid-sized printer, the company is unique in the services it offers. "We offer three printing methods and also offer silkscreen, hotstamping, and embossing," she says.

UV print shop

LogoTech prints on three Gallus (www.gallus-group.com) letterpress presses, one Arsoma flexographic press, and one HP Indigo (www.hp.com) press. Its Gallus presses can only use UV inks, though the flexo press can employ water-based inks. "We've always existed as a company doing UV," says Gurland. "So it's never been a thought of why certain products would run with UV inks or coatings."

It's also a question of quality. "We believe UV inks offer higher quality compared to water-based," contends Gurland. Anita Sparrow, operations manager adds, "We like the way UV ink transfers onto the substrate. Consistency is a big deal for us. When the pigments come in a certain density, religiously, over and over again, it's a lot easier for us to set up a job and be consistent from a repeat job aspect."

The company uses multiple suppliers for curing equipment and inks, according to Gurland. "We try to keep in contact with suppliers to understand what is new," she says. "We are always willing to try new products, and work with suppliers as a testing site for their new developments."

Although LogoTech has always been a UV shop, Gurland is not sure how pervasive UV printing has become overall. "We are not sure that is the real issue or question," she asserts. "Yes, UV has become pervasive in the label printing market, but the question is what about the future. UV inks must become environmentally friendly and still meet the same quality of printing that they currently offer. Whether it is soy-based or not, the product must meet the growing environmental demands of the end consumer," she says. Environmental friendliness is one challenge for UV printers and suppliers alike.

For example, according to Sparrow, LogoTech has contracted with Safety Kleen (www.safety-kleen.com) to dispose of all the company's rags and buckets properly. But switching to soy-based inks isn't necessarily the solution to the problem because it's a question of quality. "They are not up to the quality that we need," contends Gurland.

Changes and challenges

LogoTech's operating philosophy is, "Continuous Change, Continuous Challenge." It is a company that thrives on educating itself and pushing its people and equipment, often nudging both past the edge of what was considered possible. This operating philosophy directly benefits the printer's customers.

"What makes LogoTech distinctive is our ability to know our customers' products better than they do," claims Gurland. "We think and act as if we work for the customer, which means our care, commitment, and attention to details are phenomenal." LogoTech's customers, adds Gurland, are so overwhelmed by the demands which their customers place on them, that "we need to support them, and make sure things do not slip through the cracks." Plus, in a moment of pride, Gurland says, "The quality of our printing is outstanding."

Staying ahead

Maintaining a lead in any business is a difficult task. But LogoTech has it figured out. According to Gurland, it's nothing more than having a strategic plan and the employees to implement it.

"As far as looking forward to the future, for a company our size, our goal is to grow," says Gurland. "We can be a lot bigger than we are and the only way to be bigger is to have a vision. So the way we stay ahead is we're always looking five to 10 years out." As an example, Gurland says the company's five-year plan is to be triple its size and to grow in both the flexo and digital worlds.

And how about those employees? Gurland says LogoTech is like a top-rate sports team. "We put the right people in the right positions, and work as a team toward the end goal. We continue to train. We stay focused, yet are flexible to changing conditions," she asserts.

And, her employees are loyal. She claims the reason for this can be explained in one word: trust. She offers the following timely example.

The beginning of 2009 was difficult and, like most companies, LogoTech had to cut costs all around. In April, the company asked employees to double their contributions to health insurance, with the promise that, when things got better, the printer would give the money back. "On November 1, the employees' contributions went back to the original amount," Gurland says proudly. "We kept our word."

Digital evolution

One area the printer is investigating is digital printing. It already employs an HP Indigo press and a Digicon finishing unit specifically for the HP machine. Digital has proven to be a value add for LogoTech's offerings. Already, some business has been going more digital. "When you look at the wineries and the smaller jobs, some of it is," says Gurland. "But, as the digital presses increase with speed and improve, things will change. But what we see is that by offering both, you're able to service your customers. You're not pigeonholing yourself in one area."

Will digital overtake UV? "Not sure," says Gurland, "but, we're watching it. Technology is changing so much in our generation that who knows." She adds that both processes have advantages. "We like both for different reasons," she concludes. "It will be interesting to watch the growth of both of them during the next five years. n

LogoTech employs three Gallus letterpress units and an Arsoma flexographic machine for its UV pressure-sensitive label print jobs. pP