published on 09/01/09
With myriad efficiency benefits and the power to win and retain customers, there's more to label and packaging print inspection systems than meets the eye, which is reportedly making more work for the contract engineers employed to install the machines.
Like many UK companies, Cardiff-based print packaging and label inspection equipment manufacturer SurfScan Technologies cut back its running costs a few months ago in anticipation of a dip in demand.
However, according to general manager Damian Harvey, the expected slowdown hasn't come – on the contrary, SurfScan is experiencing an upturn in machinery sales. 'We are currently experiencing increased levels of sales in an otherwise gloomy economic climate, our contract engineers are busy which is good' he says. 'In November alone we tripled our usual monthly volume.'
One of the reasons he believes things are looking up rather than down is that printers and converters are investing in on-press inspection systems to boost productivity and reduce waste. 'I have analysed the marketplace and discovered that companies are using our kit to reduce waste and costs and increase productivity in order to get through this cash-starved period,' he says. 'They may be laying off staff but our system comes in at below what they'd have to pay someone to carry out manual inspections and it works more efficiently, and also by using contract engineers its almost like a pay as you go service, ie you only pay for the contract engineers when you need them unlike full time employees which you have to pay all the time'
Another reason that label and packaging printers are spending on inspection systems while tightening their belts in other areas is because on-press and post-press inspection has become a must-have for companies competing for business with brand owners. All the systems can be installed and maintained by contract engineers, reducing downtime and increasing productivity , while reducing uneccesary overheads.

Read the full article at packagingnews.co.uk