Domino pushes Labelnet digital output to 40 percent with second press installation
Domino's digital technology has transformed Labelnet's operations, taking its digital output from zero to 40 percent and prompting the installation of a new N730i press.
The UK label converting sector is witnessing a pragmatic maturation in how digital and flexographic technologies coexist on the factory floor. A prime example is Labelnet, a company that operated for over 25 years as a dedicated flexo house before taking the digital plunge in 2020. Fast forward to 2026, and the converter has just installed its second Domino press, an N730i, after seeing digital printing grow from zero to account for 40% of its total production volume.
This trajectory underscores a fundamental shift in production strategy. When Labelnet first integrated a Domino N610i six years ago, the primary goal was to address the mounting market demand for shorter runs and faster turnarounds. The operational results were immediate: lead times that previously stretched into weeks were compressed into days, and in some cases, mere hours. This newfound agility allowed the company to diversify its portfolio, expanding beyond its traditional stronghold in food labels to capture lucrative contracts in the chemical and beverage sectors.
The strategic reallocation of print volumes
The installation of the 1200dpi Domino N730i is not just about adding raw capacity; it is about refining the production mix. The industry narrative often pits digital against flexo in a zero-sum game, but the reality at converters like Labelnet is far more collaborative. Digital printing is not completely replacing flexographic processes. Instead, it is fundamentally changing which jobs are routed to which technology.
By offloading short-to-medium runs, variable data tasks, and highly embellished multi-layer labels to the Domino presses, Labelnet frees up its flexo assets for the long-run, high-volume work they were designed to execute efficiently. This hybrid approach maximizes the return on investment for both technologies. Furthermore, the shift has injected new life into the workforce, attracting younger talent who adapt rapidly to digital interfaces and modern prepress workflows.
The evolution of Labelnet from a flexo purist to a digital-forward hybrid converter proves that the true value of inkjet lies in workflow optimization, not just print quality. How long will it take for the remaining flexo-only holdouts to realize that digital capacity actually protects and enhances their analog margins? Follow The Paper for daily news, market signals and key updates from the global paper, corrugated and packaging industry. — Sigue toda la actualidad del sector en www.thepaper.ai
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