The ROTOCON Advantage: Building Trust and Expertise
ROTOCON, SCREEN’s dedicated distributor of digital inkjet printing solutions in South Africa, has emerged as a key player in the local label printing market over the past decade. Partnering with SCREEN, ROTOCON has built a reputation for delivering innovative, reliable, and cost-effective digital inkjet presses tailored to the specific needs of South African label converters. Their success is rooted in a commitment to providing cutting-edge technology, exceptional service, and a deep understanding of the local market.
Michael Aengenvoort, ROTOCON’s CEO, highlights that the core of their success lies in offering robust, reliable presses and unparalleled technical support. SCREEN’s continuous innovation, coupled with ROTOCON’s expertise, has resulted in a series of prestigious awards, including ‘Leading Label Printing & Converting Equipment Partner’ in 2024, ‘Most Innovative Printing and Converting Equipment Supplier’ in 2023, and ‘Best Printing & Converting Equipment Supplier – South Africa’ in 2022 at the African Excellence Awards.
ROTOCON has successfully installed digital inkjet presses across South Africa at prominent printing service providers, including Label Links, Sullwald Printing Solutions, Sign & Seal Labels, and SA Litho Label Printers in Cape Town; FIL, VR Print, AVVO Labels, and GTV Labels in Durban; Rebsons Labels and Avocet in Johannesburg; and SA Print in Bloemfontein. This momentum continues with the sale of four Truepress LABEL 350UV SAI label presses in early 2024 and annual consumable sales of approximately €1 million.
Rapid Growth and Increasing Competition
South Africa’s label printing market is growing rapidly, driven by the expansion of industries such as food and beverage, wine, mining, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and retail. These industries rely on label converters to meet consumer demand for customised and individualised labels. However, this growth has also intensified competition, with businesses striving to differentiate themselves through faster turnaround times, high-quality materials, competitive pricing, and superior customer service.
The industry faces challenges, including smaller order sizes, a shrinking pool of skilled analogue press operators, and stricter consumer safety and sustainability regulations. These factors have compelled South African label printing businesses to invest in new technologies to remain competitive, creating pressure on small to medium-sized enterprises to innovate.
A Partnership South African Label Printers Can Rely On
To navigate the dynamic and competitive landscape, label converters need a reliable partner offering advanced printing technology, technical expertise, and an understanding of the local market. SCREEN’s digital inkjet label presses, supported by ROTOCON, provide the flexibility and adaptability required to future-proof operations in this evolving market.
Reliability and Support
SCREEN’s Truepress LABEL 350UV SAI series embodies reliability, with uptimes exceeding 90% and maintenance that operators can perform. The TRUST Network Service support programme uses remote monitoring and predictive diagnosis to prevent malfunctions and guide maintenance. ROTOCON’s team of engineers, trained by SCREEN, provides prompt and thorough technical support, ensuring minimal downtime.
SCREEN’s presses and EQUIOS workflow software integrate seamlessly with various label finishing equipment. This collaboration with industry-leading partners enables ROTOCON to offer end-to-end label printing solutions tailored to diverse customer needs.
Ease of Use and Comprehensive Operator Training
Digital inkjet technology aligns with the skills of South Africa’s younger workforce, which is increasingly drawn to digital and IT-related careers. SCREEN’s intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) simplifies printing operations, allowing businesses to expand their workforce despite the scarcity of experienced analogue press operators. ROTOCON ensures operators are fully proficient after just one week of training, maximising productivity.
Digital Inkjet Innovation in South African Labelling
SCREEN’s Truepress LABEL SAI series excels in producing high-quality, customised labels for various applications, from personalised medication labels to boutique wine bottles. The presses’ seven expanded colour gamut inks (CMYK + white, orange, and blue) and advanced inkheads deliver outstanding image quality.
A neuromarketing study by Label Life by UPM Raflatac underscores the importance of label design in influencing consumer purchasing decisions. Wineries, for instance, are competing with premium labels featuring specialised finishes like foiling and embossing. SCREEN’s Truepress Digital Primer adds pseudo-embossed and matte effects at a lower cost, enhancing image density and scratch resistance. For food, pharmaceutical, and hygiene products, Low Migration inks ensure compliance with safety regulations.
Variable Data Printing and Cost-Effective Productivity
The trend towards limited-scale, highly customised printing runs is driving the South African printing market. Digital inkjet presses, with their variable data printing (VDP) capabilities, are ideal for producing unique labels with individualised information, QR codes, and reactive designs. These capabilities make small printing jobs more profitable by eliminating minimum order quantities and enabling on-demand printing.
Henk Crous, owner of Sign & Seal Labels, attests to the productivity of SCREEN’s Truepress LABEL 350UV SAI-S press, which delivers three times the productivity of analogue presses while maintaining exceptional quality and consistency. The press also helps streamline operations and reduce waste.
Automation and Digitalisation
Automation is becoming essential for maintaining growth in the label printing market. SCREEN’s EQUIOS workflow software automates processes such as setting printing positions, colour matching, and ink head cleaning, reducing manual intervention and operator error. This automation not only improves efficiency but also expands production capacity and profitability.
Conclusion
The South African label printing market is undergoing significant transformation, driven by rapid growth and evolving consumer demands. To thrive in this competitive landscape, label converters must adopt the latest technologies and innovations. ROTOCON and SCREEN are at the forefront of this transformation, offering next-generation digital inkjet label presses supported by exceptional local technical assistance. Together, they equip South African printing businesses with the quality, efficiency, and profitability needed to gain a competitive edge in a price-sensitive market.
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