Trade printer Mediapoint is increasing its play in the labels and stickers printing market following its install of a Durst Tau machine at its Victoria-based premises.
Mediapoint invested in this Tau RSC E late last year, which is its fourth Durst machine to date. The install closely follows the company’s announcement in February to buy a “top-of-the-shop” Durst P5 350 HS D4, which is due to be installed in June.
Mediapoint sales director Jamie Xuereb said he had his eyes on the Tau RSC E since 2019, when he was at Durst’s HQ in Brixen looking at its Durst 512R purchase.
“When I was at Durst’s HQ, I managed to get a quick demo of the Durst Tau. Its capabilities astonished me. The prints at 1200dpi and a two-picoliter drop were the best I had seen and did not expect from an inkjet UV printer,” he said.
“I had not even seen any digital sheetfed prints in the local market that were of that quality. At this point, we knew the print technology was ready for what Mediapoint wanted to achieve.”
Mediapoint was a front runner in its exploration of the labels and stickers market, having entered into that space 12 years ago. However, there were challenges with what the print technology was able to achieve back then.
“About 12 years ago, when we entered the labels and stickers printing market, we encountered the same pain points that our customers had. We kept searching for the technology to overcome these challenges while also using our existing equipment to meet the market’s needs,” Xuereb said.
“Although it wasn’t as efficient and the quality wasn’t where we wanted it to be, it was the best value-for-money solution. Most of our resell partners and other providers in the market still do the same thing – use their wide format printers, plotters, rulers and Stanley knives to produce these jobs. It’s an inefficient process, especially for volume work.
“But now, things have changed. For the last few years, we’ve been working on a huge project and waiting for the right technology. That wait is over now with us having the Durst Tau. To succeed, we need to have the very best of technologies or quickly outgrow an investment and be stuck with it.”
Durst Oceania managing director Matt Ashman said the Tau RSC E was the perfect fit for Mediapoint as it caters to all of its needs.
As a 330mm-wide advanced solution for digital label printing, the Tau RSC E has a real print speed of 50m/min. It also guarantees that future increased production capacity requirements are covered with a field upgrade available to 80m/min.
“Durst Oceania has always supported Mediapoint well and as one of our largest users in Australia, it’s great to see the business grow from strength to strength with new technologies from Durst,” Ashman said.
“One of Mediapoint’s biggest requirements was ink durability. With the Tau RSC E, it can print labels and stickers fast, but with a UV ink that can last for more than two years outdoors, unlaminated. This means that Mediapoint can bridge the gap between the capabilities of large format presses and offer a product which meets the needs of the market.
“This generation of Tau inks is also applied at the right thickness. It gives a nice balance of a premium, unlaminated feel with a slight raise, but isn’t too thick that it affects the performance of the product with lamination. The white ink on UV inks capability also has a premium look compared to other ink set types.”
According to Xuereb, Mediapoint has plans to re-introduce white ink into its product mix in the future.
“Also, this Durst printer is a high-volume machine that won’t let us down over years of production. We can pass on these benefits to our resellers,” he added.
Since its install of the Tau RSC E in October 2022, Mediapoint has already been able to offer a totally unique product and service to the trade printing industry.
“The feedback that we’re getting from resellers is that our output is raising the bar. In certain conditions, we have been able to print 5mm QR codes which scan and 1pt text, which is legible through a loupe,” Xuereb added.
Mediapoint also has plans to pair the Tau RSC E with an external digital finishing system.
“With it, we can offer the trade printing industry a two-business day turnaround time on quality labels on rolls with custom shapes and sizes and outdoor durability unlaminated. There is currently no cap on the print quantity and we’re adding free blind shipping on all orders, as well as being 100 per cent trade only which means that we don’t compete against our resell partners. All of this is available for a cost as low as $60 plus GST,” Xuereb said.
“Interested resellers can contact us at trade@mediapoint.com.au or register at our Orders System.”
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