Baker Labels install Durst Tau RSC 340 in UK first

UK label manufacturer, Baker Labels, has installed a Durst Tau RSC 340 LED label printer at its Essex headquarters, making it the first UK company to do so.

The investment reinforces Baker Labels' dedication to delivering high-quality printing solutions while expanding production capabilities.

Baker Labels is a trade printer of self-adhesive labels which also specialises in materials and packaging. An independent, family-run business, the UK company has operated for over 50 years.

In a statement explaining the purchase of the Durst machine, Baker Labels says that it is “committed to continual reinvestment in new innovations,” and that this approach has ensured it remains “relevant, valuable suppliers” to its customers.

The Durst TAU RSC 340 LED is available with standard colour configurations including CMYK, orange, violet, green, and white.

The press reportedly runs at up to 80m per min, with a native resolution of 1200dpi. The press features Fujifilm Samba printheads with variable drop sizes ranging from 2-6 picolitres. Its LED curing feature, used instead of UV, reportedly reduces energy usage during production.

A Durst Hawk AI unit is due to be added to the press in the coming weeks. The automated inspection system can reportedly correct print mistakes such as missing nozzles in real time, without any setup needed and without any operator intervention. It is designed to be able to carry out in-line image processing while a job runs at full speed, without a test print being required.

Tom Baker, finance and development manager at Baker Labels, says: “If we’re going to do something, we will do it properly. Getting the full RSC with LED curing and the Hawk AI unit to develop is an exciting challenge for us as a team and should keep us busy for a while.

“It’s exciting to see what will be possible and start pushing the boundaries of such an innovative product.”

Speaking in more detail about the Durst press, Baker Labels technical manager Jamie Godson comments: “It was clear to me from a very early stage that the TAU 340 RSC was a well-engineered press.

“It has impressed at every stage of the investment process from initial sampling, press demos, right through to the install and will no doubt have a huge impact on our productivity and lead times.”

Godson adds: “With a thinner ink laydown than what we have previously experienced, the TAU 340 RSC is capable of producing high quality tonal images and fine text, whilst still retaining the robustness and impact of traditional inkjet print.”

The press installation is part of a broader two-year, £5m investment in growth and advancing technologies for the company.

In the last 14 months Bakers has acquired and additional HP Indigo 6K press for its label division, three Galaxy Packtech pouch converters, and two HP Indigo 200K digital presses, as well as an additional factory premises for its flexible packaging division, BakPac. Two more Galaxy presses are planned for 2025.