David Savastano, Editor01.19.18
Back in 1969, Dion Label Printing began business in its founder’s home. Nearly 50 years later, Dion Label is an award-winning label industry leader, with more than 80 employees and a 30,000-square-foot facility in Westfield, MA. The company specializes in eye-catching designs, using its narrow web flexo and digital printing capabilities to help its customers reach consumers.
Ashley Stewart, marketing manager for Dion Label Printing, noted that Dion Label has come a long way in its nearly five decades, adding that the company’s commitment to excellent service and quality remain its calling cards.
“In the beginning, Dion Label Printing was solely a flexographic printer, and expanded into the digital market in 2005,” said Stewart. “We now excel in both digital and flexographic printing, allowing us to provide quantities ranging from the millions down to the hundreds. While we are an East Coast-based company with a strong presence in the region, we ship across the country daily to our expansive group of customers. Dion Label Printing strives to elevate our customers’ brand through high-quality printed labels and packaging. From newer brands to more established brands, our customers receive the same level of service.”
With Dion Label Printing’s expertise in both digital and flexographic printing, its market reach is extensive.
“Dion’s top markets include pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and medical products,” Stewart said. “Additional industries we print for includes food, beverage, beer, wine, spirits, health & beauty, candle, household and industrial products.”
In particular, Dion Label excels in catching the attention of consumers through its labels, shrink sleeves and single serving packaging.
“Labels are our top product and prime labels are the most frequently produced type of label,” she noted. “Prime labels are the main label usually applied to the front of a container, such as the front label on a wine bottle. They are meant to draw the attention of your customers and showcase company branding.
“Aside from labels, shrink sleeves and single serve packets have also gained popularity amongst our customers,” Stewart added. “Shrink sleeves provide 360 degrees of design space to maximize the print area on a product. Single serve packets are produced for sample products including pills and powders and are frequently used by our nutraceutical customers.”
Moving into Digital Printing
In 2005, Dion Label Printing made its first move into digital printing, which has opened many doors for the company.
“Transitioning from a completely flexographic printing company to a hybrid digital and flexographic printer in 2005 allowed for market expansion,” Stewart observed. “We ventured into digital printing when we purchased our first HP Indigo WS4050. Not six months later, another identical press was added to keep up with the high demand for digital printing. Dion customers embraced digital printing along with traditional flexographic printing and our label business continued to grow. Over the next 12 years, bringing us to 2017, Dion Label printing has upgraded our digital presses three additional times. Dion currently utilizes two HP Indigo WS6800 presses.”
In 2008, Dion added to its flexo capabilities, purchasing the first MPS servo converting press for its flexographic department, allowing for increased print widths and greater output. The printer has since purchased a second identical MPS servo converting press in 2015 to double its capacity for high volume label jobs.
Emphasis on Quality
Dion Label Printing is a quality driven company, and Stewart said that its primary goal is to maintain the highest printing standards in order to provide the best quality product to customers.
“Dion’s Quality Assurance team establishes and maintains the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) that are used to ensure there are no printing defects and that color consistency is maintained before and during the printing process,” Stewart noted. “Dion’s Quality Control team then reviews all printed labels before they leave the building as a double check for print quality, construction and registration.”
In line with this emphasis for quality, in 2014, Dion Label Printing became the first Graphic Measures International (GMI) certified printer in the country for both digital and flexographic label printing. Also in 2014, Dion registered with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is compliant with both FDA 21 CFR Part 11 and EU Annex 11.
“GMI controls and monitors color consistency for brands,” Stewart added. “The certification ensures compliance with established color standards throughout the label printing process, and also provides control on retail shelves to ensure uniformity.”
Selecting an Ink Supplier
To help meet its customers’ needs, Dion Label Printing relies on its suppliers, including ink manufacturers, to provide quality products in a timely fashion. David Bouley, Dion Label Printing’s sourcing/technical manager, said that in a word, “service” is essential when selecting an ink supplier.
“We need suppliers who will work closely with us on new projects, studying the application as it relates to our equipment and making recommendations accordingly,” Bouley added. “We also look to them for help with existing runs when issues arise. A knowledgeable technical representative who is willing to work with us on-site in these ways will do very well with Dion. Of course, day-to-day service - clear, quick communication and on-time shipments - is equally important.”
“Choosing the best inks along with a reliable supplier are of utmost importance to our company,” Stewart concluded. “We believe that a combination of working with reliable suppliers along with our dedication to our quality procedures makes it possible for us to produce the best possible product.”
Ashley Stewart, marketing manager for Dion Label Printing, noted that Dion Label has come a long way in its nearly five decades, adding that the company’s commitment to excellent service and quality remain its calling cards.
“In the beginning, Dion Label Printing was solely a flexographic printer, and expanded into the digital market in 2005,” said Stewart. “We now excel in both digital and flexographic printing, allowing us to provide quantities ranging from the millions down to the hundreds. While we are an East Coast-based company with a strong presence in the region, we ship across the country daily to our expansive group of customers. Dion Label Printing strives to elevate our customers’ brand through high-quality printed labels and packaging. From newer brands to more established brands, our customers receive the same level of service.”
With Dion Label Printing’s expertise in both digital and flexographic printing, its market reach is extensive.
“Dion’s top markets include pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and medical products,” Stewart said. “Additional industries we print for includes food, beverage, beer, wine, spirits, health & beauty, candle, household and industrial products.”
In particular, Dion Label excels in catching the attention of consumers through its labels, shrink sleeves and single serving packaging.
“Labels are our top product and prime labels are the most frequently produced type of label,” she noted. “Prime labels are the main label usually applied to the front of a container, such as the front label on a wine bottle. They are meant to draw the attention of your customers and showcase company branding.
“Aside from labels, shrink sleeves and single serve packets have also gained popularity amongst our customers,” Stewart added. “Shrink sleeves provide 360 degrees of design space to maximize the print area on a product. Single serve packets are produced for sample products including pills and powders and are frequently used by our nutraceutical customers.”
Moving into Digital Printing
In 2005, Dion Label Printing made its first move into digital printing, which has opened many doors for the company.
“Transitioning from a completely flexographic printing company to a hybrid digital and flexographic printer in 2005 allowed for market expansion,” Stewart observed. “We ventured into digital printing when we purchased our first HP Indigo WS4050. Not six months later, another identical press was added to keep up with the high demand for digital printing. Dion customers embraced digital printing along with traditional flexographic printing and our label business continued to grow. Over the next 12 years, bringing us to 2017, Dion Label printing has upgraded our digital presses three additional times. Dion currently utilizes two HP Indigo WS6800 presses.”
In 2008, Dion added to its flexo capabilities, purchasing the first MPS servo converting press for its flexographic department, allowing for increased print widths and greater output. The printer has since purchased a second identical MPS servo converting press in 2015 to double its capacity for high volume label jobs.
Emphasis on Quality
Dion Label Printing is a quality driven company, and Stewart said that its primary goal is to maintain the highest printing standards in order to provide the best quality product to customers.
“Dion’s Quality Assurance team establishes and maintains the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) that are used to ensure there are no printing defects and that color consistency is maintained before and during the printing process,” Stewart noted. “Dion’s Quality Control team then reviews all printed labels before they leave the building as a double check for print quality, construction and registration.”
In line with this emphasis for quality, in 2014, Dion Label Printing became the first Graphic Measures International (GMI) certified printer in the country for both digital and flexographic label printing. Also in 2014, Dion registered with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is compliant with both FDA 21 CFR Part 11 and EU Annex 11.
“GMI controls and monitors color consistency for brands,” Stewart added. “The certification ensures compliance with established color standards throughout the label printing process, and also provides control on retail shelves to ensure uniformity.”
Selecting an Ink Supplier
To help meet its customers’ needs, Dion Label Printing relies on its suppliers, including ink manufacturers, to provide quality products in a timely fashion. David Bouley, Dion Label Printing’s sourcing/technical manager, said that in a word, “service” is essential when selecting an ink supplier.
“We need suppliers who will work closely with us on new projects, studying the application as it relates to our equipment and making recommendations accordingly,” Bouley added. “We also look to them for help with existing runs when issues arise. A knowledgeable technical representative who is willing to work with us on-site in these ways will do very well with Dion. Of course, day-to-day service - clear, quick communication and on-time shipments - is equally important.”
“Choosing the best inks along with a reliable supplier are of utmost importance to our company,” Stewart concluded. “We believe that a combination of working with reliable suppliers along with our dedication to our quality procedures makes it possible for us to produce the best possible product.”