Label Apeel has expanded its packaging production capabilities with the launch of Carton Apeel, a new service bringing its premium decorative printing expertise into carton production.

Working with press manufacturer Edale, the Leicester-based converter is using an FL6p press to combine printing, hot and cold foil, embossing, varnishing and lamination in a single pass, with die-cutting also carried out on the same line.

The development is aimed at independent and boutique brands seeking distinctive packaging without the minimum order quantities and stock commitments traditionally associated with carton production.

The service also offers the opportunity to source labels and cartons from one supplier, with both produced to a consistent colour standard. This could simplify packaging procurement while helping brands maintain visual consistency between the label on a bottle or jar and its outer carton.

Combining production stages

The FL6p allows multiple print and finishing operations to be brought together within one production process, reducing the need to move cartons between separate suppliers or production stages.

The press can also print on both the inside and outside of a carton, providing additional scope for brand messaging and packaging design.

Label Apeel says integrating these operations can reduce handling and work in progress, shorten lead times and improve consistency across different packaging components.

Flexible quantities for independent brands

A key part of the Carton Apeel proposition is its approach to order volumes. There is no minimum order quantity, with customers able to order anything from a single carton to 10,000. Typical turnaround is 10 to 15 days.

This allows manufacturers to manage packaging requirements around demand, rather than committing to large quantities that may become surplus if product designs change or sales forecasts are not met.

Brands could, for example, produce larger runs for established product lines while ordering smaller quantities for seasonal promotions, limited editions or new product launches.

The flexibility is particularly relevant to smaller food and drink businesses, which can face greater challenges in balancing packaging costs, stockholding and product differentiation.

Stuart Kellock, director at Label Apeel, said: “Smaller brands are fighting hard for attention on the shelf, so their packaging has to do more than simply hold a product. It needs to tell a story and give people a reason to pick it up.”

Extending packaging capabilities

For Label Apeel, the investment provides an opportunity to extend its existing label production business into cartons, while offering customers a more integrated packaging service.

Quick changeovers mean label and carton jobs for the same customer can run in close succession, with colour matched across both formats. The business says this will allow it to expand its offering while retaining flexibility across production.

The move reflects the challenges facing smaller brands as they seek packaging that delivers a premium appearance without the operational and financial commitments associated with conventional production volumes.

Lachlan Buirds, managing director of Edale, said the FL6p enables Label Apeel to bring its existing expertise in premium labels into carton production, combining print, embellishment and die-cutting in a single pass.

For food and drink manufacturers, the development highlights how advances in printing and finishing capabilities can give smaller businesses access to more sophisticated packaging options, while providing greater flexibility over production quantities and stock management.