Custom Product Identification Solutions Make a Powerful Impact in Michigan

Family owned and operated Impact Label Corporation of Kalamazoo, Michigan has been in the product identification business for 45 years. Their product line has changed with the times, growing to incorporate pressure sensitive and other specialty labels for a variety of applications, but their mission remains the same: to provide their clients with labeling solutions, not just labeling products.

Earlier this year, Impact Label found a solution of its own in the Roland DG LEC-300 VersaUV. “We needed a versatile printer that could cost-effectively run smaller quantities and produce prototypes,” said Matt Berry, grandson of founder William Fogleson, Sr., “We’ve owned Roland DG printers and we know their quality is top-notch.”

Impact Label produces custom pressure-sensitive, control panel and overlay labels, as well as decals and product identification products, primarily for original equipment manufacturers in a variety of industries including medical products, appliances, electronic manufacturing, marine engines and musical instrument manufacturing. The firm’s corporate offices are augmented by manufacturing and sales locations in Chicago, Illinois and Hixon, Tennessee, and they have accumulated an impressive list of corporate clients. Still, it all comes down to providing solutions.

Impact Label uses the LEC-300 to print on a wide variety of substrates, including vinyl, polyester, polycarbonate and aluminum. They believe the versatility and quality they can demonstrate to their clients has helped them “get in the door” when marketing their products.

“Having the LEC-300 means we can produce small runs in a short time, while maintaining our high standards for quality and durability.”

In a typical job, Berry’s designers create a label using Illustrator or Freehand software, then RIP the file using Roland DG’s VersaWorks software. Their average total project turnaround time is 2-3 days, underlying their need for fast, reliable equipment. With the LEC-300’s fast curing ECO-UV inks, they can print and cut their products the same day.

Impact Label has used the VersaUV’s CYMK + White inks to produce crisp graphics and enhance contrast in their product identification labels. They often apply the ECO-UV Clear Coat to add gloss and increase scratch resistance. Berry has found that the durability of the ECO-UV inks equals the output of their screen printers on every material they’ve used.

Recently, Berry had a new client call with a request for a polycarbonate control overlay for a cleaning system used to clean million-gallon fish tanks. They needed a 30”x30” overlay produced on polyvinyl 4 mil film using four-color processing, with approximately 15 different instruction labels placed on the sheet. Berry estimates that setting up the necessary tools to die cut this job alone would have cost several thousand dollars and would have put their bid “out of the ballpark.”

Instead, Berry ran the four color overlay on the VersaUV, laminated it using 3 mil velvet textured polycarbonate, and ran it back through the Roland DG to cut. All told, Impact Label was able to run the job using the VersaUV for approximately half the cost of a traditional die cut process. “Needless to say, our client was very pleased,” said Berry.

Impact Labels appreciates the production value the LEC-300 offers, with cost savings they can pass on to their clients. “Not only does the machine set up quickly, but there is very little scrap or overage,” said Berry. “We save on tooling, time and materials for every job we run on the LEC-300.”

“In the current market, clients are ordering smaller batches and they want their jobs done yesterday,” said Berry. “Having the LEC-300 means we can produce small runs in a short time, while maintaining our high standards for quality and durability.”