Etipresse chooses BOBST as preferred partner for stronger inkjet future

Family-owned Etipresse Indústria De Rótulos e Etiquetas was founded in 1994 and is today led by Owner and Manager Amarílio Botas, with Paulo Santos as his right-hand man, Amarílio Botas and Maria Luísa Botas, his spouse, together with the sons Miguel and Amarílio. The label company is located about half an hour’s drive from the center of Lisbon, on the Catrapona Industrial Estate, where it produces full color and plain labels for a broad range of customers in the food, dairy, cosmetics, pharma and most other sectors.   

The first venture into inkjet label printing was initiated in 2015 when Etipresse bought an 18 m/min Mini Digital Press and a laser cutter, which allowed the company to take the first steps onto a faster growth path by being able to deliver smaller job runs at a very healthy profit margin. 

Five years down the line, as the pandemic took hold in 2020, Mr Botas decided it was time to take a bigger leap and bring in industrial inkjet power with much higher speed and best-in-class quality. Online research quickly pointed the company in the direction of BOBST and the team started investigating Mouvent Technology in earnest. This led to a demo visit to Switzerland where they saw the press being put through its paces running real-life jobs to prove the excellent performance, high speed and exceptional print quality.  

“After visiting the BOBST Competence Center in Mex to really get to know the digital inkjet machine and see it in action, it was not difficult to make the commitment to opt for this press,” said Mr Botas decisively. “The BOBST Mouvent LB701-UV is our biggest investment to date, and it was made with one very specific goal: to continue our digital modernization, which we believe is the future of graphic arts.” 

Quadrupling printing speed
Installed in July 2021, the new BOBST press has already made a significant contribution to growth in turnover at Etipresse, which recorded an effective increase of 5% in 2021 taking it to almost €700,000. At nearly four times the printing speed of the company’s first inkjet machine, the BOBST Mouvent LB701-UV can reach 70 m/min, which is equal to an output of 75,000 sqm of labels per month, and that is with just one operator. 

“These last few months following the integration of the BOBST Mouvent LB701-UV have been very positive for Etipresse, both in terms of the equipment and its versatility, and in terms of the speed which has helped us respond to orders much faster,” said Mr Botas. 

The press is extremely easy to operate with fast setups and simple changeovers to help maximize productivity and guarantee quality. With a short web path, the press also boasts a very small footprint courtesy of the most compact inkjet engine of its kind on the market. This engine harnesses the power of Mouvent Technology, developed by BOBST, where each printhead incorporates all electronics, ink management and mechanics inside the module. 

“We are a small company where every square meter of floor space counts, so the size of the machine was a very important factor in the decision,” said Mr Botas, adding, “Furthermore, the highly interactive system is very practical for the operator, which is another major advantage, because we need every piece of kit in our factory to be user-friendly and not take up valuable time.”

Complementing the fast speed is the resolution, which at 1200 x 1200 dpi positions the LB701-UV among the very top tier of inkjet presses in terms of print quality. Sharp images, vibrant colors, fine lines, and smooth gradients characterise the high-quality labels from this machine. “The Mouvent UV inkjet printing system is very different compared to the other competitors in this field, and the 1200 dpi resolution allows us to produce standout labels for our customers,” commented Mr Botas.

Taking inkjet to the next level
With customers coming from many different markets from all over Portugal, Etipresse has learnt that agility and flexibility are needed to keep their competitive edge. “It is imperative not only to have high quality but also an effective response to all jobs for our customers, and that they have complete confidence in us,” explained Mr Botas, who has been spearheading the inkjet investment plan himself. 

“The challenges we have had to overcome over the past 27 years mean we are able to adapt to the changes we are facing with ease, whether these are due to the change in printing technology, the financial crisis or the global pandemic.”
 
To maintain this position, it is important to have the support of a reliable supplier with in-depth knowledge of the local, regional and national markets. “We always analyze our needs and position in the market very closely before making our move and I’m pleased to say that the experience with BOBST has been incredibly positive so far,” he said. 

“At times, technicians have been called in to resolve small issues and they always respond promptly. Their interventions are performed in harmony with our schedules and have not hindered production, which makes us very happy with this relationship.”

Considered to be the future of label production, inkjet is today a fast-growing market. Their long experience with the technology will stand the Etipresse team in good stead, as they embark on a fast-paced journey with the BOBST Mouvent LB701-UV fuelling future developments. 

Concluding his thoughts on the investment, Mr Botas said, “Whereas many label printers have only begun to look seriously at inkjet recently, we invested early on and have many years of experience. Now the time has come for us to move forwards with a more powerful inkjet technology that provides more profitability and stability for the future, and that technology comes from BOBST.” 
 

Bobst Firenze srl, Italy