Sign & Seal continues digital wine labeling journey

From humble beginnings in 2006, Sign & Seal Labels has demonstrated that organic growth through continuous improvement has been a cornerstone of its success. The company serves several market verticals including fast-moving consumer goods, food, beverage, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and cosmetics. However, wine labeling constitutes approximately 60 percent of its output.

In 2018, Sign & Seal received three silver awards and one achiever award at the prestigious GAPP Awards, organized by the South African graphics and packaging industry magazine. Two years later, the company achieved ISO 9001:2015 and FSC accreditation, and, to top it all, a silver award in the Gold Pack Awards.

‘Our company was born out of a vision deeply rooted in family principles. The initial team, a close-knit group of just nine individuals, shared not only professional aspirations but also a commitment to shared success (of the original nine, five are still with the company),’ says Christa Crous, who co-owns Sign & Seal Labels with her husband Henk. ‘From these humble beginnings, the company has seen remarkable expansion. By fostering a collaborative environment and staying true to our foundational values, we have grown our team to over 50 employees. This tenfold increase in our workforce is a testament to the trust and dedication of our team members and their belief in our collective mission.’

One of the pivotal elements of such success has been a proactive approach to new technologies. Henk Crous says that one of the keys to success and staying ahead of the curve in our industry requires continual investment in cutting-edge machinery and tools.

‘By doing so, we have not only enhanced our production capabilities but also ensured that our products and services remain at the forefront of innovation,’ notes Henk Crous. ‘The decision to focus more on digital technology has been made as customization, cost, quality and sustainability exceed traditional analog machines. This said, we believe that digital and analog technologies are interconnected and mutually dependent in various ways. To optimize the utilization of these technologies, it is important to understand their strengths and limitations. We optimize our printing technology by using modern techniques like hybrid printing, combining the benefits of both analog and digital processes. By leveraging the strengths of each technology and finding synergies between them, we utilize each technology where it excels most.’

The company currently runs a whole spectrum of technologies, which now includes two Screen machines with high speed, high quality and machine uptime of more than 90 percent. Sign & Seal Labels also operates a Konica Minolta AccurioLabel press for jobs requiring lower speeds at 20m/min with quality up to 1,200 DPI.

After 18 years of experience in the industry, Sign & Seal is continually innovating and keeping up with global trends and techniques.

‘There is a strong push towards sustainable packaging, driven by environmental concerns and consumer preferences,’ says Henk Crous. ‘This includes the use of recycled materials, lighter bottles and alternative packaging options like cans. In our business, we decided to be a responsible supplier and are therefore FSC certified.’

“The single biggest benefit with our digital capacity and capabilities is our responsiveness and flexibility that goes with it”

The global sustainability drive and growing brand owner demand for FSC-certified paper-based products encouraged the team to apply for FSC accreditation at the same time as the ISO 9001 certification.

According to Henk Crous, it wasn’t difficult to achieve because of the procedural and process frameworks already in place for the ISO quality management system.
Henk Crous adds that consumers are also increasingly looking for premium and authentic wine experiences.

‘This trend is leading to the growth of boutique and artisanal wine brands that emphasize unique stories and limited production runs,’ he says. ‘We believe that a label sells the brand – the responsibility is on us as a supplier to advise our customers on what embellishments, colors and design is needed to let their brand differentiate from their competitors.’

Aware of the need to elevate its game in a market where customization, shorter runs, and flexibility are increasingly demanded by wine producers, the company recognized the imperative to embrace digital innovation. This strategic move was essential to maintaining a competitive edge in the wine labeling market.

Digital expansion

As part of its vision and strategy, the company planned to invest more in the digital side of the business to achieve lower waste levels, minimized setup time, ease of operation, consistency, security and a quicker ready-make process.

‘We went through a thorough process of investigating and eliminating digital presses before we decided to invest in our first Screen 6-color machine,’ notes Christa Crous. ‘The decision to invest in the newer Screen 7-color machine was a no-brainer.’

The newly installed Screen Label 350UV SAI-S 7-color press significantly expands the color gamut in label printing and supports variable data printing. This enables Sign & Seal Labels to meet the stringent requirements of the wine label industry, including security-conscious labeling for product authentication.

‘The machine’s variable data printing feature allows for the inclusion of minute details and text, ensuring compliance with tight regulatory requirements. The use of micro-droplets supports all major types of security printing, including QR and barcodes as well as dot codes and security tint patterns,’ Henk Crous explains.

With a printing speeds of up to 60m/min, the new press delivers consistently high print quality while maintaining cost-effectiveness.

‘Its efficiency and effectiveness exceed traditional analog machines, delivering three times the productivity levels with exceptional quality and consistency,’ says Henk Crous. ‘With the SAI S model, the time required for preparation work has been dramatically shortened compared to an analog press. The single biggest benefit of our digital capacity and capabilities is our responsiveness and flexibility that goes with it. Customers are enabled via our quick turn-around time to make crucial business decisions without hours of inception or concept for a new product or offering.

‘Technology drives creativity and diversity in our customer’s product offering and we are proud to delight them with a printed label or mock-up sometimes within hours. This differentiates us from the competition, and it ultimately helps to exponentially grow our business.’

SAI refers to the press’s stable operation, accurate color reproduction and integrated workflow technologies. The expanded color gamut of the press allows for a wider range of color expression than was previously possible. Sign & Seal Labels expects the Screen press to also contribute to its sustainability goals.

The company acquired and installed the new Screen system in close partnership with Rotocon, Screen’s agent and service provider in South Africa.

The 16-year partnership between the two companies has been instrumental in ensuring seamless integration and ongoing support for the latest technology.

“Technology drives creativity and diversity in our customer’s product offering and we are proud to delight them with a printed label or mock-up sometimes within hours”

Comments Michael Aengenvoort, CEO of Rotocon: ‘You can buy the fastest car, but if you don’t have the best driver, you won’t win the race. However, with its level of expertise and experience, Henk, Christa and their team understand how to effectively utilize this technology for maximum operator output, and to generate the most value from it.’

‘We were fortunate to have Rotocon as our partner in acquiring our latest press,’ says Henk Crous. ‘They are not just “sellers”, but real business partners; from acquiring the machine, training, continuous maintenance, checking in and providing technical assistance.’

Values drive success

Alongside its technological advancements, the company always placed a strong emphasis on the professional development of its employees.

‘This focus on continuous learning has fostered a culture of excellence and adaptability within our company,’ notes Christa Crous.

‘Moving forward, we will continue to uphold these values, driving innovation and fostering an environment where our employees can thrive and contribute to our shared success,’ states Henk Crous.

‘We will continue the adoption of digital printing and integration of digital technologies across our operations. At the same time, ensuring all machines in our business are performing at maximum capacity, through employing various marketing initiatives and if this pays off, we will need to expand our physical operations again.’