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At Blue Label Packaging, technology is important—but people, partnerships, and the ability to use data intelligently are what really make the difference. In this film, Morten B. Reitoft talks to Gareth Boyd, Director of Finance at Blue Label Packaging, about how the company uses technology, data, and strong partnerships to continuously improve its business. Blue Label has grown from its roots in craft beer labels into a much broader label business serving breweries, wineries, spirits, specialty foods, and brands found on shelves across the US. Along the way, the company has built an impressive technology platform that combines HP digital printing, ABG finishing, and CERM, with CERM serving as the software backbone connecting production, administration, customer data, and increasingly sophisticated reporting. For Gareth Boyd, the financial perspective goes far beyond traditional accounting. Live shop-floor information, consumptions, clockings, sales figures, production data, and customer information flow through CERM and into Power BI, giving him and the management team an almost immediate view of what is happening throughout the business. That visibility also changes process improvement. Instead of implementing a change and waiting months to determine whether it worked, Blue Label can see the impact in the numbers almost immediately. Different departments can build reporting around exactly the information they need—from marketing and sales to production, operations, and finance. But the story is also about something less measurable: partnership. Gareth describes CERM as a company willing to listen, customize, connect old and new technology, and develop solutions when a customer requirement doesn’t fit neatly into an existing box. Over the years, CERM has evolved from essentially being the system where orders were placed into something Blue Label simply cannot imagine operating without. And perhaps that philosophy reflects Blue Label itself. Quality and delivery are expected. What differentiates a company is how it responds when something doesn’t go exactly as planned—whether someone answers the phone, solves the problem, and continues investing in the relationship. Technology, live data, process improvement, culture, and people all come together in this conversation with Gareth Boyd—a fascinating insight into how Blue Label Packaging continues to develop its business with a long-term perspective.
As we arrived at OnPress in our Uber, we immediately noticed that the building seemed to house several different businesses. It quickly became clear, however, that many of the names were actually part of OnPress itself, reflecting the wide range of services the company offers. Back when CDs and DVDs were huge, they represented a significant part of OnPress’ business, and as those markets changed, so did the company. Interestingly, OnPress still produces a considerable number of CDs and DVDs, so despite the obvious decline in demand, these formats remain popular for certain applications and markets. We quickly moved on to the printing side of the business, where a line of Xeikon presses was set up to produce roll-to-roll. As the VP of Book Manufacturing Lance Svoboda explained, these machines are true workhorses. They run almost 24/7, deliver remarkably consistent quality, and rarely require major service, making them ideal for the type of production OnPress handles. The main reason for our visit, however, was OnPress’ recent investment in Meccanotecnica’s perfect binding line. The system is used for both paperback production and producing book blocks for hardcover books, and everything is installed in an impressively compact and efficient setup. I must admit that the print quality from the Xeikon presses combined with the chosen binding technology was a very convincing match. The finished books simply looked great. Talking with Lance Svoboda also made it very clear that he understands technology and knows exactly what he wants from his production. His enthusiasm for the Meccanotecnica perfect binding line was impossible to miss. And that is perhaps particularly interesting when you remember that Meccanotecnica has spent decades building its reputation around Smyth sewing. Moving into perfect binding means entering a market where several competitors have just as much experience in perfect binding as Meccanotecnica has in sewing. That takes commitment, confidence in the technology, and a clear understanding of what customers need. At OnPress, that decision appears to have paid off. The combination of Xeikon digital printing and Meccanotecnica finishing creates a remarkably efficient book production environment, and judging from Lance Svoboda’s enthusiasm, OnPress is a very pleased customer — for sure!
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