Best labels for best dressing

Best ingredients from regional and national suppliers have been the top priority at Bruno's Best since the beginning. This also applies to the choice of product labeling solution. Since it often has to be fast due to the various variable data prints for medium and smaller runs, label production using digital printing at Selfix AG in Otelfingen ZH convinced the popular Swiss salad dressing manufacturer.

Food label flexibility and complexity.

"No other industry has such a wide range of applications for labels as the food industry," notes Kurt Fischer, Managing Director of Selfix AG. He continues, "Because they provide information about the contents and packaging or support the product in its brand statement and product identity. Due to the large production volume in the food industry, labels are used industrially on rolls. It's important to ensure a high level of product differentiation and specifications, including digital printing." A food label must therefore be able to do many things. For example, it must absolutely comply with all food regulations. This applies above all with regard to the materials used; for direct labeling, for example, harmless adhesives are required.

Close exchange between customer and manufacturer.

An extensive exchange of information is necessary between the customer and the label manufacturer in order to precisely define the individual requirements for the label. Rony Arnold, owner of Bruno's Best, says: "We were looking for a fast and cost-effective solution that also met our qualitative requirements. We realized that digital printing (many types, small quantities) is generally best suited to us for short runs. This is because, unlike other printing processes, digital printing does not incur any cliché costs. With larger runs, the cliché costs per label naturally decrease steadily, and since the printing process itself is cheaper with offset printing, for example, offset printing becomes more interesting than digital printing once a certain quantity is reached.

Flexible and reliable

Selfix AG relies entirely on flexibility to meet customer requirements with its digital printing press and production in Switzerland. With the introduction of the new UV inkjet digital press, the label company is celebrating great success. Above all, the short printing time is convincing. Kurt Fischer is convinced: "The short makeready time, the lightfastness of the inks, and the resulting cost-effectiveness and quality convince our customers. When things have to move faster, the company delivers from good to print within three days. Not only can labels be produced more cost-effectively using digital printing thanks to the rapid production time, but the costs of producing a physical print master are also eliminated. All data is recorded and prepared electronically. The speed advantage is especially noticeable when many different jobs are to be printed in relatively short runs." One extremely popular option is coating. It gives the print product a higher-quality appearance, protects against soiling and damage, and quite often improves the color reproduction of the print. UV varnishing is also available from Selfix AG for short runs. To enhance the haptic effect, there is the option of combining digital with screen printing, whether symbols, text or image elements need to be highlighted.

Selfix AG is a Swiss label printing company, specialized in the production of self-adhesive and special labels. The company has been in existence for 65 years, has around 45 employees and is located in Otelfingen ZH. Twelve printing presses are available there for work in letterpress, flexographic, offset and digital printing, from zero to eight colors. Labels can be finished inline with foil stamping or laminates. Selfix AG processes a wide range of materials, including paper, PE, PP, PET, special composites, and gold and silver materials made of paper and plastic. As a full-range supplier in the label industry, Selfix AG is committed to constant and continuous innovation: New products such as booklets, resealable labels, 3-D labels, security labels and first-opening guarantee labels as well as labels with blind lettering or glitter effects are constantly pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

Colors, materials, adhesive.

The glossy PP film optimally reflects the high print resolution and can be subsequently printed flawlessly using the thermal transfer process. The adhesive used is particularly suitable for labeling damp surfaces in cool environments. The high initial adhesion is a further advantage. The adhesive complies with FDA 21CFR 175.105. The current "Low Migration" ink formulation meets the extended guidelines of the European Ink Association (EuPIA), the Swiss Ordonnance and the Nestlé guidelines.

Labels on the way to the product.

When Bruno's Best receives a label, what happens next? The head of Bruno's Best, Rony Arnold, explains: "Small batches are labeled by hand, but our standard labels are applied by machine. Of course, labels can be applied faster by machine. However, you also have to take into account the setup time of the labeling machine. The filled and labeled bottles are packed in cartons and cooled down to 5°C internally. After that, our products are either delivered directly by our delivery service or picked up by a transport company and then reach the stores via a distribution center."

Bruno's Best AG

Bruno's Best was founded in 2002 by Bruno Arnold. Before that, he and his wife Hildegard hosted numerous satisfied guests at the Landgasthof Sand in Kerns for over 25 years. Even then, Bruno's salad dressing and Bruno's herb butter were very popular with guests. In 2001, Bruno Arnold decided to lease the Landgasthof Sand and to concentrate fully on the new company Bruno's Best. He searched for selected specialty stores in Central Switzerland and personally convinced them of his salad dressings. One year after founding the company, son Rony also joined the business. He helped build the company with the main goal of successfully positioning Bruno's Best on a national level. Bruno handed over the management of the company to Rony in 2013. Today, Bruno's Best employs 28 full- and part-time employees. www.brunosbest.ch