Sigma Middle East Invests in Konica Minolta Accurio Label 230

The new machine is the third generation of Konica Minolta’s AccurioLabel line of digital toner presses

Sigma Middle East one of the leading label printers and converters in the in UAE. recently invested in all-new Konica Minolta Accurio Label 230.

The machine boasts an impressive per-minute speeds of 23.4 m as well as 18.9 m, 13.5 m and 9.45 m which can be selected to match the media used.  Colours are processed at a resolution of 1,200 dpi x 8 bit with 256 gradations expressed in 1 pixel. The 3-dimensional hybrid structure that incorporates functional polymers provides high performance for all media types. One of the best features of the machine is that no pre-coating of media required.

Sigma Middle East Label Industries is in the business of manufacturing self-adhesive labels. Located in the United Arab Emirates, Sigma is one of the leading manufacturers of self-adhesive labels. They have been in the industry since 2010 under the ownership and care of Mr. Jagannath M Wagle.

Sigma is based out of Ajman and operates with a workforce of 55 employees catering primarily to the food, cosmetics, cargo, and courier industries. With over 10 years’ experience in the industry, Sigma has been providing professional printed self-adhesive and paper labels for some of the top manufacturers in the market.

Now with their new innovative facilities in Al Jurf industrial area, Ajman. Sigma Labels continues to take the most complex and challenging jobs, while ensuring to deliver unique top-quality products and services to their clients.

Managing Director, Mr. Jagannath M Wagle said, “There are very few suppliers in the UAE with digital press solutions as what we offer, and Sigma stands out as a partner who can provide excellent support to customers.”

“In recent times, due to changing conditions in the market, job quantities have reduced, and customers require very short runs like 1,000 to 4,000 labels. With heavy competition from many different suppliers, customers are not paying for plate charges anymore which we often have to cover at our end. To counter these challenges, meet customer demands, and to stay ahead of the competition, we were searching for alternative technologies. That’s when we identified a potential solution with Konica Minolta through its local partner Juma AL Majid.”

“We installed the Konica Minolta Accurio Label 230 at our press in February 2021 and immediately noticed the value addition the machine has brought to our business with its excellent quality, advantages, and cost savings.”

“After completing a job, the digital label printer is immediately available for the next job as there is no requirement for cleaning, color adjustment, plate replacement, or replacement of other tools. This meant that we could shift the short-run jobs to digital and take on low-quantity requests for as low as 500 to 600 pcs. This allowed us to widen our capacity on Flexo, increase sales and distribute our orders more efficiently.”

Mr. Wagle went on to say that since the installation of the AL 230 four months ago, they have served 25-30 new customers and have been able to do 20% additional jobs. They expect to acquire additional new customers and continue increasing their job volumes.

SIGMA is looking at introducing new product ranges, Shrink Sleeves, and OPP labels by 2022, and can provide new solutions to their customers and service their low quantity demands.

“We’re extremely happy with the support of Juma Al Majid and Konica Minolta’s consultants and their product and we look forward to a long-term engagement with them and their future solutions,” added Wagle.

Mr. G. Jayaprakash, Head of Industrial Printing at Juma Al Majid Est. said,” As of today, dry toner-based digital label press – AccurioLabel 230- is still a perfect complement for a conventional Flexo printer, who normally says no to the short quantity jobs, especially when compared to investment versus productivity, it stands out way lower than UV Inkjet solutions.”

The AL230 improves overall productivity and job acceptability, especially with overprinting capabilities on pre-printed transparency or coloured media. This allows it to meet the demands of digital printing businesses such as shorter turnaround times and expansion of print applications.

High image quality is realized by Konica Minolta’s unique technology through faithfully facing high-level needs in the digital print market. Colour fluctuation is controlled within the minimum under various conditions, this ensures a stable and beautiful finish from the first to the last print. The high image quality of the AL230 adds value to printed materials and generates additional advantages to printing services.”

Mr. Nayyar Ansari, Production Print Head, Konica Minolta Business Solutions Middle East said, “We are very happy to have our first installation of the AccurioLabel 230 in the UAE at Sigma Labels production facility in Ajman. It is an ideal platform to showcase the real value that the machine has to offer. Sigma is a distinctive organization that is capable of utilizing the machine to its utmost capabilities. Our association with Sigma continues to grow and we see a prosperous future together.”