CS Labels continues with growth and investment plans for 2021

Despite 2020 being an incredibly challenging time, not just for CS, but for UK and international industry as a whole, CS Labels on Steelpark Trading Estate, Wolverhampton, has celebrated a 25 per cent increase in turnover in the last 12 months giving sustainability to its long-term plans.

In recent months, stockholding has been increased, offering to customers expanded, and significant investments made into various technology despite being in the midst of an international pandemic.

CS Labels managing director Simon Smith said: “I don’t think anyone could have predicted the last 12 months. When Covid-19 really began to evolve we started to manage our expectations in terms of what we had targeted ourselves for the year.

" 2019 was successful, and we wanted to keep momentum, but had to be realistic. Brexit was still an ongoing pressure, and coupled with the prospect of many of our customers pausing or ceasing trade we had to really focus on remaining positive and finding solutions to be more efficient. I’d consider it to be the most challenging time of my career.

"With the support of my staff, taking time to review what has been achieved is something to be incredibly proud of. CS has carefully navigated a global storm, and it’s never been more important to drive investment, growth and progress. We’re driven to create opportunities both for the CS workforce and for innovation in the industry."

CS, founded in 1976, has recently completed installation on yet another Xeikon CX500 digital printing press to support a huge increase in customer demand, and to provide additional capacity to support the growth of flexible packaging whilst migrating self-adhesive work to a more cost-effective platform. The new press will be the UK-based manufacturer’s seventh operational Xeikon press, complementing a large technology suite of finishers, rewinders and pouch conversion lines.

This investment is just the beginning for 2021; with extensive plans for additional projects and new technologies to support the business’ growth is quickly gaining momentum. This year is anticipated to be a real acceleration point.

“The additional press with allow us to deliver faster, more cost-effective products to both our label and flexible pouch customers. Digital Print has never been more important than it is now. Giving the ability to adapt to fast changes in every market is the exact reason why Digital is the perfect solution. We have more skilled personnel than we had a year ago to support this and the horizon is incredibly exciting for us," added Mr Smith.

Additional investments have also been implemented including the installation of a new DM DC350, accessorised with some of the latest technology to support more 500-wide runs, as well as air-dryers to support food-safe spot varnishes for the CS Pouches range.

In 2020, CS successfully completed trials on a new Xeikon Inkjet Press. Plans for further upgrades on the Inkjet will be announced further into 2021 together with some other exciting developments.