Mercian Labels' Label Lock tamper proof security tape has been nominated for inclusion in the 'Made By Britain' awards run by the Associate Parliamentary Manufacturing Group of the UK Parliament

Mercian Labels’ Label Lock™ tamper proof security tape has been nominated for inclusion in the ‘Made By Britain’ awards run by the Associate Parliamentary Manufacturing Group of the UK Parliament.

The Associate Parliamentary Manufacturing Group, inaugurated in February 2011, exists to encourage the exchange of knowledge and understanding between Parliament and the manufacturing industries, helping to raise the profile of manufacturing both inside and outside of Parliament.

Details of the nomination can be seen on the APMG website.

"Hungry for Solutions" – Mercian Labels interviewed by Labels and Labelling

The Mercian Labels Group was interviewed as part of the article “Hungry for Solutions” published in volume 5, of Labels and Labelling, 2011.  You can download a PDF of the article here.

In recent years (2008 and 2010) we have made 2 successful acquisitions of UK labelling businesses and are interested in any appropriate structure for future deals.

If you are, or represent, the Shareholders or Directors of a UK label printing or packaging company that is seeking an exit strategy, then we would like to talk to you in strict confidence following the agreement of a mutually acceptable NDA.  In the case of stressed businesses we can support Insolvency Practitioners or other recovery professionals with quick decisions and actions backed up with immediate financial support.

We have an active acquisition strategy and welcome approaches to our MD Dr Adrian Steele or our Corporate Finance Adviser concerning potential opportunities in related areas of business.

8 December 2011

Derby, UK

AC Labels – Support Band for Coldplay Mylo Xyloto World Tour.

Glowbands were a huge hit at the Coldplay concerts with unique variable promotion code labels from AC Labels

Last week AC Labels played support to the UK band Coldplay on their Mylo Xyloto World Tour. “Yes, you heard correctly!” said Peter Hartshorn, General Manager at AC Labels “Although we do have some members of staff who can belt out a good tune on the karaoke, thankfully we were not actually on stage performing”.

The support was in the form of unique promotional labels that were enclosed within a specially interactive LED light wristband, the brainchild of the UK marketing strategies company RB Concepts.

“We were approached by RB Concepts as they knew of our expertise in large print runs of variable data barcode labelling” said Jason Woodhouse, Business Development Manager. “The job needed to be turned around very quickly to meet their tight manufacturing deadline ahead of the Glasgow Arena Concert, a task we achieved within 36 hours, we are very proud to be working with such an innovative company as RB Concepts.”

AC Labels experience with data management enabled RB Concepts to generate unique promotional codes which fans are able to input giving them direct access to Coldplay’s interactive promotions; the new technology aims to increase audience participation at live events.

Clive Banks of RB Concepts commented “The big thing is audience participation and this means bands can relate more to the audience, it means there is a lot more audience participation, as opposed to it being static”. Coldplay were so impressed with the wristbands they bought part of the company. RB Concepts have high hopes for the technology in the future and may even be used at the Olympics.

Mr Banks Added. “AC Labels did a great job turning around the unique promotional code labels for the Coldplay Glowbands so quickly. They have been a big success”.  The fantastic impact they created can be seen on the videos at Glowbands or ColdPlay Glowbands

END

Notes to Editors:

Further information available at www.mercianlabels.com

Contact: Lynne Hathaway at +44 1543 431095, lynne.hathaway@mercianlabels.com

5 December 2011

Cannock, UK and Lier, Belgium

Mercian Labels Celebrates Xeikon with Morris Dancing

The Mercian Labels Group, Cannock, UK, has completed final installation of its new Xeikon 3300 digital label press. The company’s original investment in Xeikon digital printing equipment, a Xeikon 330, was decommisioned at the same time. To celebrate this a “farewell” of Morris dancing signalled the departure of the old machine.

Dr Adrian Steele, Managing Director of The Mercian Labels Group said: “Whilst the retiring machine was destined for recycling, we could not let the occasion pass without a celebration of its achievements for our business over many years. We got our thinking caps on, and our sales team suggested we organise some celebratory dancing in a quintessentially English style.”

Enter The Jockey Morris Men of Birmingham, who performed a series of traditional English “farewell” dances to see out our old machine.

Among the dances performed were:

• Vandals of Hammerwich – a stick dance from the Lichfield tradition. The title comes from some inhabitants of Hammerwich (near Mercian Labels in Cannock; not to be confused with Hammersmith, London!) who set fire to a wood in Staffordshire in the Middle Ages – hence the placename of Burntwood.
• Lads a Buncham – a traditional fighting dance from the village of Adderbury in Oxfordshire. Danced with long sticks (quarterstaffs)
• Laudnum Bunches – a handkerchief dance from the village of Headington Quarry – now a suburb of Oxford. The title comes from Laudanum – a popular opiate!
• Highland Mary – a handkerchief dance from the village of Bampton in Oxfordshire. It is sometimes danced to the tune of “Norton New Bell Wake” which comes from a poem in St Nicolas Church, Kings Norton which celebrates the installation of new bells in 1783.

Some of this unique “passing out” celebration has been recorded and is available now on Youtube!

END

Notes to Editors:

Further information available at www.mercianlabels.com

Contact: Lynne Hathaway at +44 1543 431095, lynne.hathaway@mercianlabels.com

Whilst antibody printing has been used for some years in applications such as pregnancy testing, we are looking to explore the potential for volume printing of antibodies for other niche applications.

We are looking to work with potential users of novel products that incorporate printed antibodies to commercialise IP developed by our partners, particularly in the field of rapid diagnostic testing.

Flexographic, inkjet and screen printing techniques are all being considered for different applications on a variety of substrates.

If you wish to make us aware that you have a particular interest in printed antibodies for use in labelling or packaging, or have a technology that would be of interest to us, please contact the head of our new product development team Dr Adrian Steele.

There is tremendous potential for printed electronics in labelling and packaging.  Using printed metallic inks based on silver, copper and carbon based structures a new generation of interactive packaging is becoming available.

We are involved in these developments and are looking to work with innovators, suppliers and users of novel printed products that use conductive inks.

Current interests include the problems of sintering of silver based inks using near infra red (NIR) radiation, surface characterisation for printed substrates, flexographic printing of high coat weight solvent based inks, printed capacitors, electroplating of printed circuits, printed magnetic materials for wound healing and digital printing techniques to manufacture printed conductive circuits.

If you wish to make us aware that you have a particular interest in printed conductive inks for use in packaging, or have a technology that would be of interest to us, please contact the head of our new product development team Dr Adrian Steele.

AC Labels passes 200 million variable barcode benchmark

AC Labels and The Mercian Labels Group were interviewed as part of the article “AC Labels passes 200 million variable barcode benchmark“published in PRINTWEEK 9 November 2011.  You can download a PDF of the article here.

7 November 2011

Derby, UK

AC Labels break 200 million variable barcode label barrier

100% of barcodes are verified to ANSI grade on the press immediately after printed, as well as additional manual quality checks

Variable barcode label specialist AC Labels has manufactured its 200 millionth unique barcode label since reforming in April 2010 as part of the Mercian Labels Group.

Peter Hartshorn, General Manager, said “Producing so many high quality variable data labels is a sure sign that we are getting it right. This proves we are supplying our customers with the service and value they expect and our small team at Derby is very proud.”

AC Labels recognised they were specialists in variable data printing, producing cost effective barcode labels and tags with 100% barcode verification for medical, pharma, logistics and courier markets. Their ability to manufacture difficult and complex constructions to solve customer’s problems was also a USP and they identified their numerous checks and barcode verifying equipment was vital for data accuracy.

“The whole team knew our quality and service was excellent so we regained the ISO:9001 certification to UKAS standards as a priority to prove this was the case” said Hartshorn “ Understanding what we offer is key to our strategic sucess.  Our next goal is identify new market sectors that require the benefits we bring along with new customers in sectors already served ”.

END

Notes to Editors:

Further information available at www.mercianlabels.com

Contact: Lynne Hathaway at +44 1543 431095, lynne.hathaway@mercianlabels.com

"Adapt to the new reality or risk being left behind" - PRINTWEEK 30 September 2011

The Mercian Labels Group was interviewed as part of the article “Adapt to the new reality or risk being left behind “published in PRINTWEEK 30 September 2011.  You can download a PDF of the article here.