At the end of the same year, VR Print relocated to a custom-built and spacious manufacturing centre in Riverhorse Valley Business Estate, providing space for further equipment and warehousing.
‘Since we moved to our new premises we haven’t looked back. It has given us the extra space we needed to grow and diversify,’ declares Paul. ‘We’ve remained competitive by developing new and improved products using our leading-edge technology.’
Among its impressive list of services, VR Print produces a wide range of booklet labels and coupon labels for agrochemical and veterinary packaging applications.
‘Besides existing contracts, we’ve been investigating the potential in the pharmaceutical packaging sector for our extended content booklets, which offer a secure alternative to loose information inserts,’ relates Paul. ‘Our recent collaboration with Pro-Print, a highly-successful local folding carton packaging and leaflet printing specialist, has led to an important breakthrough with one of South Africa’s leading pharmaceutical manufacturers. Once this specially-devised booklet label gets to market, we’re confident that other developments with leading brand owners will soon emerge,’ he adds.
Application advantages
Distinguished by its Attach-A-Leaflet trademark, VR Print’s special self-adhesive booklet label allows for 32-pages, or more, of printed content, providing space for a wealth of product information and promotional features. Produced on the Prati VegaPlus Booklet LF 330 with Longford inline feeder, GPS patented nip roller system and rotary die-cutting station, it can be saddle-stitched, spine-glued or roll-folded, then attached to a container, even small circumference vials, without wrinkling or butterflying.
Once applied, the label can be opened and resealed with ease, providing the consumer with important information that can be referred to time and again.
‘Most importantly, brand owners don’t have to provide outer packaging for a product, which saves overall costs,’ explains Paul. ‘The label can simply be hand applied or attached in-line on a high-speed label applicator.’
Like the agrochemical and veterinary sectors, the pharmaceutical industry has strict requirements regarding fit-for-purpose packaging and Paul is quick to point out that choosing the most advanced and specialised converting equipment has been paramount to securing brand owner buy-in and peace of mind.
‘Right now, VR Print is the only company in South Africa with the capabilities to ensure a booklet label that meets the high standards of the medical and agrochemical industries. We have the flexibility and expertise to adapt our label structures to meet customers’ requirements, large or small, and to deliver beyond expectations,’ he explains.
‘Through our local partner, AM Labelling Systems, we assist manufacturers to set up packing plants with automated label application,’ he continues. ‘Those we’ve helped have been pleasantly surprised to discover it doesn’t cost a fortune to establish an automated process that increases overall packing efficiencies.’
