Once Logotech, Inc., Fairfield, NJ, owned by parent company Tadbik in Israel, decided to move forward with its purchase of an Gallus Arsoma 11-in. UV flexo press, things happened quickly.

The purchase was made in July 2002, and the press was installed the first week in August. The press started running full speed on August 29, and Logotech's first job from the machine went out on September 10.

Logotech began as a realization by its parent that it needed a U.S. presence. Tadbik was exporting $200,000 worth of labels from Israel to the United States back in 1995, which no longer made sense to management.

Research was done, and a U.S. factory was built. Logotech was up and running by 1996. It started with one press—a Gallus R200. It was a basic model but capable of doing what was needed.

From there, Logotech installed another Gallus R200 in 1998, but this one had 7-colors—one rotary screen, six UV stations, one flexo and an inline hot-foil stamper. The flexo station is used to varnish or laminate. Other features on the press include computer registration and diecutting capabilities. Two other diecutters can be added, if needed.

"We were getting into the wine market in the U.S. more and more," says Leslie Gurland, Logotech vp of marketing. Logotech began to run wine labels on the second Gallus R200. But, they soon found trouble printing on wine paper. Because of this and the fact that globally Logotech and Tadbik felt there was a huge market for smaller production runs in 2000, the decision was made to purchase a Xeikon digital printer—the DCP 320 S.

"We're not using it as much as we could, but it's given us a lot of opportunity," says Logotech president Rami Molcho.

According to Gurland, the Xeikon is perfect for labels for new product launches and sales samples. The packager's marketing team can go in and do a limited amount of labels on the machine and stay with the press to adjust the color. Over the coming year, Logotech will be approaching the cosmetic and gourmet-food markets that have a strong need for this type of service.

The digital press has been a success in terms of label competitions. Logotech has won several awards for its labels over the past few years.

Why Gallus over any other press? The company's other two letterpresses are also Gallus machines, but that wasn't the only reason. Owner of parent company Tadbik and Logotech, Ilan Drori, was a big influence when it came to the decision-making. Tadbik owns only Gallus presses and Drori wants only "the best."

Gallus also scored points for registration abilities.

"Everyone here thinks that we made the right decision because of the accuracy, the simplicity and the performance of the machine," says Molcho.

With two Gallus letterpresses and a Xeikon digital press, it made sense to Logotech to venture into flexo. "It wasn't that we were unhappy with our equipment we had. We just felt there were additions we needed to add to be a full-service company," says Gurland.

"We looked at this as a way of getting better speeds, more efficiencies out of the press because it's a wider web press and can run larger jobs more efficiently," says Carl Archambeault, Logotech vp of sales.

It's the basic 6-color machine with the option to laminate and die-cut complicated jobs. "We also bought it with the best UV system there is—WEG," says Molcho. This is a higher temperature lamp. The UV system works so well the settings had to be reduced because it was drying too quickly and sometimes melting the labels, he says.

There are no modifications needed if Logotech decides to use silkscreen on the press. Replacing the flexo stations with silkscreen stations do the job.

The flexo machine allows Logotech to continue into new markets such as scratch-off labels for prepaid phone cards, Archambeault says. Another nice feature is its ability to do sheeted labels. "We can do tags and window decals now," says Archambeault.

A central control for all the stations was added, which allows the operator to control every station's registration from one location.

A new type of gear was added to this press to avoid gear marks. Certain grades of steel were offered for the gears, and Logotech went with the highest grade available. "Everything was aimed toward high quality," says Molcho.

This press is capable of speeds up to 500 fpm, and Logotech is currently reaching up to 300 fpm.

The press has opened up new markets for Logotech and increased its sales automatically, claims Archambeault. "By being able to do the scratch-off labels, by being able to do sheeted products, we're able to go into different markets. We have more press time," says Gurland. In fact, Logotech is ready to begin a second shift on the new press.

Molcho was brought over from Israel in 1998 to manage the company locally. "When he started, he realized the company wasn't where it should be to be a player in the market," explains Gurland.

Archambeault was then brought in and hired a new sales staff, as well as Gurland.

Molcho also added a prepress department, which didn't previously exist. The last step was to hire a production manager. "If you look at the five of us, it's a team," says Gurland. "Rami's the head coach, we are the assistant coaches and all the employees are key players."

There are monthly meetings, company picnics, and different training and seminars offered. "We literally stop the machine, get together for 15 mins, and tell everyone what the sales are, what our goals are, what's going on. We show them new products that we've done, thank them for their work," says Gurland, describing a typical monthly meeting.

Molcho says it's in the budget to have another Arsoma added next year. The new one will be an 8-color press with a silkscreen, and an inline hot-foil stamping unit. Also in the works is a bigger location for Logotech. With the company growing and the machinery being added, physical expansion is needed.

Innovation is what will move Logotech into the future. Whether it's with the converter's start in the scratch-off card industry or in future new products, such as booklet labels, which Tadbik currently runs on its machines in Israel, the future of Logotech is in its own hands. "We'll look at where the market's going, what the industry says, what our customers need, and what our sales people will bring back to us," states Gurland.

"We want to succeed and we want to grow. Our dreams and our owner's dream is to be a $20-million company. With the people we have, we can do it. The only way to do that is through unique products, different printing methods and service," she says.

"When you take all the service, the printing capabilities we have here, the innovative mentality that we have and put them all together, we're a good value for our customers," says Archambeault.

Gallus, Inc., 215/677-9600, fax: 215/677-9700, www.gallus.org

Xeikon America, Inc., 630/534-0723, fax: 630/616-9535.

Aldo Berra, 39/382-822234, fax: 39/382-82234.

Kurz Transfer Products, 800/333-2306, fax: 336/764-3225.

ITW Foilmark, 978/225-8200, fax: 978/462-0831.

Flexcon, 508/885-8200, fax: 508/885-6400.

Nirotek USA, distributor Logotech, 973/882-9595, fax: 973/882-0982.