The Control Group, a label and flexible packaging converter from Norwood, NJ, makes sure that it is at the forefront of new technology in the label-making business. There are no machines or presses in its facility more than five years old.

"When new technology is available, you need to take advantage of it and get it incorporated to your process so that your customers see that you are doing the most for them," says Jeffrey Levin, partner, The Control Group.

In keeping with this philosophy, Levin and his partner William Cheringal installed two new 13-in. VSI eDrive inspection rewinders with Nikka visual inspection systems in Nov. 2005. The rewinders are being used for Control's pharmaceutical labels operation. Since the machines have been in place, Levin and Cheringal have seen improvements in the quality of product coming off the press.

"What happens on a one- or two-label basis, even the best operator is not going to find it," Cheringal says. "We're now finding those, reporting those back to the pressroom and are taking steps to prevent even those from occurring."

It even found a discolored fiber in the paper layer of the pressure-sensitive material. "Customers are effectively guaranteed 100 percent defect-free product," Cheringal adds.