Iain Sinclair, GM of CCL Label South Africa, emphasises the group’s spirit of innovation, extensive knowledge and passion for labels is already shaping the new facility, conveniently located close to current customers and OR Tambo International airport.
‘Premium decoration, produced in South Africa, opens up new possibilities for existing customers and other manufacturers to enhance their brands through outstanding packaging,’ Iain reports. ‘We’re now able to offer the same high-quality products they’ve come to rely on, with the added benefits of improved flexibility through short lead times, reduced transportation distances, local on-site strategic and technical support, and reliable service.’
CCL’s customers, he adds, are creating trend-setting brand images by using the company’s design optimisation skills, new-to-market label constructions, and functional and promotional systems. They’ve also acknowledged visual identity as a decisive factor for increased purchases at the point-of-sale.
Driven by innovation, design for recycling
‘We believe, as our customers do, that pressure-sensitive labels and 360° decorative sleeves offer novel and powerful ways to attract new consumers across all demographic segments,’ says Iain. ‘Across all the different decoration types, CCL Label has developed solutions that transport the brand message in a powerful way, and support brand owners in reaching their sustainability goals.’
Thanks to a strong R&D focus, CCL engineers continue introducing packaging and decoration industry ‘firsts’.
Developed at the company’s in-house laboratories, examples of those based on improved design for lower carbon footprint, reuse or recycling principles include WashOff, EcoStream, EcoFloat, EcoSource and EcoSolve technologies.
CCL’s patented WashOff improves the circulation process of returnable glass bottles by ensuring the decoration is removed inside the bottle washer. EcoStream and EcoFloat utilise low-density materials in sophisticated constructions to ensure easy separation of labels from PET bottles based on sink-float principles. They’re ideal for bottle-to-bottle recycling because the PET flakes and washing bath are protected against contamination and decolourisation.
Labels using recycled content such as recycled PET (rPET) from post-consumer recycling are available in permanent and WashOff varieties, and help reduce the overall carbon footprint of the packaging.
The EcoSource label and bio-based sleeve, on the other hand, use up to 94% renewable resources rather than fossil fuel-based raw materials. The polyethylene (PE) is made from bioethanol sourced from sugar cane and is fully recyclable within the conventional PE recycling stream.
EcoSolve labels are for customers demanding biodegradable and compostable alternatives, and are well suited to bottles made from similar materials, such as PLA.
Sustainability forward: decorations with rPET, WashOff, TripleS, EcoSolve, EcoSource, EcoStream, EcoFloat and Bio-PE Sleeve.
Welcome to the digital world
Digital printing technologies and the integration of tiny antennas and electrical circuits (RFID and NFC) have opened up a whole new world of track and trace, promotional personalisation and customisation possibilities. Offering each consumer a unique product, once a distant dream, is now a reality. This trend is set to grow with diverse runs, promotions or seasonal designs, as each product can be outfitted with an individual design and easily-integrated variable data thanks to HP Indigo’s Mosaic software that automatically generates hundreds, thousands and even millions of unique graphics, text and designs for maximum impact. CCL Label can also integrate digital hybrid technology varnishes to further enhance each label or sleeve with special effects such as fluorescent inks.
Printing from a digitally-based image directly on a wide range of substrates reduces tooling costs and lead times while offering immense flexibility. Combining digital with conventional printing technologies enables the addition of all types of embellishments for a striking end result.
Connected packaging experiences
Wowing today’s consumers also requires interaction and individuality. To sweep them off their feet brands need to generate one-off experiences along with their products. The right mix of an intriguing story, interaction and a personal approach are key to boosting sales and strengthening the bond between brands and consumers.
This means the end of the era when consumers used their smartphones to scan a product, merely to land on the brand’s website homepage! Now, thanks to cloud-based technology, labels can be brought to life or surroundings merged with virtual reality with 360° videos and games accessed within seconds.
The latest augmented reality developments enable a whole new dimension of connection between print and online media. Brands can now offer each consumer a unique experience – whether it’s a trip around the world, a concert, the possibility of creating an avatar for a game, or even a personal version of the packaging.
CCL Label provides convenient creation and usage of the content for an augmented reality experience, as well as analysis and easy adjustments to maximise a promotional campaign’s potential through the Arilyn app.
Connected packaging turns Aqua d‘Or bottles into slot machines – mixed reality experience and sweepstakes combined directly on the packaging.
Who is CCL Label?
THE CCL Group counts among world’s largest converters of pressure-sensitive and speciality extruded film materials for a wide range of decorative, instructional, functional and security applications for government institutions and multinational customers.
The group sells extruded and laminated plastic tubes, aluminium aerosols and speciality bottles, folded instructional leaflets, precision-decorated and die-cut components, electronic displays, polymer banknote substrates and other complementary products and services in parallel to specific end-use markets.
In addition to CCL Label, the CCL Industries family includes Avery, Innovia and Checkpoint Systems.
