What is High-Volume Label Printing?
High-volume label printing refers to the process of producing a large quantity of labels in a single print run. This process is usually used in industries that rely on mass production, like manufacturing, retail, and more. While in-house label printing is possible, high-volume printing usually involves a label contract manufacturer. This way, you can focus on growing your business while the contract manufacturer takes care of the logistics. But, is high-volume label printing worth it? Let’s dive into the advantages.
How Does High-Volume Printing Benefit Businesses?
High-volume label printing offers a range of benefits to businesses, no matter the industry. It can help you save time and money, as you benefit from economies of scale and reduced order frequency. Additionally, you’ll experience more flexibility in inventory management, as well as reduced environmental impact. If you’d like to learn the specifics of these advantages, check out our in-depth blog. For now, we’ll focus on how you can overcome potential challenges with this process and help you decide if it’s right for you.
Potential Challenges and Considerations
While there are a broad range of advantages to high-volume printing, there are some potential challenges and considerations you should be aware of. Knowing these issues upfront can help you avoid costly mistakes down the line.
Initial Investment Costs
Setting up high-volume label printing incurs initial setup costs that may seem prohibitive to smaller companies. However, the alternative is setting up in-house manufacturing systems, which can be even more expensive. You’ll have to source the factory, equipment, and labor force needed to create high-quality labels. If you work with an experienced label manufacturer, you won’t have to worry about these headaches.
Inventory Management
Ordering more labels may result in inventory management challenges. You may not have the warehouse space or other logistics to make it possible to do high-volume label printing services. However, many manufacturers have inventory management systems in place to help you circumnavigate these issues. These systems allow you to keep production running smoothly.
Turnaround Times
High-volume printing may require longer lead times and turnaround times compared to smaller print runs. That’s why it’s important to plan ahead and coordinate production schedules to ensure timely delivery.
Best Practices for Implementing High-Volume Label Printing
If you’re interested in high-volume printing solutions, you might be wondering how to get started. Following the below tips can help set you up for success.
Optimize Label Design for Scalability and Brand Consistency
If you’re going to order a large number of labels, it’s best to create standardized templates with design elements that can easily be adapted for different products or variations. Incorporate flexible branding elements and scalable typography to ensure consistency across various label sizes and formats. By maintaining a cohesive brand look and feel, businesses can ensure that their labels are both scalable and consistent, reinforcing brand identity and maximizing visual impact.
Invest in a Vendor-Managed Inventory (VMI) Program
When you’re printing a high volume of labels, it’s easy for inventory to get out of hand. Working with a manufacturer who offers vendor-managed inventory solutions can help you optimize supply chain efficiency by allowing suppliers to directly manage inventory levels based on demand signals. In the long run, this helps you avoid stockouts and excess inventory costs.
Work with an Experienced Label Manufacturer
As a busy business professional, the last thing you want is to add another time-consuming task to your plate. An experienced label manufacturer already knows everything necessary for a successful high-volume label printing operation. Finding the right partner — like DRG Technologies — can set your program up for success.
DRG Technologies is a leading label products and solutions manufacturer with over 30 years of experience. When you work with us, you get access to a team with expertise in handling even the most challenging high-volume label printing projects. Every day, our team works hard to identify industry-leading solutions that help our customers streamline production, reduce costs, consolidate supplier bases, and deliver better products. With expensive equipment, product solutions, a UL certification, and a relentless commitment to solving our customers’ greatest supply chain challenges, we’ve become the label manufacturing partner of choice for organizations across North America.
See What DRG Can Do for You
Have questions about your upcoming labeling project? Reach out to our team for an initial consultation.