One-pass inline printing and digital embellishment enhance premium label production, faster turnaround, and substrate versatility at UCC.
Lucknow, India: Upadhyay Colour Copier (UCC), a leading commercial printing company based in Lucknow, has expanded its capabilities in premium short-run label production with the installation of a Haotian Digital Label Press featuring inline CMYK, White, UV coating and digital foiling. The investment has enabled the company to deliver high-quality embellished labels in a single pass while opening new opportunities in the growing digital label market.
Having already established itself in sheet-fed digital print embellishment, UCC identified increasing demand for short-run labels that conventional flexographic printing often struggles to serve economically. According to founder Pawan Upadhyay, the company aimed to differentiate itself by offering premium labels with faster turnaround rather than competing in the traditional high-volume label segment.
The Haotian press combines printing, white ink, UV coating and digital foiling in one inline process, eliminating the need for multiple production passes. This reduces registration issues, material handling and production time while improving efficiency for low-volume jobs.
After nearly ten months of operation, UCC reports significant improvements in print quality and production performance. The company says the press reproduces approximately 95% of the original colour gamut, delivers smooth output without bevel effects and maintains colour consistency across production runs. Its thin ink layer also contributes to lower ink consumption without compromising image quality.
The press supports a wide range of substrates, including paper labels, PP white, PP silver, PET materials and flexible films up to 500 microns thick. Advanced UV printing capabilities have also allowed UCC to eliminate lamination for many applications, reducing production costs while maintaining a premium glossy finish.
The new digital workflow has enabled UCC to efficiently produce orders as small as 3,000 labels, allowing it to serve startups, boutique brands, regional FMCG companies, cosmetics manufacturers, nutraceutical businesses and premium food producers. Finished labels can now be delivered within one to three days, significantly improving turnaround times.
Rather than competing on price, the company has positioned itself as a supplier of premium embellished labels, with digital foiling emerging as one of the most popular value-added features for brand owners seeking stronger shelf appeal.
Building on the success of its label business, UCC now plans to expand into digitally printed flexible packaging, using the same Haotian platform to produce short-run pouches for emerging brands that require premium packaging without the high setup costs associated with gravure printing.
The company also credited New Delhi-based Packnology for providing reliable technical support, ensuring smooth operation of the equipment despite the geographical distance.
UCC believes the investment has created a strong competitive advantage by combining one-pass production, premium embellishment, broad substrate compatibility, fast turnaround and economical short-run manufacturing, helping the company develop new market opportunities in India’s evolving packaging industry.