MPI Label Systems got its start like many companies in the industry do \u2013 an entrepreneurial individual buys a nofrills\u00a0press and starts printing and selling labels out of the family garage or small facility. In the case of MPI, the individual was\u00a0Don McDaniel, and in 1967 in Sebring, OH, USA, he purchased a 3″, 2-color Mark Andy press for $1,000. At first, he used the press\u00a0to manufacture double-sided foam tape, and soon after, along with a pressman and someone to handle office work, he entered the pressure sensitive label market.<\/p>\n
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McDaniel\u2019s company is turning 50 this year, and half a century later his vision has turned into one of North America\u2019s top 10 label\u00a0manufacturers. MPI is now coast-to-coast, with 11 total production facilities in California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. The company\u2019s corporate headquarters have remained where it all started in Sebring \u2013 with two additional Ohio locations in Alliance and Wadsworth.<\/p>\n
Leading the company is its president Randy Kocher. Starting with MPI in 1981, he\u2019s witnessed first-hand the company\u2019s impressive growth and evolution \u2013 from a variety of different positions. He recalls, \u201cI was a computer programmer at the time, and Don McDaniels \u2013 who I\u2019d known personally for years \u2013 well, he bought a computer for his label business. But he had no idea how to program it. So he talked me into joining his company \u2013 he was a great salesperson.\u201d<\/p>\n
At MPI, Kocher moved from programming to accounting, then to controller and finance, eventually working his way up to his current position as president. Reflecting on this, he muses, \u201cI guess I was at the right place at the right time.\u201d Of course, his business savvy and breadth of experience have been paramount to MPI.<\/p>\n
Growth has come both organically and by acquisition. MPI\u2019s Wadsworth facility \u2013 MPI\/Labeltek, acquired in 2013 \u2013 sets itself apart. Due to its strong brand and reputation within the label industry,management decided that the facility would retain its Labeltek name following the acquisition.<\/p>\n
Ron Nagy founded Labeltek 27 years ago, and he now serves as general manager of the plant. Not only does Nagy bring to\u00a0MPI vast printing and converting industry knowledge and experience, but at the time of the acquisitions, also a portfolio of customers complementary to MPI\u2019s, making the merger a perfect, synergistic fit.<\/p>\n
Nagy recalls, \u201cAs Labeltek, we\u2019d often do battle with MPI, and I\u2019d say we probably looked at each other as very good competition.
\nThere was a mutual respect that we both had. Randy and I had become friendly, and we sat down to talk about MPI possibly doing some digital work for Labeltek. What we found was that our companies had a lot of similarities \u2013 similar values, company cultures and philosophies. And personally, there was an easy bond,\u201d he says. \u201cYet, while our companies had many commonalities, it also became\u00a0apparent that by coming together there could be great synergy from both markets and technology standpoints.\u201d<\/p>\n
THE SWEET SPOT<\/strong> MPI has presses with web widths ranging from 6.5″ all the way up to 42″. \u201cI look at the market as a battlefield,\u201d Nagy says. \u201cYou have to line up the right equipment for battle. In other words, you don\u2019t use cruise missiles for a small skirmish. You use what\u2019s appropriate for the specific market you\u2019re serving.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd if a job is said to be impossible, it just takes us a little bit longer to do it,\u201d Kocher adds.<\/p>\n The markets MPI serves run the gamut. Customers range from the smallest startups to the most well known Fortune 500 companies. Says Nagy, \u201cThat was one of the things we had in common when we came together \u2013 we both had startup customers that have been with\u00a0us for decades, since the very beginning.\u201d<\/p>\n MPI is a company loaded with experience and specialists, and uses both to its advantage. Nagy explains, \u201cI\u2019m very thankful that in my printing career I have been involved in both running a plant as well as sales and marketing. You have to know production \u2013 what\u2019s going on in the pressroom, the mechanics and capabilities of the machinery \u2013 but then you have to sell. Looking back, at the time I never really thought about it. I was doing both and enjoying it all. But my experience has been a great help when looking at technology adoption \u2013 seeing equipment from not only a production point of view, but also from a marketing standpoint. The value is in combining the two. It isn\u2019t necessarily how big you are or how hard you swing, it\u2019s in knowing how MPI operates on the philosophy that everything has its place \u2013 and this applies to both equipment and personnel. At each of the 11 plants, employees are empowered to bring their energy and ideas to the table with the support from management.<\/p>\n One of the many things unique about MPI is that for such a large company it retains the feel of a family business. \u201cIt\u2019s an organization that\u2019s both centralized and decentralized,\u201d Nagy explains. \u201cThe plants are allowed to grow within their core competencies while also working together. It\u2019s a true family atmosphere. And like any family there can be some sibling rivalry, and that\u2019s where Randy comes in to keep the peace and provide support \u2013 there\u2019s a great advantage to that.\u201d<\/p>\n Kocher emphasizes that within MPI as a whole, its management team brings more than 800 years of label industry experience. He \u201cWhen consolidation happens, businesses can lose their personality,\u201d Nagy adds, \u201cbut that\u2019s not true at MPI. And I think that\u2019s what separates us from some of the other large label companies.\u201d<\/p>\n Emphasis on relationship building is a key element of MPI\u2019s success,and it extends from within the organization as a whole, to the strong relationships the company has with both its customers and suppliers. \u201cPart of the sweet spot is in relationships and how you develop within those relationships,\u201d Nagy says. \u201cAnd they\u2019re all important. Because once you lose that, you lose who you are.\u201d<\/p>\n A GLOBAL FIRST WITH DURST<\/strong> Nagy had been paying very close attention to the inkjet label press market. \u201cIt took about three years of research, but in the end, it became a no-brainer,\u201d he says, adding that he was looking at companies that had \u201cvision,\u201d and after a visit to Durst headquarters in Italy and Austria, his choice was clear. \u201cIn the final analysis, Durst provided the greatest value, functionality, support and vision within the inkjet digital and laser markets.\u201d<\/p>\n Adds Kocher, \u201cWithin the label industry there are printers, but we consider ourselves problem solvers, and there are lot of opportunities this new press brings.\u201d<\/p>\n As far as MPI knows, the particular configuration at Labeltek is a global first. The press features the inline combination of the Tau extended color digital print engine with variable data capabilities, two 400w Spartanics lasers, semi-rotary diecutting and sheeting. Although this first pioneering installation had some challenges, MPI\/Labeltek is reaping the benefits.<\/p>\n Kocher explains, \u201cWe are always researching and investing in new technologies. We were the North America beta site for several pieces of equipment, and the first in the North American market with multiple pieces of production-level equipment. Being the first Nagy emphasizes how the Durst Tau LFS 330 has been exemplary for short-to-medium runs, quick turnaround, color matching, color \u201cTo steal a phrase,\u201d Nagy continues, \u201cWe\u2019re making printing production great again. For the label converting industry, at the pace in which digital technology is developing, and taking into account how expensive it is, this is the most challenging time in history. While it\u2019s not quite as important as the Guttenberg press, digital printing is right up there. So when it comes to equipment adoption, we look at what\u2019s the best fit for the company and the markets we serve. And we\u2019re looking at more ways that we can provide the supplements to the technology \u2013 technology is great, but what\u2019s more important is in knowing how to most effectively manage it. Get into a high performance car; if you don\u2019t know what you\u2019re doing, you\u2019re going to find out real fast.\u201d<\/p>\n GROWTH CONTINUES<\/strong> Geographically, MPI continues to make inroads across the US. Earlier this year, in order to expand its footprint in the Northeast, the company acquired New York-based Label Gallery. Mirroring the mindset of its other acquistions, Kocher says of Label Gallery, \u201cWe share the same values of high quality and exceptional customer service, giving our customers what they want, when they
\nAs a whole, MPI\u2019s annual sales total more than $130 million annually while employing 630 people across its 11 locations. With a vast equipment arsenal that includes 65 flexo and seven digital presses, MPI can serve just about any pressure sensitive label market imaginable, as well as providing customers shrink sleeves, booklet labels, roll-fed wraps and much more. In addition to labels for product decoration and identification, MPI has a comprehensive RFID division, offers thermal transfer services and also a line of equipment that includes label applicators.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cWe never forget what got us here,\u201d Kocher says. \u201cAs a matter of fact, we still have customers that have been with us since 1968, the year Don started selling labels. That doesn\u2019t happen without providing the highest level of service.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nto hit the sweet spot.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nexplains, \u201cSo Ron here at Labeltek, he knows who to talk to if he has a film question, for example, a certain piece of equipment, inks, anything\u2014he grabs the phone and knows who at MPI to call. We don\u2019t have politics here. Nobody is afraid to speak up and answer a question\u2014everybody helps everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nThe foundation of the culture at Labeltek is based on Nagy\u2019s mantra of \u201cAnalyze and Innovate,\u201d a philosophy that led to the facility\u2019s installation of a 7-color Durst Tau LFS 330 UV inkjet system with inline digital laser finishing.<\/p>\n
\nwith this new Durst configuration fits nicely into our leading technology niche, and complements our existing printing and RFID
\ncapabilities.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nconsistency and the durability of inks. \u201cThe Durst Tau system expands the universe of what we can offer customers,\u201d he says. \u201cThe more you can avail yourself to customers and say \u2018we can do this, and we can do that\u2019 the greater the value you can be to them.<\/p>\n
\nBy gaining new customers, adding equipment assets and strategic acquisitions, MPI is growing every day, 50 years from its humble beginnings. The plan in Wadsworth is to grow the digital inkjet business by expanding the facility and potentially adding a second Durst press. Though they have many NDA agreements with customers, it\u2019s clear how excited both Nagy and Kocher are for the possibilities today and for the future when it comes to what their printing and converting technology can bring.<\/p>\n
\nwant it, and how they want it.\u201d<\/p>\n