Label Power Unifies Operations with printIQ
Label Power is a premier label manufacturer and printer supplier, established in 1996 with its head office and manufacturing facility in Brisbane, Queensland. Founded by James Malone, who has owned the business for 28 years, Label Power has grown to employ more than 50 staff across Australia, with the majority in Brisbane and a smaller operation in Victoria. The company specialises in designing and printing high-quality, full-colour labels and tags, using state-of-the-art digital printing and modern flexography technology.
In 2020, during the COVID pandemic, Label Power acquired Action Labels and Nameplates, a 75-year-old business based in Victoria. This strategic acquisition expanded their capabilities and geographical presence, allowing them to better serve customers across Australia. As a comprehensive label solutions provider, Label Power manufactures custom labels in almost any shape or size and specialise in label printers, ticket printers, plastic card printers, labelling machines, labelling software, and barcode scanners, serving diverse industries from banking and healthcare to food and beverages, manufacturing, and logistics.
Key Results
“The implementation of printIQ has transformed our operations, particularly following the acquisition of Action Labels and Nameplates,” Malone shared. “After operating the two businesses separately for four years, the unified printIQ system has enabled us to operate as a single entity while maintaining manufacturing capabilities across multiple locations. This integration has significantly enhanced our operational flexibility, allowing us to quote, hold stock, and dispatch from both sites all on one unified system.”
The web-based nature of printIQ has proven especially valuable, enabling staff to log in remotely when necessary – a feature that became critically important during recent weather events when power outages affected their facilities. The user-friendly interface has simplified training for new staff in customer service and estimating roles, while the graphical elements of the system, such as thumbnails of products and orders, have improved workflow visualisation and management.
“Back in 2018 when we added the system, I had a thought about how we would access our data if the world shut down. Little did I know, having that mobility in 2020 would be so important.”
The Challenge
Before implementing printIQ, Label Power faced significant challenges with their existing systems. In Brisbane, they were using one MIS system, while the Victorian business (Action Labels and Nameplates) utilised a wide range of software systems. These disparate systems operated in isolation with no integration between them, making unified operations and data management nearly impossible.
Following the acquisition of Action Labels and Nameplates in 2020, Label Power faced the complex challenge of operating two separate businesses under one organisational umbrella. This separation complicated operations, particularly when it came to balancing manufacturing capacity across locations or shifting production between sites to accommodate customer needs or operational constraints. “Without a unified system, the businesses couldn’t easily share information, customer data, or production schedules, limiting our ability to operate efficiently as a cohesive organization,” added Malone.
The Solution
The implementation of printIQ in June 2019 marked a significant turning point for Label Power, providing them with a web-based, integrated solution that addressed their core operational challenges. Malone shared, “As one of the first significant label customers in Australia to adopt printIQ, we have leveraged the system to streamline operations and create new efficiencies. The most transformative aspect has been the unification of our two sites into a single platform, which allows us to balance manufacturing capacity based on geographical proximity to customers or available capacity at either site.”
The web-based architecture of printIQ has been a game-changer for Label Power, enabling management and staff to access the system from anywhere with an internet connection. James highlighted how this allows him to check the schedule or review jobs in the system even while away from the office.
From a user perspective, printIQ’s intuitive interface has made it easier to train new staff and streamline workflows. “The ability to see thumbnails of products and orders has improved visual management of production, while the user-friendly design has reduced the learning curve,” said Malone.
The Business Impact
Looking forward, Label Power has plans to further extend their use of printIQ, particularly in areas like stock management for raw materials and leveraging IQLink to streamline relationships with suppliers and customers who also use printIQ. “Our long-term automation goals include implementing customer portals to streamline quoting and order entry to create a seamless experience from customer order through to production and delivery.”
The flexibility of printIQ has also supported Label Power’s equipment modernisation efforts. After acquiring Action Labels and Nameplates, they upgraded much of the older equipment, ensuring both the Melbourne and Brisbane facilities have complementary digital and flexographic printing capabilities. This strategic alignment of manufacturing capabilities, managed through their unified printIQ system, allows them to maximise production efficiency and respond more effectively to customer needs across Australia.
