2009 Converting Innovator: Associated Labels, Vancouver, BC
Associated Labels, Vancouver, BC package printing firm, wins 2009 Converting Innovator Award for Community Service
Barb Axelson, Contributing Editor -- Graphic Arts Online, November 12, 2009
On World Water Day March 22, Associated Labels of Vancouver, BC, Canada, celebrated the completion of a year-long project: building a village water-well in Kagulu, Uganda. Associated Labels is one of the largest label printing firms in Western Canada and the U.S. Pacific Northwest.
Founded 28 years ago on 
Children in Kagulu, Uganda, help pump the new water well built with financial assistance from Associated Labels.
a "PEQ Triangle" (for "people, ethics and
quality") the three elementsinfluence all aspects of Associated Labels'
business, says president Rusty Ashworth.
Associated Labels' far-flung charity work earned it the first annual Converting Innovator Award for Community Service, presented by Converting Magazine.
Family-run Associated has itself been doing very well. It recently expanded into flexible-packaging manufacturing, and a year ago bought an HP Indigo digital-offset press, following the addition of a top-of-the-line, mid-web Mark Andy Comco flexographic press two years ago. Committed to delivering quality and service, Associated Labels has four production divisions: labels, flexible packaging, packaging equipment, and digital printing.
People, ethics, quality
Started as a small plant in 1981, Associated Labels now operates in 50,000 sq.ft., serving customers throughout Canada and the U.S. in the food and beverage, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, personal-care and household-cleaning product industries. Today, press runs continue 24/7, reaching into the millions of impressions.
The pressroom includes a combination of narrow-web systems from Mark Andy, ranging in widths from seven to 17 ins. and from six up to 10 colors, with a total of 39 UV-curing stations for printing flexibility, explains Associated Labels COO Shaun Ashworth.
PVC shrink labels for Happy Planet Shots nutritional drinks were printed in flexo/gravure by Associated Labels.
The newest 26-inch., 11-color flexographic/gravure/laminating Mark Andy Comco ProGlide FLX press in the dedicated Flexible Packaging Div. turns out printed films (both clear and metallized), which are ultimately converted into pouches for powders and liquids, or into tea and coffee bags and shrink-sleeve labels.
Associated Labels' high printing standards are met by incorporating flexo and gravure technologies. Press operator Jamie Barker says the Comco press "allows us to achieve stronger whites, rich color density, and unprecedented print quality."
Instant proofs and prototypes of package pritning projects are available thanks to an HP Indigo ws4500 web-fed digital color press, with print runs from one sample to 50,000 labels.
"We're providing the most advanced presses to our clients, with on-demand customized printing solutions," noted Shaun Ashworth during the launch of the Associated Labels' Digital Printing Div. The press's fast turnaround time, almost limitless substrate compatibility and excellent print quality helps brands stand out in the marketplace, Shaun says. The ws4500 prints up to seven colors, including spot colors, white, and brilliant fluorescents.
According to Rusty Ashworth, Associated Labels is committed to making a difference in the world; everyone can do something useful for others, despite differences in income, time, age and skills.
The Ashworths have participated in charitable giving for years, including printing promotional labels for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for a variety of its community projects. But several years ago, when his sons, Shaun and Cory, participated in a local "boot camp" (a popular fast-paced outdoor exercise program open to the public in Vancouver), they became friendly with their instructor, Hassan, who comes from the village of Kagulu. The Ashworths learned of the ambitious water program and decided to provide full funding for it, taking over the project to provide the well.
The village residents lacked access to clean, safe, drinking water-as do more than 1.1 billion people across the world. Women and young girls in the rural sub-Saharan community have traditionally had to walk as far as nine miles each day to get water for their families. They are thus prevented from pursuing an education or earning additional income.
According to Rusty Ashworth, now that the well is fully functional and protected from local livestock by a fence, "It's incredible to see the positive human impact this work has had on this village worlds away-as well as on our company. The water well has made clean, drinking water accessible 24 hours a day for the people of Kagulu."
In addition to easing the labor involved in bringing water to the villagers, the well made possible a new mud-brick factory which supplies materials for home construction in the area. Rusty Ashworth hopes that others will be inspired by Associated Labels' effort. He explains that not only has this project brought clean water to a community in need, it will also lead to improvements in health, sanitation, education, gender equality and increased economic development.
"Our customers were thrilled," adds media specialist Cory Ashworth. "Hassan went to see the well and a banner was put up that said, 'Thank you, Associated Labels.' We did it to inspire others. This was meant to be; it's had an immense impact on everyone."
