Alan Rich – President, Nova Label
Flexibility drives long-term relationship with Nova Label
Acucote offers consistency and new application solutions
Overview
Located in Cheverly, MD, Nova Label Company has commercially manufactured quality printed pressure- sensitive labels since 1982. A family-run company, Nova Label was founded by Sandy Bernstein, who had already been in the label business for 25 years. Sandy and his wife, Florene, semi-retired in 2000 and their son-in-law Alan Rich took over day-to-day operations.
With over 50 years’ experience in the label industry, Nova Label has broad expertise in packaging, direct marketing, and variable data label needs.
Today they produce labels on rolls, cut sheets and continuous forms. Their primary customers are in direct mail and consumer packaging for a variety of industries. Labels can be any size or shape and they offer a variety of printing technologies including digital as well as a wide assortment of facestocks and adhesives, making the process easy and ideal to create a solution for their customers’ applications. Whether a customer needs 100 or 1,000,000 custom labels, Nova Label can fulfill their specific needs.
Nova Label also produces decals for a variety of applications such as bumper stickers or windows. Decals can be any size or shape and printed on either a white or clear material with permanent or removable adhesive, or on clear static cling.
The Challenge
Many years ago, Nova Label began looking for a substrate provider who offered flexibility with custom coating as well as stocking a large portfolio of products. Alan recalls that, “We were always considering what we could offer to be different from the competition. We needed quick solutions for challenging applications.”
He adds that for some applications that needed developing, cost was definitely a factor. “We also needed a provider who would offer us value at a cost-competitive level. ”
These challenges became the basis for a long-term relationship with Acucote.
Solution
Nova Label has now been purchasing from Acucote for 19 years and both companies place great value on the longevity of this relationship. Alan notes that Acucote’s “flexibility in providing custom coated material and their large portfolio of products makes it easy to buy from them.” He also appreciates the fact that Acucote meets the needs of a standing order of material that is “at the ready for slitting and shipping.”
The top feature, however, which he enjoys is Acucote’s eagerness to innovate together. “Acucote rarely says no to helping us develop an application. So with any new opportunity that comes along – we check in with them first! Acucote takes the time to learn all the details to see if they can develop the application.”
According to Earl Curran, VP, Business Development, Acucote, “Alan and Nova Label are a perfect fit for Acucote. They take great advantage of the capabilities of our Application Development Team and turn to us with difficult applications that can help them grow their business. We appreciate each opportunity and the long-term trust they have put in our team.”
Outcome
Today, Nova Label prints decals and roll labels that are machine affixed with material from Acucote. Alan looks forward to penetrating additional opportunities in beer and wine and spirits with the help of Acucote.
Alan was one of the very first Members of the Flexo Label Advantage Group (FLAG) which he joined in 2010 and Acucote became a FLAG Vendor Partner last July. Alan adds, “Although we had been using Acucote long before FLAG came along, I was hoping Acucote could become a FLAG Vendor Partner. Once it happened, it’s just icing on the cake — a win-win for everyone.”
Lastly, consistency remains a key aspect of Alan’s ongoing trust in Acucote. This was particularly relevant during challenging supply chain issues as a result of the pandemic and storms which disrupted the chemical industry in the late winter of 2021.
And at the end of the day, Alan notes that “they are just nice people to work with!”
“Acucote rarely says no to helping us develop an application. So with any new opportunity that comes along – we check in with them first!”
– Alan Rich, President of Nova Label
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