The UK’s largest suppliers of gift, loyalty and membership cards have invested in new technology to make it easier to package multiple personalised cards for their clients’ loyal customers and members.
The latest investment comes just months after similar investments in new print-on-demand and die-cutting technology.
The Essex and Lancashire based company have invested in a Bowe Systec plastic card mailing system which enables multiple personalised loyalty or membership cards to be packaged and sent per mailing.
“The Bowe Systec system is yet another investment which improves our efficiency and productivity. It boosts the flexibility with which we can attach and package personalised cards so we can offer our clients even more creative options” says Allan Lock, Chief Executive of Incodia.
Each year, Incodia personalise and mail tens of millions of loyalty and membership cards direct to individuals on behalf of their clients.
As well as manufacturing the UK’s most numerous loyalty card, the Tesco Clubcard, Incodia produce and personalise loyalty and membership cards for organisations including English Heritage, Boots and the AA.
In addition to being faster and more efficient, the new plastic card mailing system boosts the options they can provide their clients, including mailing loyalty or membership packs which contain cards for every member of a family.
This latest purchase follows Incodia’s announcement of two other significant investments in technology to increase their capabilities.
“The Bowe Systec system is part of a continual commitment to enhancing our services through technology. Our new print-on-demand capabilities reduce costs and lead times, whilst our Promatrix die-cutter opens up new avenues including premium packaging for fast-moving consumer goods” adds Allan.
Earlier this summer, Incodia boosted their ‘Print-On-Demand’ capabilities by investing in a state-of-the-art Kyocera TASKalfa production ink jet printer which instantly produces high-quality 4-colour printing.
The system means Incodia can quickly print small-to-medium runs of letters and carriers to support loyalty, membership and payment schemes, so there’s no need for their clients to hold large or costly stocks of pre-printed stationery.
Next month sees the installation of a Heidelberg Promatrix die-cutter which will not only increase capacity but also enable greater opportunities for their diversification into producing FMCG packaging.
“We’ve recently launched a new operation producing high-quality outer packaging for food and toiletries. Coupled with our experience leading the card sector, our investments in new technology enable us to deliver outstanding packaging with almost endless possibilities” states Allan.
Incodia’s Chief Executive has extensive experience in the packaging sector, including as the former Managing Director of a company which produced packaging for brands including Mars, Nestle, Birds Eye and McCain.
Each year, Incodia supply over 250 million gift, loyalty and membership cards, either direct or through commercial partners, to leading brands like Next, Costa and the National Trust.
Incodia’s recent investments are also part of their focus on increasing sustainability. As well as reducing energy use and waste though more efficient technology, their unique Earth Card range has helped over 150 major gift card programmes transition to paperboard cards and saved over 3,500 tonnes of plastic since 2017.
They plan further capital investments in technology in 2022 to continue their growth in both cards and packaging.