Epson has introduced its SurePress digital label press, the first of its kind in Africa. This marks the first time the model is operating on the African continent and signals a significant expansion of advanced digital label printing capability into the region.
Following a successful installation in April and final testing throughout May, the device is now fully operational, with Altron Document Solutions, Epson’s authorised local reseller partner, leading the distribution and long-term customer implementation across the region.
The arrival of the SurePress digital label press supports growing demand across retail, packaging and B2B print environments for shorter runs, faster turnaround times and higher levels of customisation, and will be distributed through authorised reseller Altron Document Solutions.
The launch follows Epson’s continued investment in the region, including the establishment of its Johannesburg Innovation Centre, designed to give partners and resellers direct access to the company’s latest industrial and commercial printing technologies. The facility forms part of Epson’s broader strategy to strengthen local skills development and allow customers to adopt new print applications with confidence.
Gareth Jay, Regional Sales Director for Africa at Epson, said the introduction of SurePress reflects a clear shift in market demand. ‘There is a marked increase in demand for short-run and personalised output across the print sector, and label production is no exception. SurePress enables customers to respond to that demand with greater flexibility, consistency and control, while maintaining high print quality across a wider range of substrates.
‘Crucially, it delivers true commercial viability for short runs, allowing local businesses to break away from massive volume requirements that spike upfront costs and limit operational flexibility. Instead of relying on rigid, overseas supply chains just to make a print run viable, providers can now produce high-quality labels right here in South Africa, matching demand exactly as it happens’, he continued.
Altron Document Solutions’ Head of Production Systems, Keith Knott, said the partnership reflects a shared commitment to enabling practical innovation for South African customers.
‘Our partnership with Epson allows us to bring proven technology into the market, backed by our 60-year local legacy and a shared commitment to reliability. Our approach is that confidence must come as a standard, which is a principle of operating that aligns with Epson’s vision both locally and globally. As such, what excites us about this platform is how it translates this shared reliability into genuine commercial flexibility, allowing local print providers to profitably run jobs as small as 500 labels without the burden of massive volume minimums,’ said Knott.
The SurePress platform is positioned to support printers looking to expand into label production or scale existing capabilities, particularly in environments where flexibility and efficiency are increasingly critical.
Key capabilities include enhanced water-based inks designed to improve substrate versatility, increased drying efficiency for improved productivity on film materials, and an expanded colour gamut for high-quality output. Improved automated maintenance functions also support more efficient short-run production.
At the same time, Epson has ensured that sustainability remains at the core of the product design. Grounded in its Sho-Sho-Sei philosophy, Epson designed the SurePress model to be compact, efficient and precise, reducing energy use and material waste while improving operational efficiency. The company continues to align product development with practical sustainability outcomes for industrial print environments.
EPSON SOUTH AFRICA
www.epson.co.za
ALTRON DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS
+27 11 928 9111
hotline.marketing@bdsol.co.za
www.altron.com
https://www.bdsol.co.za
