How Trimatt System’s ColourStar AQ V printer helped one roaster create its brand identity seamlessly and in-house.
The brand on a bag of coffee is often a customer’s first impression of the product. It’s designed to offer a snapshot or glimpse of what’s inside, making it an essential tool to reflect the brand’s identity in a way that resonates with the buyer.
For most, this entails outsourcing the packaging and labelling, and relying on external suppliers – a process that can involve a lot of back and forth.
Usually, the first step is choosing a design, sending it to the supplier, and then waiting – sometimes weeks – for the proof. Adjustments are made and then production begins only once everything is signed off. Finally, shipping can add even more time to the equation.
This can be a lengthy, sometimes frustrating journey before the labels even meet the coffee bags.
However, Melbourne-based digital print systems specialist Trimatt Systems has developed a solution to streamline the labelling process. Backed by the APPMA Australian Machinery Manufacturer 2024 award and the MICE2023 Product Innovation Award, the company’s ColourStar AQ V industrial digital colour printing solution allows for labels to be printed directly onto the packaging.
For Bounce Coffee roasters in Townsville, Queensland, the company’s nine original blends each have their own distinct flavour – both in the cup and on the label – thanks to the ColourStar AQ V’s Inkjet printing. The roaster’s labels are printed directly onto the paper bags in-house, with the team in full control of the process.
Bounce Coffee Owner Karl Grimmer says the time saved and the level of customisation are the printer’s biggest benefits. After acquiring Bounce in 2023, Karl relied on external labelling for the first 12 months. Now, he wouldn’t consider going back.
“The design is ready, the machine is set up, and within minutes, you’re producing high-quality, customised labels for your latest batch,” says Karl.
He adds that changes are easy to make: if you want to adjust the text, design, or label size, it’s a simple task. Labels can be created on a platform such as Canva. Once the design is ready, the file can be saved as a PDF and emailed to the Inkjet printer. The user just makes sure it’s sized correctly for the bag’s aspect ratio, and then they’re good to go.
Karl says the result is a level of agility and creativity that the traditional supply chain just can’t match.
“Since we’ve had the machine, it’s made a big difference. One major improvement is that we now have bags available whenever we need them,” he says. “We have nine different blends and with the new system, we’ve been able to give each its own unique label rather than using a generic label for the less popular products.”
This has added an unprecedented level of personalisation to Bounce’s blends. Prior to the ColourStar AQ V, Karl says only one or two blends had their own label, while the rest used a generic one.
Bounce also offers its cafés the opportunity to custom print their own small bags.
“We’ve received some great feedback. A few of our wholesale customers have even posted about it, saying, ‘Look what’s new’, as they show off the custom labels online,” he says.
Customisation and differentiation are essential for making products stand out in a competitive market, particularly for roasters looking to highlight their small-batch, limited-edition blends.
“Personalisation helps us differentiate and stand out, especially among all the other options out there. Instead of just using a generic sticker to describe the beans, we now have entire bags designed to match the flavour profile of each blend,” says Karl.
Although Bounce handles its own labelling, it’s not entirely on its own.
Karl says he has a strong relationship with the team at Trimatt Systems, who are always just a phone call away and ready to provide immediate solutions and ensure a quick turnaround for servicing.
“They’ve never had to come back to site, but they have been on the phone and helped us solve the very few problems we’ve experienced,” he says.
“When I had someone new on the machine, they talked them through it over the phone to get them up to speed.”
This, combined with the ColourStar AQ V’s in-house personalisation capabilities, has been key in elevating Bounce’s unique brand.
For more information, visit trimatt.com
This article appears in the February/March 2025 edition of BeanScene. Subscribe HERE.
