Louisville Label takes pride in our high-quality labels, but we are equally as proud of our background in printing history.
While the printing press made its inky mark as one of the most revolutionary inventions, its method has not translated into the modern age as more than just a hobby or an art form. In the early years, the printing press was the beginning of mass-producing books and messages on paper. This new invention gave many the opportunity for education in a time where they could not otherwise afford it. The mechanical simplicity of the printing press paved the way for others to develop more advanced methods.
In 1907, when Louisville Label was first started, the concept of mass printing was still relatively new. Printing companies were experimenting with different methods, such as using rubber to press more consistently and evenly. Printing in the Food Industry was far from being perfected. Products were often poorly labeled, and early on many companies used a process known as “aniline printing”, which the Food and Drug Administration deemed unsuitable for food packaging in the 1940s due to the type of ink being used. When word got out about aniline printing, it was devastating to many food companies and labelers alike–no one trusted food labels anymore! Thankfully, the labeling process was quickly modified to a safe and up-to-date procedure, which later became known as Flexographic Printing (a process we still use today alongside digital!)
The past century has been filled with all types of historical milestones in the printing world, and we are thankful to have been a part of it!
