Labelnet remembers Howard Southgate with renaming of new digital centre
Essex-based printer Labelnet will rename its recently opened digital centre in honour of Howard Southgate, former employee and father of Labelnet founder Neil Southgate, who passed away in November 2025, aged 87.
Howard Southgate worked part-time at Labelnet, supporting strategic financial decisions, health and safety, and compliance, including leading the business to achieve ISO 9001 and 14001 certification for the first time in 2015. Before Labelnet, he owned and managed Skegness-based label manufacturer Paperwork UK. He was a keen cricketer and leaves behind his wife Mary, sons Neil and Philip, and three grandchildren.
Next month, the company will rename its digital centre the Howard Southgate Digital Centre, with a memorial plaque and photo displayed inside. The site, opened in October 2025 in Ongar, Essex—just 100 metres from Labelnet’s main site houses the company’s digital print and finishing equipment, including a newly purchased Domino inkjet press. The 29sqm site brings total company space to 108sqm.
“After adjusting working processes to improve efficiency, we needed more space for work in progress and to enhance workflow,” said Labelnet Managing Director Rob Lorkins.
All digital machinery has moved to the new site, including a Domino N610i and N730i, and an ABG Digicon Lite. The N730i, installed in August 2025, upgrades the six-year-old N610i, offering 1,200dpi compared with 600dpi and delivering higher speed, quality, and capacity. “This will improve lead times and quality for customers and support our continued growth,” said Lorkins.
Other equipment at the site includes an Edale FL3 eight-colour UV press for reverse, adhesive print, cold foil, and lamination; a four-colour Digicon series 3 for UV, hot foil, emboss, deboss, and flatbed screen; plus three slitter rewinders.
Founded in 1999, Labelnet has 34 staff and a £5.2m turnover, with a 140% increase in turnover since 2014 driving the expansion.
https://www.labelnet.co.uk
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