Fast Labels

Fast Labels: custom label printing from a Doncaster factory

Fast Labels is a British label printing company based in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, where it runs its own production facility. The company states it has served the UK for more than twelve years and describes itself as one of the country's largest label printing providers. Its output covers custom labels and stickers for businesses ranging, in its own account, from small enterprises to multinationals.

The operation is built around bespoke specification rather than a fixed catalogue: customers choose shape, dimensions, material, finish and supply format, upload artwork and set the quantity, then receive an instant quote through the site's calculator.

Shapes, sizes and supply formats

Labels can be ordered in standard formats or in a fully custom shape, with the customer entering measurements in millimetres, centimetres or inches. The site lists preset sizes across square, circle, rectangle and oval ranges, alongside a custom-size option defined by the width at the widest point and the height at the tallest point of the shape.

Three supply formats are offered:

• Labels on rolls, which the company says are preferred for larger-scale labelling and for application by machine.
• Labels on sheets, presented as suited to many labelling and distribution tasks.
• Individually cut labels.

Materials and finishes

The material range includes paper, polypropylene, vinyl, clear, metallic and textured paper stocks. Finishes cover gloss and matt, with gloss described as accentuating brighter designs while matt offers an alternative. Waterproof polypropylene and vinyl options are positioned for packaging that may come into contact with liquid, and paper is presented as the more cost-effective and eco-friendly choice. Food-safe toner approved by the FDA is used for food label applications.

Applications and label types

Beyond general custom and adhesive labels, the catalogue groups product labels, food labels, bottle labels, candle labels, jar labels and removable labels, plus custom stickers. These categories point to the kind of packaging and retail uses the company serves, from food and drink containers to candles and jars.

Printing technology and quality control

Fast Labels prints on HP Indigo presses, which it describes as capable of up to 1200 dpi at 16 metres per minute, using thermal offset transfer with ElectroInk particles to achieve a wide colour gamut and fine detail. The company also refers to Xeikon printers used for label production, with each label custom cut afterwards. Strong adhesives, thicker polypropylene, vinyl or paper stocks and auto-alignment tools are cited as measures to keep material, detail and cut lines consistent.

Artwork is hand-inspected before printing, and the company backs orders with a reprint or refund quality guarantee.

Pricing, turnaround and delivery

The site's calculator produces instant quotes, and the company says its Pro option is the most popular choice among customers. A Basic option is also listed, starting from £5.85. Standard turnaround is given as two to three working days from order to arrival, with free next-day tracked UK delivery via DPD on all Pro orders after dispatch. One-click reorders let customers repeat previous designs, which the company stores and can edit on request.

Certifications and recognition

Fast Labels holds ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certification under certificate number 20115 and is a platinum member of the British Printing Industries Federation (BPIF). It also reports winning Medium Business of the Year at the 2023 Doncaster Business Awards. At the time of writing this profile, the site displayed a rating of 2,856 reviews marked as excellent.

Customer support

Sales and support are handled by phone, email and live chat, with the company presenting UK-based customer support as available throughout the ordering process. Free samples can be requested, and the site includes a free short course on label design.