About Us

When barcode label printing manufacturer Cyber Link Holdings first commenced business in 1999, the focus was simply on providing customers with labels. However, sales manager Gary Tang says that the focus shifted to include more comprehensive services in 2000.

Gary says that when he and supervisor Joe Lee, with their combined experience of 10 years in the barcode label arena, joined forces to found Cyber Link, there first desire was to create something other than a traditional factory. "We really wanted to create a design house," says Gary.

As a result, Cyber Link today offers extra barcode solutions it claims differentiates it from competitors. "Essentially, our competitive edge is all about technique and added value," Gary explains. "For example, the simple printing of barcodes may take only about two hours per job, whereas added services such as direct, on-time delivery and making sure the right barcode tags or labels is sent are far more time consuming."

He says that although the extra processes add time and labour to the job, clients benefit from the extra efficiency while Cyber Link benefits from the added value. "The cost of printing alone is very low," he observes.

Cyber Link prints and produces labels that encompass UPC, EAN, Code 128 or UCC/EAN 128 barcodes for use in Hong Kong and worldwide. "We distribute these to mainland factories and India and elsewhere in East Asia according customer's instructions," Gary says.

Thermal printing comprises the bulk of Cyber Link's printing techniques that allows data processing onto the barcode or label. "We are one of just a handful who can do this," says Gary. "Most other firms just do the straight forward printing and cannot do information adding stages."

He says that Cyber Link has more than five million blank labels in over 100 different sizes in stock, ready for thermal printing. "Mostly, we prepare labels for garments, handbags and shoes in addition to some barcode labels for electronic good," says Gary.

The firm plans to expand its abilities to include design services. "That means taking a sketch from a customer and developing it into a finished label for them," says Gary.

He says Cyber Link plans to introduce its design services around mid-year, and that the initial plan is for custom labels to account for 5-10% of total production. "We already have one in-house designer and we will outsource to other design houses as necessary," says Gary.

Quoting a typical example, he says, "Barcode printing is a skilled job these days. Simple labels such as you see on products in supermarkets are very easy to do, but those carrying lots of information and data - especially when size is a consideration - requires specialists such as us."

He says that Cyber Link has managed a reasonable and scannable barcode size.

Asserting that lowest cost is not the firm's target, Gary says the focus is firmly on added value and efficiency. "To that end," he adds, "we have added a new 8 Colour Mark Andy Flexo press that allows us to produce and print barcodes and labels for garments, something not many companies in Hong Kong are currently able to do."

Gary says the Flexo press upgrades the firm's quality to US standards. "With this new printer we can produce roll form tags as well as special finishing tags used primarily for high-end designs. The special finishing labels will be removable adhesives so that the price can be removed," he explains.

Also new to Cyber Link's barcode label family are woven fabric labels. Printed by thermal transfer printer, these labels can be sewn into garment and can withstand washing.

"Woven barcode labels are the trend now for high-end garments," says Gary, adding that there is small minimum order and the order size is very flexible as there is no need to especially set up the printer. "Using a thermal printer makes printing of woven labels very easy, and in fact this is the approach used by firms in the US and Europe."

While woven barcode labels have not yet become popular with Hong Kong garment manufacturers, Gary foresees it won't be long before they do. "At present, woven barcodes comprise about 5% of our total production, but this could grow at the rate of 5-10% a year," he forecasts.

As part of its QC service, Cyber Link scans its barcodes for accuracy using the HPP Quick Check 810 Verifier. "If a barcode fails it is usually a design and printing problem," says Gary, adding that the barcode size requirements factor. "Being a member of HKANA Vendor for Bar Code and Tag printing service, we always give advice to our customers about the scannable barcode requirements."

As for materials, Cyber Link uses primarily art paper although PP, PET UL and YUPO are also used. The firm's main market is the US and delivery time is about 1- 7 days from the time information on price and barcode detail is received by email. Minimum order is 20,000 labels, although Cyber Link will also accepts smaller quantities depending on requirements. "When it comes to barcode labels and tags, we are the specialists," Gary enthuses.

Cyber Link is a good example of a firm involved in precise data processing typical of forward-looking Hong Kong companies.

WRITTEN BY TAMARA CHEUNG


ENDS

China Stamping room	China 8 colour flexo Mark Andy 2
HK 2 colour off set	HK Zebra Label printer
China Thermal printing room	HK 1 colour off set