Mark Andy hosts South Korean event

Nearly 90 representatives from approximately 50 South Korean companies have participated in an open house organized by Phil-Tech, the exclusive Mark Andy partner in this market.

The participants included flexible packaging and label converters, brand owners and trade media. Mark Andy was represented by Tom Cavalco, vice president of international sales.

The event offered an opportunity to showcase the Performance Series P7 flexo press. In the configuration prepared for the open house, the press featured 12 printing and converting units, an LED UV curing system and integrated automation capabilities. The meeting aimed to present practical capabilities of narrow- and mid-web technologies used in applications typical for the South Korean market.

The agenda included live demonstrations using two types of substrates. The 275-micron ABL (Alufoil Barrier Layer) laminates were used to print flexible packaging for toothpaste, while the 40-micron PET films were used for shrink sleeve labels. Presentations delivered by invited experts, including representatives from Amcor, focused on laminate production for tubes, metalized and holographic options, as well as the growing importance of materials containing recycled ingredients.

The Performance Series P7 press presented during the event was equipped with Martin Automatic peripheral systems (MBS and LRD) and the AVT 100 percent inspection system. According to the company, their use reduces downtime and increases productivity, especially in applications that require continuous, in-line production.

According to information shared by Phil-Tech and Mark Andy during the event, when printing tube laminates, it is possible to achieve nearly 38 percent productivity gains while reducing material waste.

C.B. Park, owner of Phil-Tech, noted that the local flexographic printing sector is among the most developed in the region. However, the mid-web segment remains relatively under-represented, which indicates strong potential for Mark Andy. The company already has a significant share of the South Korean narrow-web market (around 85 installed presses and nearly 70 percent market share), primarily achieved through long-term cooperation with Phil-Tech.

'Many participants noted that Performance Series P7 responds to growing demand for technologies required in premium packaging production. There were also comments indicating potential use of this press in areas previously dominated by other printing technologies,' commented Park.

Cavalco highlighted South Korea's significance, which has become one of the company's key markets across Asia. He also noted that South Korea is one of the most technologically advanced printing markets globally, and that the strengthened cooperation with Phil-Tech is Mark Andy's response to the growing expectations of local customers in terms of quality, productivity and technical support.

Park underlined that the new demo center that hosted the event is intended to become a place for regular demonstrations, material tests and operator trainings, also in cooperation with local technical universities. The facility will serve as a competence hub supporting future Mark Andy installations in the South Korean market.

'Our joint event received very positive feedback from its participants. When speaking about press demos, they emphasized the stability of the printing process, ease of handling and broad production capabilities of Performance Series P7 in premium applications. The presented offerings address the needs of companies seeking technology for efficient production of tubes, shrink sleeve labels and high-quality laminates,' added Park.