Desmedt installs Mark Andy Digital Pro Max hybrid press

Belgium-based Desmedt Labels has become the first converter in the world to install a Mark Andy Digital Pro Max hybrid press fitted with Martin Automatic non-stop unwind and splice technology.

The fourth-generation Brussels-founded company, which employs 45 staff and generates annual sales of around 15 million EUR, specified a Martin Automatic MBSC compact unwind butt splicer alongside the toner-based digital hybrid press to maximize uptime and reduce waste across its narrow web operations.

'It's not about speed, it's about improving productivity by increasing uptime and reducing waste,' said Henri Köhler, CEO at Desmedt. 'I calculate the DPro Max and MBSC combination give me one extra hour of production per shift. We work a three-shift pattern five days per week, so that's around 750 extra hours of production per year.'

The DPro Max features a 5-color CMYK plus white digital engine mounted on a Pro series flexo platform with a 330mm web width, running between 20m/min and 40m/min. The press at Desmedt includes a web cleaner, corona treater, one flexo station on either side of the digital engine, a web turn bar, laminator, semi-rotary vertical die station and slitting unit. Its modular construction allows for future upgrades.

Timo Donati, sales manager at Mark Andy, noted that the hybrid concept combines dry toner digital with servo-driven flexo units on a fully upgradeable platform. 'What appeals to Desmedt is its short changeover times, inline finishing and excellent print quality,' he added.

The Martin Automatic MBSC can load two full 4,000-meter rolls at a time, with web storage adjusted to the production speed of the digital hybrid line. Bernd Schopferer, sales manager at Martin, explained that the unit includes a laser-assisted tape alignment system to prevent matrix breaks caused by misalignment.

Desmedt's investment follows a broader automation strategy that began in 2013 with three Mark Andy Performance Series P7 flexo lines, all fitted with Martin Automatic splicers. By 2024, the company had added two more P7 lines.

Köhler indicated further flexo press investments are planned, with automatic non-stop unwind and splicers as standard.