Steinhauser showcases new Mark Andy press

Steinhauser demonstrated the benefits of its new Mark Andy Digital Series HD hybrid press at a recent open house, with a live label run that highlighted the press’s in-line flexo and digital capabilities. 

Steinhauser held the open house at its facility in Newport, Kentucky, on Friday, July 17, to showcase its first hybrid press to customers. 

In the demonstration, the press’s first flexo station put down green ink, and the second station delivered a primer. The third station was empty. Then, the digital press component of the machine printed the rest of the design, and the fourth flexo station applied a varnish. 

Steinhauser replaced a digital press it had had since 2009 with this new Mark Andy hybrid press. The converter has been able to move its digital work to this new press, as well as some of its flexo work. Alongside the new hybrid press, Steinhauser has two MPS flexo presses. The converter produces labels and shrink sleeves, primarily for household, personal care and beverage markets. 

‘We want to be here to educate our customers on this technology and the other technologies that we offer,’ says Tara Halpin, CEO and fourth-generation owner of Steinhauser. 

Decision making 

Seeing the increasing gap between what its flexo presses and its digital press were producing for its work, Steinhauser decided a few years ago to start looking into hybrid technology. Much of Steinhauser’s work is in highly sophisticated prime labels for CPG brands, and Steinhauser’s flexo presses outpaced its digital press in terms of sophistication. Additionally, many of Steinhauser’s job sizes were getting larger.  

Mark Andy hadn’t been on Steinhauser’s radar until Labelexpo Americas 2024 (now Loupe Americas), where Mark Andy launched its Digital Series HD hybrid press. Halpin had been on her way out of the show when she saw the press at the Mark Andy booth and stopped by to learn more about it. 

‘Being all-in-one was really intriguing and important to us,’ Halpin says. ‘It was just something that we knew would be a great addition to our business.’ 

In its evaluation process, Steinhauser trialed its main customers’ work in both PS labels and shrink sleeves on the press at Mark Andy’s facility in St Louis, Missouri, to ensure that the products matched what the converter was printing. 

‘It was a competitive process for Mark Andy, but it was very much about a customer who’s very sophisticated and understands the benefits of hybrid,’ Mark Andy CEO Duane Pekar says. ‘They’d done all the math. They knew this made sense.’ 

Throughout the selection process, Steinhauser spoke with its customers to keep them abreast of the situation and let them know that the digital work would be moving to this hybrid press. 

Impact 

The Mark Andy Digital Series HD press prints at 1200DPI and can run as fast as 480ft/min. It is compatible with a wide range of substrates, including pressure-sensitive and shrink sleeve materials. 

For Steinhauser, the Mark Andy press offers speed and quality. The converter’s shorter jobs, ranging from about 5,000 to 30,000ft, work well for the hybrid press. It also enables printing multiple SKUs. The press provides flexibility, as the hybrid can also be run flexo or digital only.  

One job that had previously taken a full week is now able to be completed in six hours. 

‘It’s a very versatile piece of equipment,’ Halpin says. 

120 years 

Last year, Steinhauser celebrated its 120th anniversary. 

‘I know that my daddy, grandfather and great-grandfather would be incredibly proud of what we've done here,’ Halpin says. 

Halpin noted that Steinhauser has nearly tripled its revenue since 2019 and has diversified its customer base.  

‘For me, it’s all about my team and my people, and how do I help them grow to their greatest ability, whether that's here at Steinhauser, whether that's somewhere else after,’ Halpin says. ‘I want everybody to have the opportunity to walk in here one way and walk out just a better, more educated, more confident person.'