Mark Andy makes strategic sale in Poland

The Mark Andy press is the first from the American manufacturer to be installed at what has traditionally been a European press user. Tom Cavalco, European managing director at Mark Andy, said: ‘This was a key sale to secure, as it breaks the grip of our competitors and highlights the added benefits that the Performance Series offers converters who are looking to diversify into more profitable market sectors.’

Mal-Pol’s Mark Andy P5 is an 8-color flexo line with a 430mm (17in) web width fitted with dual unwind and rewind, web cleaning, corona treater and web turn bars, as well as chilled impression rolls. It has cold foil capability and an automatic register system. At the converting section, it is fitted with a Gizmo, and there is gap control via the QCDC unit before the waste is rewound on Mark Andy’s new zero gap windup unit.

The new Mark Andy, which joins a variety of existing flexo and digital presses, has been specified to allow Mal-Pol to develop its peel and reseal label business. The Gizmo unit allows it to produce multi-layer labels, hence the need for dual unwind and rewind, making the press a highly versatile performer, according to Mal-Pol director Maciej Malesa. ‘We are fast developing a reputation for peel-off labels and needed a new press that could handle this work more efficiently and cost-effectively than any of our existing technology. The ease and speed of make-ready on the Mark Andy has opened up all sorts of new job opportunities with shorter and medium runs lengths.’

Traditionally, Mal-Pol has supplied labels to the food, cosmetics, automotive and industrial markets, such as fuel oil. Substrates processed are principally paper-based and laminated foil. It has its own in-house ink kitchen and is fully self-sufficient for pre-press. It is in the process of adding a 1,400 sqm extension to its 2,000 sqm facility, after which it intends to add BRC accreditation to its existing ISO status. 

Mal-Pol is looking to grow its business by investing in more efficient technology. Malesa added: ‘With EU regulations requiring more information to be printed on each label, and the use of multi-language labels, we need to engage in lateral thinking to develop our portfolio – the new Mark Andy is an important part of that plan, because we see it as a platform for business development.’