All4Labels installs Mark Andy P7 presses in Germany and China

All4Labels Global Packaging Group, the newly created global group that includes Baumgarten, Rako and X-Label, has installed Mark Andy Performance Series P7 presses in Germany and China.

The two installations at Rako sites are all but identical in specification

The two installations at Rako sites are all but identical in specification. At the company’s headquarters in Witzhave, Germany, the 17in press is fitted with 12 UV flexo print units, a double unwind, corona treater, delam/relam, cold foil, turn bars and QCDC die-cutting system. Supplied with four screen printing heads, the Mark Andy gives All4Labels the opportunity to pursue the market for high quality cosmetic labels and especially those requiring multi-layers, for which the two-web facility was specified.  The press in Hangzhou, China is similarly specified and also has hot air drying.

Speaking for Rako, production manager in Witzhave, Arne Bir, commented: ‘We needed additional flexibility in label production and the Mark Andy P7 appeared to fit our requirements. We carried out extensive testing of our work over a sustained period, and found that the press actually exceeded our expectations. It is by far the best all round press we have, and its capability to produce up to four-layer labels has added significant value to our product portfolio.’

All4Labels is currently running a mix of 40-100 micron PP, PE and self-adhesive stocks through the P7, at speeds up to 150m/min (500ft/min). And while average run lengths in the German plant are around 1500 linear meters, the average on the Mark Andy is less 1000 meters. ‘It is easy to make-ready, so job changes are quick with minimal waste, thanks to the short web path. This is an especially important cost saving on the multi-layer jobs. Register adjustment is also quick, and the print quality is maintained by the AVT system,’ added Bir.

The timing of the two installations coincides with the creation of the world’s third largest label converting group, which now has 26 production facilities across four continents, employing 3000 people. All4Labels boasts 2,000 customers, produces 60 billion labels annually and generates sales in excess of 500 million USD. The next move, once the consolidation process has taken place, will be to evaluate group technology requirements going forward. ‘We are looking to grow our multi-layer label business because the facility to produce in a single pass gives us the edge in a market where companies are moving to multi-language labels and fewer types. This is where the Mark Andy is so cost effective,’ said Bir.

The strategic investment also substantiates Mark Andy as a preferred supplier to All4Labels, and Mark Andy CEO Kevin Wilken said: ‘In today’s global market, converters rightly demand the same total commitment from their suppliers as the brand owners demand from them. As the world’s leading manufacturer of narrow web technology, Mark Andy is proud and delighted to be supporting All4Labels at this critical time in its history.’