Retriever Sports installs first Mark Andy Evolution 5 in UK

Founded by Tom and Katie Pope in 1978, Retriever Sports remains under family ownership and is run today by Ian and Marc Bennett, along with Jacqueline Bennett and Geraldine Osborne. Together with a staff of 35, they manufacture around 10 million sets of dart flights each year in their 20,000 sqft factory. 

‘We consistently apply high manufacturing standards to our dart products and build technical innovation into each and every component that we produce,’ said Bennett. ‘Our commitment to providing a superior product and outstanding service to our customers has seen the company grow into one of the largest manufacturers of darts and accessories in the World.’

The six-color flexo press is the first of its kind to be installed in the UK and replaces one of two Mark Andy Scouts that have been in use at Retriever Sports for the last two decades. A combination of reliability and Mark Andy’s reputation and support over the years steered the company towards the new Evolution 5 when the time came to upgrade capacity.

‘The new Evolution press is a fully servo-driven 13in 6-color flexo line, with full UV curing and an overhead rail system for moveable cold foil application,’ said Phil Baldwin, Mark Andy’s UK and Ireland sales manager. 

The new press also features pacing rollers that are the same size as the impression rollers, which improves tension control for superior register, whether in manual or auto mode.

Since full commissioning in April and two weeks of training, the new Evolution 5 has added 50 percent to Retriever’s output. From typically 130,000 sets per week beforehand, the company is now manufacturing more than 200,000 sets. Crucially, in addition to extra volume, the new Mark Andy has reduced delivery times at a time when higher demand would typically have extended them.