Mark Andy launches inkjet series for packaging

Digital Series UV inkjet hybrid printing system to tackle medium-sized labels and package print runs to launch in 2014
Mark Andy launches inkjet series for packaging

Mark Andy is manufacturing its first Digital Series UV inkjet hybrid printing system to tackle medium-sized labels and package print runs. Danielle Jerschefske reports

Mark Andy is manufacturing its first Digital Series UV inkjet hybrid printing system to tackle medium-sized labels and package print runs. The supplier is known widely for its narrow web flexographic printing presses.

The first beta press is 13in (330mm) wide with process colors plus white digital inkjet, several flexo stations, an in-line QCDC converting system and other options. It will be installed in December in the US.

The Mark Andy Digital Series runs at production speeds over 200ft/min (61m/min) with a native resolution that meets the requirements of the prime label market. Future configurations will also target packaging applications.

The Digital Series will initially be launched in the US in early 2014, with launch to the rest of the world beginning at the end of 2014.

Jeff Feltz, director of business development at Mark Andy, says: ‘We reviewed the technical barriers to production level inkjet printing and believe we’ve overcome them with the Digital Series. We’ve selected the right technologies, utilized an experienced team and have incorporated flexibility in design.

‘The Mark Andy Digital Series empowers converters to complete more jobs, producing more revenue and lowering production costs, on a system that they can configure to meet their specific needs.’

The press manufacturer used its successful Performance Series platform design as a logical foundation for this new inkjet hybrid printing and converting system. The Digital Series boasts the same motion control and web handling technology, and is capable of incorporating all existing finishing and converting options, including flexo, screen, die cutting and foiling.

Although there is commonality using the Performance Series platform, how all the various technologies work together is very different, so the result is a wholly new hybrid digital press model.

An experienced digital team

For over a year, a team of scientists and engineers with hundreds of years of experience in digital printing leveraged their expertise to bring a collaborative new solution to market. Additional resources with valuable experience are being added to represent the Digital Series and to create a winning customer experience.

‘We built a truly hybrid digital system, fully designed from the ground up with effective integrated technologies,’ says Feltz. ‘This addressed one of the key challenges we had discovered – the stark incompatibility between various print and converting functions trying to work seamlessly together on a single platform.

‘The combined cost of a hybrid solution is very difficult to justify when speed is limited, which is generally due to the limiting factors of existing digital technology. For the hybrid concept to be justifiable, the digital portion of the solution cannot severely limit the overall speed of the process, otherwise a financial justification cannot be made.’

The recently-formed Mark Andy Print Products will distribute the UV inkjet consumables just as it does any other consumable related to the business. The Digital Series system is compatible with pressure-sensitive, tag and thin film materials. BOPP and PET films have tested successfully.

Benefits of the Digital Series

Mark Andy worked closely with a group of converters to uncover the challenges of moving digital inkjet to a more effective production level system. Mary Sullivan, Mark Andy global marketing director, says: ‘Our customers are looking for economic digital solutions. The Digital Series is our simple and customizable answer.’

The hybrid design allows converters to add whichever options might be needed. The digital unit can be upgraded to keep pace with technology advancements. Converters can purchase a four-color system and add white later, so capital obsolescence is greatly reduced.

Feltz says: ‘We’ve taken the approach so our customers are able to migrate to the next digital print technology by replacing only the pieces that need replacing. They can keep capital costs down by retaining the web transport system.’

Pressroom productivity can be improved with faster speeds, core compatibility between the inkjet/conventional systems and with web transport units proven to reduce set-up and changeover times. Existing Performance Series tooling is compatible with the Digital Series.

Customers on its advisory council have reportedly told Mark Andy that the output of the new hybrid system will fit the ‘vast majority’ of their current work. ‘The system can and is producing prime label quality inkjet at true production speeds,’ notes Feltz. 

Inkjet printheads

While the company is not ready to reveal which manufacturer has been chosen to supply the inkjet print heads, they have said it is not a supplier currently used in the labels and packaging market. The development team is confident that the technology is robust, easy to use and will deliver a flexible workflow.

Feltz says: ‘It is critical for an equipment manufacturer to control the product roadmap of the entire hybrid press, including the digital technology portion. We learned this ourselves with our past attempt to bring hybrid technology to the market.’

The Digital Series was developed to deliver consistent print quality at production speeds across varying configurations and costs customized to fit each converter’s unique business process.

Manufacturing, customer demonstrations and testing for the Digital Series will take place at Mark Andy’s global headquarters in Chesterfield, Missouri. The company says its secret is in the design and engineering expertise, which includes an in-depth knowledge of inkjet printing and system technologies integrated for this ground-up development.

Mark Andy president and chief executive officer PJ Desai sums up the new Digital Series by saying: ‘As we expand into the world of digital printing for the label and packaging markets, Mark Andy simply continues to do what we do best as a company, provide the converter with the best solutions incorporating high-quality technical innovations that drive customer profitability.’

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