Mark Andy shows off digital hybrid press at open house

Mark Andy showcased its Digital Series hybrid system running simulated production operation at the open house. The open house also included presentations by Ryan Reding, general manager of WS Packaging’s Dallas plant, an early beta site for the Digital Series technology, and Mark Hanley, president of industry consultancy firm I.T. Strategies.

There also was a live demonstration of the Rotoflex Vericut3 off-line digital and conventional web finishing machine and a tour of Mark Andy’s lean manufacturing operations, Mark Andy University and the Mark Andy flexo and digital show rooms.

Speaking about Mark Andy’s history in digital printing technology, CEO Kevin Wilken said: ‘We went all in about three years ago, hiring the best and the brightest to focus on R&D, combining flexo and digital printing, with in-line converting and decorating. We launched the Digital Series because we are extremely confident in it and we are very proud to share this with you today.’

Hanley provided information on digital technology’s current and future potential in the label and packaging markets. He broke down the available digital technologies into four categories from tabletops to standalone production systems. Of these, hybrid modular inkjet systems are predicted to experience annual growth rates of 20 percent through 2020.

‘Inkjet is at least capable as electrophotography in print quality, but is greatly under-represented in the market. Mark Andy is a protagonist of inkjet and carries a lot of credibility in the market,’ he said.

Reding said WS Packaging has been beta testing the Digital Series in its Dallas plant.

‘We run about 35,000 to 40,000 feet per eight-hour shift, with 50 changeovers a day, at consistent speeds of 220-240 fpm, depending on the job,’ he said. ‘We have found it to be a really solid and stable piece of equipment.’

The Digital Series press ran continuously throughout the event, simulating the various run sizes and printing/converting combinations. The Digital Series hybrid production system incorporates a modular design that allows for customizable configurations of printing and converting operations. The system in operation included corona treating and web cleaning, three flexo stations - one before and two after the UV inkjet module - a rail-mounted cold foil unit and Mark Andy’s Quick Change Die module. During the course of three hours in operation, the Mark Andy Label Factory ran 12 different labels with 18 different versions/SKUs, at production speeds of over 200 fpm, resulting in 300,000 sellable labels. Job specifications included UV inkjet (CMYK and CMYK+W), alternating die sizes, flexo printing with spot and fluorescent colors, and cold foil decoration on a variety of substrates including semi-gloss, clear on clear, and white BOPP.