Mark Andy turns 75

When Mark Andrews, Sr. built his first tape press in his workshop in Missouri, USA, in 1946, he certainly could not have expected what 75 years into the future would look like.

‘Mark would build these basic tape printers in his basement or garage one at a time. As soon as one was sold and he had money to buy materials, he’d build another. It was kind of a hand-to-mouth existence,’ commented Roy Webb, Mark Andy’s sales manager.

This operation transitioned to Chesterfield, Missouri, around 15 minutes from its original home in Kirkwood, in a 100,000 sqft, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in 1979.

‘Mark Andy's priority has always been to guide and follow customer expectations and a marketplace that is constantly changing,’ said PJ Desai, chief executive officer of Mark Andy. 

The first milestone for the company was the introduction of the Mark Andy 2200 machine in 1990, which continues to sell successfully in the US. The next noteworthy technology, the Performance Series platform, was developed in 2009 and impressed with its quick change and high print quality winning over label and packaging professionals worldwide. It is still a high-demand machine for pressrooms internationally.

A turning point for the company’s long-term footprint in the label and packaging industry emerged with the manufacturer’s introduction of digital hybrid machines over the last decade. This configurable portfolio currently includes Digital Pro, Digital Series HD, and Digital iQ. 

With the strategic additions of various divisions under the Mark Andy umbrella over the years, including Presstek, Mark Andy Print Products, Rotoflex and more, the manufacturer continues to position itself as one of the full-service partners for its customers.

Today, the company has a global presence, employing over 450 people worldwide, with facilities in the US, Canada, Poland, and the UK, as well as an extensive network of global service technicians and is represented in more than 60 different countries. 

The pioneering spirit is still intrinsic to the company’s DNA, which is highlighted by the recent opening of a fully equipped showroom facility for in-person and online demos that complements its unique Test Lab facility launched in 2020.

‘We are convinced that the growth of our customers will also ensure the growth of our company, something we will work hard on over the next few years, based on our 75 years of experience and knowledge we have while offering our customers as much support as possible. This, in addition to the technologically advanced machines in our portfolio that can meet the diverse needs of label stock manufacturers – will continue to differentiate us in the label and packaging industry,’ concluded Desai.