Arti-Bau invests in second Mark Andy Digital Series press

In 2017, the converter became the first European user of a Mark Andy Digital Series hybrid press. It enabled Arti-Bau to print and finish highly advanced, sophisticated labels, including peel-off in one-pass - and peel-off labels have since become a company specialty.  

 

The press brought a massive growth in orders, and when Arti-Bau decided to extend its capacity, it once again turned to Mark Andy. In February 2022, it moved to a new site and started production with the latest Digital Series HD hybrid press, equipped with numerous additional options. 

 

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Arti-Bau, and its print capability has been based on digital printing, specializing in self-adhesive label production.  

 

Monika Stefanska, president, explained: ‘We have always been aware that labels are an essential part of everyday life – but they can be very demanding of technology. We have noticed many market changes: decreasing orders, growing demand for versioning, and variable data printing, as well as customers’ growing requirements in terms of quality and punctuality. We have also tracked different technological solutions and paid special attention to hybrids. But, as a manufacturer of all components in a hybrid press, Mark Andy stood alone.’  

 

This first Digital Series hybrid press increased Arti-Bau’s capacity by up to 50 percent and enabled it to manufacture sophisticated labels. This allowed Arti-Bau to develop business with a new group of customers.  

 

Urszula Lewandowska, responsible for production planning at Arti-Bau, said: ‘Printing and converting labels in one pass moved us to a completely new level of quality and effectiveness. So, when we looked for a new press, we opted for the more developed version that has additional flexo units and corona treatment.’  

 

Stefanska added that the past two years have brought us major growth from the food and cosmetic industries. The first Digital Series has been a reliable and stable press, but even after establishing a second shift, the converter felt the need to purchase a quicker and more efficient press. ‘Five years is almost an era in digital technology, so we asked Mark Andy to help us choose the best new solution.’   

 

She says that the company’s Warsaw-based service hub was crucial to Arti-Bau’s decision to buy both hybrid presses from Mark Andy.   

 

‘To be honest, we were forced by the market and our customers to buy a new press, as their expectations of quality, efficiency, and on-time delivery have increased,’ she explained. So, when the company decided to move to a new site, it decided to buy a new press instead of relocating the existing one. Production at the new location began in February, when the new Mark Andy was delivered.  

 

Year on year, the converter has produced an increasing number of highly processed, embellished labels, including peel-offs. The labels are applied to premium products, including eco-friendly food, for which it equipped the new press with a flexo station after the inkjet unit and a corona treater for curing the ink. 

 

Mark Andy was also on-hand to oversee operation of the new press, according to Lewandowska. ‘Because the Digital Series HD applies much smaller ink droplets, the web control system and very intuitive software that drives the press and process files are a real success.’  

 

Lukasz Chruslinski, European sales manager at Mark Andy, added: ‘It’s worth mentioning that a technological upgrade of the inkjet unit that now prints in 5 colors, also offers far higher resolution. It applies smaller ink droplets to the web that is run on a curve and is equipped with a web reversal system and Gizmo module for peel-off production.’ The head-cleaning system is also an important part of the new press. Digital Series HD offers color registration in the digital unit without stopping a press.    

 

Mark Andy also gathered information about the press from Arti-Bau’s press operators and managers  which would help it to develop the next generation of presses.  

 

The new press has been fully booked almost from the first day and works two shifts. Besides streamlining the handling of Arti-Bau’s customers, it has also opened capacity for new orders. The company has intensified its sales activities.