Norway’s Ellco reports success with Mark Andy P7

The 13in, 7-colour Performance Series line installed at Ellco Etikett Trykk is a high-specification UV flexo machine, with hot foil, delam/relam, two die stations and a sheeting unit. In addition, Ellco Etikett Trykk specified a Stork screen unit and turn bars to further enhance its capabilities.

A typical run on the P7 installed at Ellco is around the 3,000-4,000 linear meters. An increase in its digital capacity has freed-up the Mark Andy at Ellco Etikett Trykk to focus even more on longer run work. 

Ellco Etikett Trykk managing director Christian Egedius said: ‘The Mark Andy has broadened our production capability, which also includes digital and letterpress machines, and allowed us to grow our business into product areas that were previously outside our scope. 

‘When we visited Labelexpo Brussels in 2009 to look at the flexo press options available, we were really impressed with how quickly a job change could be achieved on the Performance Series, so Mark Andy quickly gained our signature for a P7.’

Currently working a single shift, there is spare capacity aplenty, and with the ability to overprint the hot foil and emboss labels using male/female plates on blank cylinders, Egedius said that the company can fulfill almost any added value techniques customers ask for – in fact, most of the company’s show labels are produced on the P7 to demonstrate the complex work it can handle. Ellco Etikett Trykk uses this capability to stimulate new and creative ideas with its customers. 

‘The hot foil and screen units allow us to add value in-line, and although both increased the initial investment cost, much of this is offset by the efficiency of the press itself,’ said Egedius. ‘We are well known as a short-run specialist, but the Mark Andy has given us a competitive edge on longer run work, where its flexibility and servo control in every single print station allow us to produce very high quality labels at speed.’

Customers also like the advantages of the special finishes that the Mark Andy can produce, including tactile triangles that one customer requires and can be produced with the screen unit.

The P7 investment is helping the company to show a 20 percent year-on-year growth pattern, and has placed it inside the top 10 label converters in Norway. ‘We see this as a real achievement,’ added Egedius, ‘because we don’t chase the volume business, preferring to specialize in the more niche markets, where we are up against some big groups.’

Pictured: Joakim Marcusson (left), from Mark Andy’s Scandinavia agent Convertec, and Christian Egedius of Ellco Etikett Trykk with the company’s P7