Mark Andy to launch newly engineered Performance Series at Labelexpo

Danielle Jerschefske reports from Mark Andy’s headquarters just outside St Louis, Missouri

At Labelexpo Europe, Mark Andy is launching its new Performance Series P7 flexographic press, which the company claims is the future of a profitable flexographic workflow. The series is capable of competing against the demands for shorter and shorter run work, and debuts a completely new print station concept and design.

The Performance Series – designed to suit to a wide range of applications with customer needs and the future in mind – promises vastly improved changeover speeds, flexibility, print consistency and waste reduction.   

‘Converters and customers who have seen the Performance Series have all been impressed. Some even commented, “wow, you really listened to us”,’ comments Steve Schulte, national sales director for Mark Andy. ‘We really believe we have the right solution for a new era of label converting.’

Live in Brussels, attendees will see an 8-color, 17 inch (510mm) Performance Series P7 demonstrate a complete changeover from a 7-color clear-on-clear PS film job to an unsupported film. These demos will show the rapid load of new plate cylinders, the substrate transfer and the use of minimal ink to register the job in less than one press length at speed. The P7 reaches speeds up to 750 ft/min (230m/min).

A wholly new print head design with auto registration control is completely servo-driven. The new P7 inking system automatically sets the anilox and newly designed tool-less doctor blade. Impression cylinders adjust seamlessly for repeat changes and for substrate thickness switches.

Additionally the Performance Series has a new, unobtrusive ‘press guard’ bar which snaps easily into place once the plate cylinder is installed. The bar covers the nip between the anilox roll and plate cylinder. This open design still provides operator safety while allowing for easy accessibility in daily operations. 

The new press boasts a UV only web path option that Mark Andy says is 20 percent shorter than any press currently on the market. In addition, the press has solutions for combination UV and hot air drying applications which further reduce changeover time since the operator is not required to re-web the press from job to job.

Lateral and linear movements to the print station adjust the entire head, which reduces the variability found with operator interjection and mechanical corrections. Both the inking system and plate cylinders require minimal adjustments and have repeatable settings for print consistency between operators. Improved drying systems matched with the open access web path lend to consistent one press web flow.

The Performance Series P7 has the ability to run across a wide range of substrates from thin, unsupported films to thin cartons. Moreover the full UV chill roll together with the joint web path maximizes flexibility. Screen, hot and cold foil units are available along with a variety of other value-add options.

The new FlexFrame feature of the sub frame gives users the flexibility to add more, underside components to the P7 after installation. And, the openness makes for smooth webbing and clear web viewing.

Environmental benefits found with the Performance Series include waste reduction and reduced ink waste. A new ink pan design and improved meter roll system allow controlled print with as little as 6 ounces of ink.

‘We’ve designed the P7 to meet the needs of the converter that’s ready to invest new technology to manufacture high end label products,’ says Jeff Feltz, director of product management and Performance Series lead project manager. ‘Yet the P7 is capable of meeting the needs of those already producing added-value work and need additional support. And, the improved changeover time lends to shorter runs, giving a solution to those hesitant about competing in short-run work or investing fully in digital technology.’

Since the Mark Andy acquisition of Rotoflex, the company has renewed focus on its finishing equipment line throughout the world. Labelexpo attendees will find a number of Rotoflex machines running in the Mark Andy booth. For the first time, the industry will see the new HSR430 machine with a horizontal work flow system. A 20 inch VLI500 will demonstrate film inspection and rewinding, and the VLI330 will show high end pressure sensitive label inspection.

‘We are proud to be back at Labelexpo Europe with a stronger and more robust line of equipment to offer the European marketplace,’ says Ken Daming, business unit manager for Rotoflex.

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