L’Etiquette Adhésive has installed Mark Andy Digital Series HD press, at its production plant in Pau, South-West France, following growth in demand for more SKUs in shorter run lengths.
Stéphane Clavier, company owner said: “I knew of hybrid presses, but coming from a non-print background was unaware of what benefits the technology could offer us. So, I began asking the well-known press manufacturers if they could show me one of their hybrid presses in commercial operation at a converter producing similar work to ours. Only Mark Andy was able to do this, and the demonstration was so convincing that within a month we had placed the order for the press.”
The Mark Andy DSHD is high-spec machine. Its 430mm web width is based on the well-proven Performance Series flexo platform where a five-colour (CMYK+W) UV-inkjet digital engine is located between flexo print stations – two before and three after the digital engine. These allow for additional colours to be printed, a lacquer to be added or cold-foil to be applied.
The press also has turn bars, a double unwind for two-web insetting, two Gizmos (web translators for multi-layer coupon labels), and a semi-rotary die cut station. An overhead extraction unit is fitted to handle the removal of complex waste matrix.
As labels become more complex and brand owners specify more expensive substrates, waste material becomes a major issue and cost centre. Make-ready time and material waste on the flexo presses means all but longer jobs are uneconomical to produce, and the running speeds of the toner presses and offline finishing equipment all point toward the hybrid having a significant advantage in efficiency.
“Despite having flexo and digital capability already, I must admit there was a learning curve with the hybrid, purely in terms of synchronising the digital and flexo print with the converting elements. It required a new way of thinking, but the Mark Andy, which was working double-day shifts is now on three-shift operation, and is very productive,” Mr Clavier added.
Because of its all-round capability as a production machine, the DSHD has allowed Mr Clavier to move work from both his flexo and digital lines to free-up capacity for the jobs to which they are better suited.
