Impression Label, a label converter based in Colorado, USA, has installed a Mark Andy Digital Series iQ hybrid press to address mounting capacity constraints and capitalise on growing demand for mid-volume production runs.
The new hybrid platform has been deployed specifically to handle runs between 10,000 and 100,000 labels, a sweet spot that was previously pulling capacity away from the company’s flexo fleet. “We’re buried,” said Marco De La Vega. “This new Mark Andy press will give us the ability to get back to our roots: fastest turnarounds, highest quality, and best pricing. It will also open up capacity on our flexo assets, which are currently running massive volumes.”
One major customer has proved particularly challenging to accommodate, with unpredictable ordering patterns creating production bottlenecks. “I received an email from them recently asking for a quarter of a million labels in two weeks’ time,” Marco explained. “They ordered 20 rolls only a month ago, it’s just the nature of their business and their demand.”
Configured with four flexo stations, inline lamination, turn bars and rotary die cutting, the Digital Series iQ enables the company to apply primer, add custom metallics, print opaque white and process colours digitally, then finish inline. “This new press enables us to lay down primer, add a spot colour like a custom metallic, print opaque white and CMYK digitally, and then finish entirely inline,” said Mr De La Vega. “The result is a more streamlined, end-to-end process that reduces setup times and waste.”
