Press Meets Demands for Short Runs

Published: September 13, 2010

ST. LOUIS, MO | Short run demand continues to dominate discussions in the label printing industry, and Mark Andy reports that it has a strong, proven solution. As a leading supplier of flexographic print and finishing technologies,the company reports it has spent extensive R&D efforts to design a completely new solution to meet the specific demands of short run, while addressing a variety of other converter business challenges as well. Costs, setup times and ease of operation are all arguments used to position digital printing as the sole solution for short run projects, according to company sources. The technology of the Performance Series by Mark Andy is claimed to shatter these perceptions.

Central to the Performance Series' design for short-run printing is its print station/print deck design. A unique plate roll system allows for repeat sizes as small as 5½ in., allowing extensive reduction of plate costs. Ink costs are also lowered due to the small amounts required for shorter production runs (as little as 6 oz ink per station). New web path designs and advanced registration capabilities of the Performance Series are claimed to reduce setup waste as much as 60% over conventional in-line flexo technologies.

The Performance Series design has also eliminated several operator steps, drastically streamlining productivity. Job setup is quick and easy, resulting in the fastest and most consistent makeready times in the industry, according to the company.  Set-up of a four-color job can be completed in just two minutes and a single station sets up in less than 30 sec.

The company reports that ease of operation is another critical result of the print station design. The load-and-lock inking system, self-positioning doctor blades, easy-to-operate controls, and wide open access make this press simple and swift for any operator, regardless of skill level, according to the company.

A dedicated presentation, "It's Not About Digital—It’s About Performance," will be showcased live at Mark Andy’s  booth #319 at Labelexpo Americas 2010, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Ctr. in Rosemont (Chicago), IL, on Sept. 14—16.   The new Mark Andy Performance Series P5 and P7 models will both be on display with the P5 focused on the benefits of using in-line flexo for short runs.  An interactive print station area which attendees can experience as a hands-on display will also be a highlight for converters.