At the beginning of December, Mark Andy announced its new narrow web flexo label press, the Evolution E3. The Evolution Series press was first shown at Labelexpo Europe in Brussels in 2019. The new Evolution E3 replaces the Evolution Series press shown at Labelexpo, rebranded as the Evolution Series E5, and has already seen 46 installations in its first production year.
The just-announced Evolution E3 becomes the entry-level servo-driven label press. The market asked for a servo-driven press that prioritized ease of use and reduced operating costs or a slightly slower and not as expensive, but servo technology label press.
The new Evolution E3 is available in 330 millimeter and 430 millimeter web widths (13 and 17-inches) at rated production speeds of 150 meters a minute (500 feet a minute). The E3 can handle substrates from 50 to 305 microns. The Evolution E5 is available at rated production speeds of 230 meters a minute (750 feet a minute) and can print and convert substrates from 25 to 305 microns. Other specs such as widths and repeat lengths offered are similar for the two presses.
“When we came to market with Evolution Series, now known as Evolution Series E5, we intended to provide converters a more attainable solution built on Performance Series technology they could grow with, configure what they need now, knowing they could evolve in the future. And we did just that, explained Tom Schlembauer, the chief business officer for flexo at Mark Andy. “But after listening to our customers, we realized there was an opportunity to offer a machine that focuses primarily on getting back to the basics, but with modern technology and affordability. So, we built a solution that allows converters
to be competitive exclusively in the prime label market, and that solution is Evolution Series E3.”
The E3 will be the first press to feature Mark Andy’s new ProUV curing technology that could deliver energy savings of up to 94% supplied by Canadian company Phidastien. The compact, fully integrated, air-cooled UV curing system can help decrease the press footprint. The new Evolution Series E3 is available immediately.
