At its large stand at Labelexpo Europe in Barcelona, Mark Andy demonstrated a fleet of four presses designed as targeted solutions to meet the increasingly complex demands for labels, flexible packaging, and digital and hybrid productivity for short runs. On the stand was the Performance series P9 press, a 660 mm sleeve press aimed at both labels and mid-web flexible packaging. This press is quite a step up from the Performance series P7 press, of which there are already 55 installations in India.
A highlight at the stand was the DSHD HighSpeed 1200 hybrid press, claimed to be the industry’s fastest 1200dpi solution, delivering digital quality at speeds up to 146 meters a minute. The press, which is popular in Europe and North America, with 150 already sold, is built on the P7 platform and features Ricoh Gen 5 inkjet heads. It was shown in a flexo + flexo + digital CMYK + flexo + flexo + converting, configuration.
The Pro Series, a new fully servo-driven flexo platform engineered for short-run label production, offers quick changeovers, low waste, and a modular design that is said to be adaptable, was shown for the first time. Meant to be an entry-level press for self-adhesive stock up to 200 microns, it can also run board stock and is available in 43 cm and 33 cm widths.
The Digital Pro MAX, a toner-based hybrid based on a Konica Minolta engine, and the Rotoflex VLI, a high-speed inspection and rewinding system for film, tension-sensitive materials, and advanced label finishing, rounded out the equipment demonstrations at the stand.
Speaking to Florian Stroe, Mark Andy’s Technical Sales manager based in the UK and Gourov Roy managing director of FIG, Mark Andy’s South Asia distributor for 25 years, we learnt that the Mark Andy Performance P7 is the flagship in the Indian market while the Evolution is currently the most popular press at the entry level with 8 or 9 installations in the country. Roy suggested that the new Pro press is ideal for the Indian market.
Roy said that FIG services an installed base of 320 Mark Andy presses in South Asia, with 125 Rotoflex and 170 Rhyguan machines. The company’s employees include more than 40 engineers and technicians for installation and services, and a large number of annual contracts for preventive maintenance.
