Essentra invests in Mark Andy hybrid press

The new 13in (330mm) hybrid press includes seven flexo stations and a digital engine offering W + CMYK + OGV, providing over 93 percent coverage of the Pantone color range. It is equipped with two AVT inspection systems, Helios for in-line web inspection and a separate AVT system integrated with the press for digital engine diagnostics, ensuring complete quality control.

The new equipment will complement the company’s digital printing capabilities in the UK, USA, Spain and Ireland.

‘This is a really exciting move for us here in Lubin,’ said Piotr Skalecki, Lublin site’s operations leader at Essentra Packaging. ‘As run lengths continue to decline and our customers are seeking ever more complex products, combining the best attributes of digital and flexography in one complementary and the high-performance machine is the perfect answer for our label printing business.

‘As a printer that blends tried-and-tested traditional print methods with cutting edge technology, the acquisition of a new hybrid technology significantly boosts the diversity, precision, and speed of what we can accomplish. Our capacity has never been stronger or more well-rounded and our team is poised to meet every need our customers might have, no matter the design complexity involved.’

According to Skalecki, the company opted for Mark Andy equipment to keep its workflow and material management streamlined while making the print room more flexible. 

‘Decorative tactile finishes, such as cold foil stamping, are simple and fast. In fact, more screen-printing effects can be replicated, giving us a new level of agility for our customers. From a sustainability perspective, which is always important, the press delivers over a 50 percent reduction in our waste for short and mid runs reducing our carbon footprint. It also only operates on around 50 percent of the energy required for a typical 10-12 station flexo press and creates a minimal amount of ink scrap. This is always an issue in flexo printing, where we are regularly printing a high number of special and spot colors. It is truly a win-win for our customers and the business regarding efficiency and the environment.’