Students visit Mark Andy’s open house

The sessions included presentations of an Evolution Series E3 flexo line, a Digital Series iQ inkjet/flexo hybrid and a Digital Pro 3 toner/flexo hybrid. Photos taken during the event were used to print labels to demonstrate the speed and flexibility of the digital-based technologies. The day concluded with lunch and informal discussions between the students, their tutors, and Mark Andy personnel. 

‘We were delighted to host the print-oriented students and their teachers in our demo room after three-year gap,’ said Lena Chmielewska-Bontron, European marketing manager at Mark Andy. ‘It’s symbolic that a group of young people, who are the future of our industry, were the first to attend the open houses we have scheduled for this year. We were pleased with the attendance and interest levels in the presentations we gave.’

After demonstrations, Mark Andy operators were quizzed on the specific details of each model, with three students enquiring about work opportunities at the Warsaw offices, which was encouraging for a press manufacturer committed to supporting the development of human resources in print. 

‘We’re increasingly active in this area, and recently began co-operating with the Technical and Electronic College in Kalisz, which was represented by one of the teachers at the open house,’ added Chmielewska-Bontron.

Before the presentations, Przemysław Polkowski, director Mark Andy Poland, welcomed the students and their tutors, underlining Mark Andy’s long history as a press manufacturer and pointing out that the company celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2021. He highlighted the growing importance of digital technology in the printing industry. He encouraged the students to pursue their chosen profession and stay in the printing industry. 

‘The development of digital technology and its implementation in printing solutions is an area that is increasingly innovative and future-oriented, especially in packaging and label printing,’ commented Polkowski.

Lukasz Chruśliński, sales manager of Mark Andy Europe, then demonstrated the three label presses installed in the demo room. He was accompanied by print instructors and service technicians who are involved in Mark Andy’s installations around the world. 

The next presentation was focused on the Digital Series iQ hybrid press. This newest member of Mark Andy’s digital family was launched last year and developed in a co-operation with Domino, which manufacture of the inkjet module implemented in the press. 

‘The inkjet unit, which offers seven-color printing (CMYKOV + W) is a central part of the whole solution,’ said Chruśliński. ‘It is accompanied by typical elements of a flexo press, like printing units and finishing and embellishment options. The whole process is realized in one pass, shortening production time and delivery of the final product to the customer. The share of hybrid equipment in our total press sales continues to grow, and we anticipate it will be higher again in 2022 as many new contracts are currently being processed, with many installations scheduled before the end of the year.’

Agnieszka Rusin, a member of the teaching staff at the Printing Technologies Unit commented: ‘We’d like to thank Mark Andy for arranging and hosting today’s event. We really appreciate the rich and content-full agenda that was enjoyed by our second-year students who were making their first visit to Mark Andy’s demo room in Warsaw. Observing their reactions during the demos, I could see they were really interested in all technological aspects of label production, with some of them asking about opportunities or traineeships at Mark Andy. We’re more than happy to have a partner like Mark Andy because the company is deeply involved in supporting the academic community for print. This is very important as it allows our students to learn about the latest technology in both a theoretical and a practical way.’

‘We’d like to thank all the students and tutors for accepting our invitation and their active participation in this dedicated open house. As a press manufacturer, we’re committed to sharing our knowledge and experience with young people studying print-oriented faculties. The open house is a great form of communication as it enables us to present the equipment live and have direct conversation between participants and our own staff. We promise to continue this tradition and organize similar events in the future,’ concluded Chmielewska-Bontron.