Narrow web press manufacturer Mark Andy held a quiet event for a few trade press editors last week at the Milford, OH, USA production plant for its Comco line of converting equipment. Company officials gave a preview of the C2, a new Comco press driven by servo motors and designed from the ground up. The press will be on display at Labelexpo Americas in Chicago Sept. 11-14.

The C2 comes in web widths from 16″ to 32″ and has a mechanical speed of up to 1,200 fpm. It can run materials of thicknesses that vary from 0.0005″ to 0.024″ (12µ to 610µ). The press utilizes sleeves for print cylinders and anilox rolls, and has an electronic line shaft. Servo motors control impression, plate and anilox rolls. Finely engineered knobs on the front of the press allow operators to retain mechanical control over ink, impression and lateral registration. These can be replaced, if desired, by servo motors.

As with other servo powered presses, the C2 offers a wealth of electronic enhancements, including data collection and job memory, as well as real-time interface with the manufacturer for troubleshooting. The press departs in appearance from earlier generation Comcos: It has been ergonomically designed, says VP of Sales & Marketing Greg Palm, to make operation easier on the operator.

According to Paul Brauss, president of Mark Andy, the C2 exhibits superior print quality performance. “The registration performance is superior to existing flexography,” he says, “and web offset. It is automated to enable virtually no waste, and designed to produce only a single print station of waste beyond the initial press length.