Press manufacturer Mark Andy acknowledges the growing demand for short run label printing, as well as digital printing’s surfacing as a dominant force in the short run sector of the market. However, at Labelexpo, Mark Andy is showing visitors to its booth its new press technologies that have been developed that greatly enhance the capabilities of flexo printing and provide a strong argument against a transition to digital.

One of these newly developed technologies is Mark Andy’s Performance Series. The key technology in the Performance Series press is the newly developed print station/print deck design. With this advancement, the Performance Series measurably changes the output and performance of flexographic printing. The printing platform, redesigned with a focus on streamlined productivity, substantially alters traditional on-press workflow, resulting in measurable material and ink waste savings and greater ease of use for the operator.

A 4-color setup on a Performance Series press can be completed in two minutes and a single station sets up in under 30 seconds. A minimal amount of ink is required for production runs (6 oz.) and a newly introduced makeready process can reduce material waste by up to 50 percent. The press has been designed for ease of use for any operator skill level, with a load-and-lock inking system, self-positioning doctor blades, push-button controls and open access to the entire print deck and plate roll.