Mark Andy’s Digital Series hybrid press platform has received the distinguished 2017 Technical Innovation Award from the Flexographic Technical Association (FTA). This award is presented annually to companies or individuals who have “produced a new innovation, process or technology that powers the future of flexography.”

The Mark Andy Digital Series hybrid press platform is a unified platform which integrates flexographic printing and web transport with UV inkjet printing, in-line with product decoration and converting. The solution is targeted to label printers looking for increased productivity, flexibility and capability not achievable from existing stand-alone flexo and/or digital assets.

“To receive this accolade for the Digital Series is really an honor for Mark Andy,” says Kevin Wilken, CEO, Mark Andy. “We are privileged that the FTA has recognized our efforts to synergize these technologies which have historically been viewed as competitive, into a solution which ultimately gives converters the most flexibility, capability, and profitability. This award demonstrates to us that the industry is evolving, and that is exciting for the future of labels and package printing.”

The award-winning Digital Series platform is customizable and configurable, with each configuration specific to converter requirements. In addition, the platform is modular, allowing in-line flexo modules (foil, lamination, die cutting, spot color printing, etc) to be added as needs change. This modularity also accommodates simple upgrades, allowing the technology to be updated as flexo and digital technologies evolve. This eliminates obsolescence of the technology each time a new advancement is made.

The benefits of hybrid technology have inspired a growing Mark Andy digital portfolio which includes the entry-level Digital One label press introduced at Labelexpo Americas 2016, and the low-risk retrofit Digital +3600, the inaugural solution in the growing Digital Plus program supporting digital print retrofits to existing flexo equipment. With over 40 digital hybrid press sales worldwide, Mark Andy says it is committed to developing responsive solutions that are superior in quality, highly productive and increase profitability.

Ray Dickinson, vice president marketing and business development for digital solutions at Mark Andy adds, “Our entire Mark Andy family is humbled and we are grateful to have been selected for this special recognition from the FTA. We are proud to have contributed to the legacy of innovation in this industry, and while we have been acknowledged with technology awards in years’ past, this win specifically, at this time and for this product, is especially gratifying.”

The Digital Series, and a full complement of Mark Andy flexo and digital technologies, are available for live demonstrations on site at the company’s USA headquarters in Chesterfield, MO, as well as in the European show room in Warsaw, Poland. To schedule a demonstration, visit http://info.markandy.com/request-a-demo.