Diversified Labeling Solutions (DLS) has installed Colordyne’s 3600 Series Retrofit onto a Mark Andy 2200 through the recent partnership between Colordyne Technologies and Mark Andy. This new hybrid press is DLS’ second digital printing solution from Colordyne, their fourth in total.

“The marketplace is changing, and it’s going to continue to change in the coming years–speeds will go up, costs will go down. Everybody needs to make a decision as to what the best digital platform is for their customers and their needs,” says Bob Hakman, owner of Diversified Labeling Solutions. “For us, the solution was Colordyne’s 3600 Series Retrofit because it was a very cost-effective way to get into the digital marketplace in a plant that did not currently have that technology.”

Colordyne began partnering with Mark Andy in 2016 to offer high-quality digital inkjet capabilities for existing flexo presses. The Colordyne 3600 Series Retrofit (also referred to as the Mark Andy Digital +3600) is a part of the Mark Andy Digital Plus enhancement program. Thanks to the performance of the Colordyne 3600 Series Laser Pro installed at its Chicago location in 2013 and Mark Andy’s expertise in providing high-quality printing solutions, DLS trusted the partnership to help it meet the growing demand for digital labels and packaging from its customers and distributors.

“We are one of the first companies to purchase a hybrid solution through the new Colordyne and Mark Andy partnership,” states Hakman. “Together they were able to engineer a solution that didn’t eliminate any of the 2200’s press functionality, made use of our existing tooling inventory and provided us with new digital/hybrid print capabilities.”

“We are delighted with DLS’ second installation of a Colordyne Production Class printing engine,” says Gary Falconbridge, CEO of Colordyne Technologies. “Their choice to retrofit a Mark Andy 2200 press with a Digital +3600 is something we are seeing more of in the label converting market.”

“Mark Andy is excited to partner with a leading industry expert to offer converters innovative retrofit solutions to enhance flexibility and application range of existing equipment,” says Dave Telken, Mark Andy vice president of Aftermarket Services.

DLS integrated the Digital +3600, a four-color digital inkjet print module, onto a 10″-wide Mark Andy 2200 flexo press, giving DLS the capacity to produce high-quality digital and hybrid labels and manage high-mix, low-volume runs more effectively, as well as maintain:
Print speeds of up to 500 fpm
Full variable imaging capabilities
Resolutions up to 1600 x 1375 dpi
Existing rotary die inventory and on-press finishing capabilities

“When you speak to converters about giving an old or underutilized press a second life, it hits home,” adds Falconbridge. “At Colordyne, we know how important it is to make the most of existing printing resources. So why not add a low-cost Colordyne digital solution to an existing flexo press?”