Five months ago, Design Label installed a SensoTec Automatic Registration System on a Mark Andy press, the first time such a system had been installed on a press of that kind. Since then the East Lyme, CT, USA, converter has been measuring the capabilities of the registration unit, and the results are positive. The system was supplied to the company and installed by Innovative Printing Technologies.

“We installed the SensoTec Auto Registration System in the fall of 2009 on our eight-color Mark Andy 4150 16” flexo press,” says Design Label’s Kyle Knight. “Our original reason for trying the system was the bottom line, how much time and material this system would save us. The benefits far exceeded our original expectations.”

Knight reports that actual setup time for registration has been reduced to a third of what it used to take, and that material waste has been cut in half. “We estimate we will save tens of thousands of linear feet of material in the first year of operation. With these bottom line savings, the ROI on this system is less than 9 months. With material prices increasing and customers’ demands to reduce or hold pricing, this system has allowed Design Label to remain competitive.”

He also says that print quality is consistent from operator to operator. “We have taken the human element out of controlling the registration. Our operators now have more time to spend on the actual print quality and color overall making their jobs easier while giving us a higher quality product.”