Award-winning Atlantis-Pak has installed a Mark Andy Performance Series P7 flexo press in its label printing department in Rostov-on-Don in southern Russia. The new Mark Andy, which joins three European manufactured presses, already accounts for 40% of total label production at the plant.

Principle markets for Atlantis-Pak are the meat processing and cheese manufacturing companies that use plastic casings and heat-shrink vacuum packs. In 2016 the search began for a new flexo press, and after print trials at two leading European manufacturers, as well as at Mark Andy’s facility in Warsaw, Poland, the decision was made to buy a P7.  The head of the sales management department for label production, Yuriy Perepletchikov explains, “There was no question after the print trials that the P7 was best suited to our work. Its modern design makes it very ergonomic for the operators and the short web path reduces the amount of substrate waste during changeovers.” 

Following visits to existing Mark Andy users and open discussions with them about operational issues, the order was placed, and the press was delivered in 2018. Specification of the 13” (330mm) Mark Andy P7 includes 10 UV-flexo units, a screen print unit, turn bar and cold foil capabilities. “We felt that the Mark Andy made better use of servo drive technology than the other two presses we trialed. It ran faster with better quality across the range of paper and film substrates we use here, and we like the opportunity it gives us to add value,” he says. Atlantis-Pak was also impressed with the ease and speed with which it was installed and commissioned, and since going into commercial production the P7 has proved reliable on 24/7 operation. 

A typical job on the new Mark Andy is 3,000-5,000 linear meters. Many are nine colors with cold foil and two varnishes, and the split between paper and film is approximately 50/50, though much of the paper is thermal for use with meat products.  According to Perepletchikov the market is very competitive, so the flexible capacity and high productivity of the P7 is essential.  “It accounts for almost half of our total label output now and produces superior quality work, so we shall be adding another P7 to replace two of our older presses soon,” he notes, relying on VIP Systems, Mark Andy’s distributor in Russia.

Established in 1993, Atlantis-Pak now employs 2,500 people, sells to more than 90 countries worldwide and occupies a production site of 19 hectares, which is the equivalent of around 26 full-size soccer pitches. Its list of production technologies includes 28 extrusion lines, 44 shirring machines, 36 printing presses and 13 bag-making machines – all these are in addition to its label production department, which was opened in 2000.

Although a relatively small part of the overall operation, the label production department at Atlantis-Pak is growing quickly. The uptake of digital print technology in Russia has been slower than elsewhere, and for the foreseeable future this is likely to apply to Atlantis-Pak too. For now, the all-round capability of the Mark Andy Performance Series will help the converter in all markets.