Stic Image adds Mark Andy Digital Series HD hybrid press

Stic Image has installed a Mark Andy Digital Series HD hybrid press at its production facility in Lyon, France, marking the independent label converter’s first investment in Mark Andy technology.

Founded in 1994 and acquired by president and managing director Cyrille Roze in 2015, Stic Image serves a range of label markets, with agri-food, pharmaceutical and beverage applications accounting for approximately 85% of its business.

The new Digital Series HD combines UV inkjet printing with Mark Andy’s Performance Series flexo platform. Stic Image’s 430mm-wide configuration features a five-color CMYK+W digital engine and five flexo stations positioned before and after the inkjet unit. The configuration enables spot colors, varnishing, cold foil and lamination in addition to digital printing.

Equipped with turn bars, a Gizmo web translator and die-cutting, the press provides single-pass production of finished labels at speeds up to 73 m/min. According to Roze, that speed is more than double that of the company’s toner-based digital presses.

“This is a real bonus, as 60% of our human resources is engaged in offline finishing, making the Mark Andy a far more productive tool, and has allowed us to move jobs from our flexo presses as their run lengths have become too short to be commercially viable,” Roze says.

The investment is also allowing Stic Image to free capacity on its conventional flexo equipment. With much of its work requiring five colors, the Digital Series HD can operate as a hybrid press or be used for primarily digital or flexo production depending on the job.

More than half of Stic Image’s overall production is now printed digitally. Operating on a single-shift basis, the new Mark Andy press is already producing approximately 20% of the converter’s total output.

“The French label market is polarizing – consolidation at the top where volume reigns supreme, and the disappearance of the very small label shops that can no longer afford new technology to stay competitive,” Roze says. “The middle ground is where I see niche opportunities that suit our style and production capability.”

Stic Image expects sales to approach €7 million this year, up from €5.2 million when Roze acquired the company in 2015. The converter is also targeting additional business from wine producers in the region.

After-sales support for Stic Image is now handled by Mach Global, Mark Andy’s authorized distributor in France. Roze says the new support structure has increased the company’s confidence in its investment as it looks to make greater use of the hybrid press’s capabilities.