UK printer Thornton Print, part of the DSR Group, has installed a second Mark Andy Performance Series flexo press at its production plant in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
 
Established originally in 1893, the company has become one of the leading commercial printing companies in the UK, built on the understanding that printing is so much more than just ink on paper – it’s the interaction between customers and businesses and should be handled with care, professionalism, and dedication.  Bold statements maybe, but 130 years of successful trading indicates that the words are fully backed up by deeds.

Today, Thornton Print combines a mix of print capabilities from sheet fed offset to toner-based digital, with two Mark Andy flexo presses in the middle, both of which are high-spec machines.

Allan Bell, operations director at Thornton Print explains the company’s choice of manufacturer: “Back in 2015 we were looking to move our narrow web capability from rotary letterpress to UV-flexo and knew that Mark Andy has vast experience in this technology.  The Performance Series P5 that we ordered was the perfect introduction to flexo as it coincided with major investment in pre-press technology and gave us the best opportunity to succeed from day one.”

The Performance P5 is primarily used for self-adhesive label production and features the Mark Andy “Gizmo” or web translator to give it its technical title. This allows the press to produce the booklet-style labels that are becoming increasingly popular in sectors of the market where the legal requirement is to provide a vast amount of printed information on one label – think pharma, but not exclusively.  Specification of the 8-color 17” Performance P5 includes UV drying and diecutting.

Based on the company’s experience with the Performance P5, when the time came to add a second narrow web press, Thornton chose a Mark Andy Performance P7, which Bell describes as “a Performance P5 on steroids!” 

Initially installed to provide back-up and additional capacity for the Performance P5, the new fully servo-driven Performance P7 has proven to be a versatile performer, Bell says. Like the Performance P5, the 8-color 17” Performance P7 is highly specified, featuring both UV curing and hot air drying, cold foil, emboss/deboss, turn bars, a Martin Automatic MBS unwind/splice, a waste collection system, and a sheeting station. 

According to Bell, a key element in maximizing performance from both Mark Andy presses was the extensive training and support provided by the manufacturer.  He concludes, “Modern flexo presses are very capable but very complex, and we really value the ongoing care and attention shown to us by Mark Andy.”