Esko-Mark Andy Innovation Day focuses on efficiency

The special Esko-Mark Andy Innovation Day, devoted to European label printers and converters, took place at the Mark Andy Technology Center in Warsaw on 5 March.  In addition to technology presentations from Esko attendees had the opportunity to take part in the live print demonstrations of Mark Andy presses.  These included the flexo Evolution Series E5 and UV inkjet hybrid, the Digital Series HD HighSpeed 1200.  Labels printed on both presses utilised advanced software solutions created by Esko, including Equinox, a tool dedicated to label and packaging production.

“The event opened our series of meetings scheduled in the Warsaw-based Technology Centre for this year.  Some are organised in cooperation with our technology partners,” said Lena Chmielewska-Bontron, European Marketing Manager Mark Andy.  “This time we partnered with Esko, which offers a wide range of advanced hardware and software solutions used by our mutual customers.  The meeting attracted many attendees from Poland, Turkey, Croatia, Czech Republic and other countries. For us, it was a great opportunity to showcase the new presses in Mark Andy's portfolio, including the fastest UV inkjet hybrid press on the market dedicated to label production, Digital Series HD HighSpeed 1200.”

Jan De Roeck, marketing director Esko, highlighted the dynamic global changes and uncertainty affecting both businesses and consumers.  He cited research results that outlined major business risks, the degree of preparedness for external crises, as well as preventative strategies implemented by companies.  He emphasised the importance of digital transformation in the label production market, addressing issues such as shorter print runs and faster delivery time pressures.  He identified key trends and technologies including automation, AI/machine ​​​​​learning, and cloud computing, that will have
significant impacts on the label and packaging industries.   

De Roeck also illustrated the value chain specifically for packaging and label makers, pointing out the role of Esko.  As he underlined, Esko solutions are used in the production process of nine out of 10 consumer packaging jobs. Some of these were presented in subsequent presentations and in context of their application in label production as demonstrated on the Mark Andy presses.

This was the title of the presentation given by Sam Coussens, application sales manager at Esko.  He showed a complete workflow of a sample job file, from submission to final print, based on the Esko Automation Engine server. He covered successive stages of job processing: prepress, file approval, platemaking and printing.  As he emphasised, over 3,000 licenses of the Esko Automation Engine are already being used worldwide, helping companies to reduce errors by up to 80%, increasing efficiency and workflow, and achieving time and financial savings. 

The final Esko presentation was given by Nils Otto, solution architect for colour and print.  He presented Esko solutions for flexo platemaking and screening processes.  He showcased optimised workflow for file preparation process, designed to bring measurable financial and environmental benefits. He also highlighted Esko’s flexo platemaking systems from numerous implementations worldwide. Finally, he spoke about standardisation and calibration processes using the Esko Print Color Wizard tool. When combined with the Equinox module, it creates a complete ​​​​​​solution from press calibration to verification of final print. This offers cost savings while reducing the negative environmental impact of the print production process.

Mark Andy presses demo

After the theory came the practical, with attendees taking part in a ‘live’ demonstration of two of the narrow-web printing presses installed at the Mark Andy Technology Center in Warsaw.  The demonstrations were led by Lukasz Chrusliński and Antony Cotton, European sales managers at Mark Andy. 

The hybrid Digital Series HD HighSpeed 1200 press attracted special interest from event’s guests, owing to its recent global debut.  Described by Mark Andy as the world's fastest UV inkjet narrow web press dedicated to label production, it operates at twice the speed of its predecessor, the Digital Series HD model, which has been a sales success story for Mark Andy in many countries.  It addresses the current market trends and customer requirements, as indicated in Esko's earlier presentation: reduction in print run lengths; increasing demand for versioning/VDP; and a growing need to update or reprint previous jobs after necessary modifications. 

Mark Andy is currently the market leader in sales of narrow web hybrid presses for label and package printing. “Moreover, our flagship models in this segment, the Digital Series HD and recently introduced Digital Series HD HighSpeed 1200, were developed entirely in-house. This means that our customers receive a complete end-to-end solution,  including DFE software, from a single source. The package is assisted by a comprehensive Mark Andy 360 Support service care program,” Antony Cotton said.

The second demo featured the well-proven Evolution Series E5 flexo press, offering production speeds up to 230 m/min. As a scalable solution, it can be expanded and upgraded as user needs grow.  Evolution Series E5 is available in 330- and 430-mm web widths and its application range includes labels, shrink sleeves, and IML. “This highly versatile press aligns perfectly with current market trends and flexographic applications,” said Cotton. “Its versatility is evidenced by the different types of work it produces, from specialised cosmetic tubes using unique technology to
high-volume self-adhesive labels or shrink sleeves.  Its range of applications can extend even further, depending on user specialisation and target markets.”