Cypress Multigraphics, a label printer based in Tinley Park, Illinois, has extended its capabilities and entered new markets after installing a Mark Andy Digital Series HD hybrid press.

Cypress Multigraphics’ configuration consists of four flexo print stations – two before and two after the 7-colour UV inkjet digital module –, coupled with a rail system and QCDC-SR semi-rotary die-cutting. This allows printing, decorating and finishing at 240ft/min in a single pass.

The Digital Series HD acquisition, the printer’s first non-acquired digital asset, has allowed 2-3 legacy flexo presses to be phased out. High opacity digital white, in excess of 85%, has also served as an acceptable alternative for customers that require screen printing.

The hybrid press was installed in September 2018. Since then, Cypress Multigraphics has attracted new business through added capabilities and entered new markets. Cypress Multigraphics is aggressively pursuing a greater share of the craft beer market, as well as working to maintain its position as a provider of labels for durables, nutraceutical, automotive and food applications.

Brad Weber, president/owner, Cypress Multigraphics, said, ‘We’ve been watching the digital market develop over the last 10 years and up until recently, we felt the process was treated like an afterthought. Like a copier tucked away in the back of the pressroom that required additional production steps. It went against the grain of everything we believed in from our flexo upbringing.’

His colleague, Tim Thomas, general manager at Cypress Multigraphics, added, ‘Hybrid capability is what got our interest going in the Mark Andy Digital Series HD. And for a while, competitive digital press resolution, speed and capability weren’t there for the standards our customers required. When you take things off-line, it’s another department to schedule and a large footprint in our operation.’

Speaking candidly, Weber noted, ‘digital scared our team to death at first.

‘Making the switch was like going from water to UV-based inks in flexo. But it’s paid off quick and everyone is on the hybrid bandwagon and excited to have this new capability and learning experience. The way I see it, with the value Mark Andy hybrid brings to our operation, I don’t see us purchasing a conventional press again.’

Thomas concluded, ‘There is a lot of new work to be won and we are always hungry.’