Essentra Packaging has invested in a new Mark Andy Digital Series HD hybrid flexo-inkjet label press at its site in Lublin, Poland.

The 330mm hybrid press includes seven flexo stations and a digital engine offering CMYKOGVW, providing over 93% coverage of the Pantone colour range. It has two AVT inspection systems – Helios for inline web inspection and a separate AVT system integrated with the press for digital engine diagnostics ensuring complete quality control.

The latest investment builds the company’s existing digital printing capabilities in the UK, the US, Spain and Ireland. Specifically, the press will further support the company’s beauty and personal care labels customers.

Piotr Skalecki, Essentra’s Lublin site operations leader, said, ‘This is a really exciting move for us here in Lubin. As run lengths continue to decline and our customers are seeking ever more complex products, combining the best attributes of digital and flexography in one complementary and high-performance machine, is the perfect answer for our label printing business.

‘At Essentra Packaging, we blend tried-and-tested traditional print methods with cutting edge technology. The acquisition of this new hybrid technology significantly boosts the diversity, precision and speed of what we can accomplish. Our team is poised to meet every need our customers might have, no matter the design complexity involved. For us, the choice was clear. The Mark Andy hybrid press keeps our workflow and material management streamlined while also making our print room more flexible. Decorative tactile finishes, such as cold foil stamping, are simple and fast. In fact, more screen printing effects can be replicated, giving us a new level of agility for our customers.’

He continued, ‘From a sustainability perspective, which is always important, the press delivers over a 50% reduction in our waste for short and mid runs reducing our carbon footprint. It also only operates on around 50% of the energy required for a typical 10-12 station flexo press and creates a minimal amount of ink scrap. This is always an issue in flexo printing where we are regularly printing a high number of special and spot colours. It is truly a win-win for our customers and the business in terms of efficiency and the environment.’