UK narrow web converter Daymark Labels has taken its first steps into digital with the installation of a Mark Andy Digital Pro 3 at its production facility in Hartlebury, Worcestershire.
Founded by Jon Bird Snr in 1974, and now run jointly with son Jon Jnr, Daymark Labels began by specialising in short-run work including foil stamping 1000 labels at a time. The company moved into flexo in the 1980s and later into letterpress with three 340mm presses that are still producing work today. The company has now taken the decision to introduce digital printing to its offer, and Mr Bird said, ‘We’d been looking at the digital technology on the market for some time, trying to work out the best solution for our customers’ specific requirements. Then Covid hit, and plans were shelved until such time as we could see how things settled.’
The Digital Pro is a second-generation Mark Andy hybrid that combines a toner-based digital engine for 1200dpi CMYK printing with a platform that offers flexo before and after the digital module, laminating, cold foiling, rotary or semi-rotary die-cutting, slitting and rewinding, or sheeting and stacking, all in one pass.
At Daymark, general manager noted Kevan Palmer how the capabilities of the press have been realised in the real world, and said, ‘On one of our regular jobs, it’s shortened production time from three days to one shift. I can’t believe how we coped without it.’
As well as the digital press, Daymark Labels has upgraded its flexo printing capability with a, eight-colour, 330mm-wide Mark Andy Evolution Series E5. This press is the first to be installed in the UK fitted with GEW’s LeoLED/UV curing technology.
Aiming for a £3.5m turnover this year, Daymark is keen to grow its label business rapidly in the food and beverage sector and in pharmaceuticals and the electrical industry, as well as increasing its output of tags and tickets. Run lengths vary from 500 to one million labels, with repeat business high.
‘We aim to make life as easy for our customers as possible, and do it with an environmental conscience,’ said Mr Bird. ‘It’s a matter of educating the market about sustainability and what is actually achievable. We believe our partnership with Mark Andy will help us to achieve that and grow our business organically.’
Mark Andy sales manager Phil Baldwin commented, ‘Daymark has invested in the very latest technology we have to offer, and it will allow the company to manufacture a wide variety of printed products as cost-effectively as is currently possible. The Digital Pro has enabled Daymark to produce jobs in a single pass that previously required multiple presses. Both new Mark Andy presses are scalable, allowing them to be adapted to meet changes in market demand. We are looking forward to supporting Daymark in its quest for ‘green production’ in the days and years to come.’
