Polish label converter Arti-Bau has installed a second Mark Andy hybrid press, as the company seeks to meet increased demand for quality, efficiency and on-time delivery.

Back in 2017, Arti-Bau became the first European user of a Mark Andy Digital Series hybrid press, which enabled the company to print and finish highly advanced, sophisticated labels, including peel-off in one-pass. Since then, peel-off labels have become something of a company speciality. This press resulted in a massive growth in orders, and when Arti-Bau decided to extend its capacity, it once again turned to Mark Andy and its Digital Series HD hybrid press.

Arti-Bau president Monika Stefanska said, ‘We have always been aware that labels are an essential part of everyday life, but they can be very demanding of technology. We have noticed many market changes: decreasing orders, growing demand for versioning and variable data printing, as well as customers’ growing requirements in terms of quality and punctuality. We have also tracked different technological solutions and paid special attention to hybrids. But, as a manufacturer of all components in a hybrid press, Mark Andy stood alone.’

2022 marks the printer’s 10th anniversary, with its production focused on self-adhesive labels and print capability always based on digital. Over the last decade, the company has systematically built and strengthened its position in the Polish and European markets, whilst investing technology. This includes the first Mark Andy Digital Series hybrid press, which increased Arti-Bau’s capacity by up to 50% and enabled the company to manufacture more sophisticated labels that had been impossible previously. This further allow business to be developed with a new group of customers. Arti-Bau has also recently moved into a new site, taking the decision to buy a second Mark Andy press instead of relocating the existing one. Production at the new location began in February, when the new Mark Andy was delivered.

Ms Stefanska continued, ‘Time goes so quickly, and recent years have shown us very clearly how labels are central to our lives. The past two years have brought us major growth from the food and cosmetic industries. The first Digital Series has been a very reliable and stable press, but even after establishing a second shift, we felt we needed to purchase a quicker and more efficient solution. Five years is almost an era in digital technology, so we asked Mark Andy to help us choose the best new solution.’

As such, the new Mark Andy Digital Series HD has been equipped with additional options and functionalities, such as a flexo station after the inkjet unit and a corona treater for curing the ink.

‘Printing and converting labels in one pass moved us to a completely new level of quality and effectiveness,’ confirmed Urszula Lewandowska, who is responsible for production planning at Arti-Bau. ‘So, when we looked for a new press, we opted for the more developed version that has additional flexo units and corona treatment.’

Whilst Lukasz Chruslinski, European sales manager at Mark Andy, noted the importance of Arti-Bau’s first press owing to it being the first Mark Andy Digital Series in Europe – ‘It has a special significance for us’ – she added that a technological upgrade of the inkjet unit means it now print in five colours, ‘and also offers far higher resolution.’

He continued, ‘It applies smaller ink droplets to the web that is run on a curve and is equipped with a web reversal system and Gizmo module for peel-off production.’ A simplified printhead cleaning system is also an important part of the new press, as is colour registration without stopping the press.

Tom Cavalco, executive vice president at Mark Andy, said, ‘Cooperating with printers who pioneer new technology is always special for us and seeing how a customer like Arti-Bau develops gives us great satisfaction. We’d like to thank Arti-Bau’s management for its trust in us when they decided to install our first Digital Series in Europe in 2017, and again in 2022, when they purchased our latest hybrid solution. We are convinced that the new Digital Series HD will be a major boost for Arti-Bau, driving its dynamic growth even further.’