Ceepackaging

Investment

Mark Andy Europe opens new high-tech facility

Using the banner headline: ‘Mark Andy grows big in Europe’, the new 1000 sqm facility is key to the company’s extended commitment to converters in continental Europe, and has been set up as a major hub of excellence.  It also marks the rebranding of Mark Andy activities on the continent, with the creation of Mark Andy Europe.

Housing a 400 sqm showroom/demonstration facility, and a 300 sqm parts department, as well as administration offices, the new Advanced Technology Centre offers Mark Andy a centrally located European showcase for its cutting edge technology that will benefit both the developed markets of Western Europe and those emerging economies in the East.

Speaking for Mark Andy Inc, Company President, Paul Brauss said, “As Mark Andy puts its priority toward global growth, the opening of the Mark Andy Advanced Technology Centre in Europe marks an important beginning of many initiatives.  With a solid foundation of people and products, a showcase like this will allow us to build relationships and support web flexo throughout Europe.  We are a company on the move.”

In response, Dieter Huck, Managing Director of Mark Andy Europe outlined the company’s plans to remain focused on building a world class service and support organization that will carry Mark Andy Europe into new markets and their leading brands far into the future.

The Grand Opening was attended by over 100 guests, including industry VIPs, local dignitaries and international trade media personnel, who enjoyed a packed programme of events that culminated with a gourmet gala dinner to the accompaniment of Alpenhorns in the new showroom that had been transformed into a candlelit banqueting hall.

Toasting the creation of Mark Andy Europe, Niklas Olsson of XSYS Inks and Wolfgang Klos-Geiger of G&K TechMedia, complimented the company on its timely investment and vision to support the developing growth within the EU.  In addition, in commemoration of the opening of the new facility, Wilfried Koopman, of Stork Prints, presented Paul Brauss with a classic reproduction of the 17th century painting ‘Milkmaid’ by Johannes Vermeer, the original of which hangs in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam

Shortly after the Grand Opening, Mark Andy hosted a three-day Open House and the first of its European series of Educator Seminars entitled ‘Film and Foil Printing – Market of the Future’.  The tri-lingual event, which attracted over 200 visitors from 15 countries to the Basel facility, proved a real success for the inaugural customer focused event.  The state of the art technology centre offered Mark Andy the opportunity to showcase its range of flexo converting equipment, all configured for the many levels of film and foil printing.

Three presses from the innovative Mark Andy and Comco ranges were demonstrated: the servo driven Mark Andy XP5000, the legendary and best-selling 2200, and the longstanding benchmark for high speed film and foil print for packaging, the Comco ProGlide MSP.  In addition, Mark Andy featured its VSR300, the fully integrated rewinder and finishing unit, fitted with AVT Print Vision/Helios automated inspection system.

Opening the Educator Seminar programme, Dieter Huck, Managing Director of Mark Andy Europe, said: “We are pleased to provide this unique opportunity for package print converters to learn about the changing market trends in film and foil, and show the innovative technology that has been developed to fulfill these latest requirements.”

The concept of Educator Seminars was pioneered in the USA by Comco back in the 1990s, where the series has become highly successful at delivering information on the latest trends to thousands of converters.  Now, for the first time, Europeans can benefit from the accumulated knowledge and experience of Comco and Mark Andy, along with that of a leading list of the industry’s most regarded suppliers, including XSYS, Dr Hönle, GEW, ESI, and Treofan.

Seminar topics covered every aspect of narrow and mid web film, foil and flexible print for packaging.  Delegates were given up to date information on growing film and foil markets and future market trends.  In addition, they received detailed information on the technical aspects of the film production workflow to gain a solid understanding of every step in the process, from film types and film manufacturing, to high quality printing, to the many aspects of drying and curing.

The Seminar was chaired by Wolfgang Klos-Geiger, owner of the G&K TechMedia publishing group, whose magazines provide extensive coverage of the converting markets both in Europe and Asia.  Addressing the delegates, Mr Klos-Geiger said: “Mark Andy has brought together in a neutral environment all the necessary players to develop a profitable film printing business.  This support will be a key benefit to converters in the growth of their individual businesses.”

Mr Klos-Geiger moderated the seminar and introduced the keynote speaker, Thomas Reiner, Managing Partner of Berlin based packaging consultants, Berndt & Partner, whose presentation, entitled ‘The European Film Market – Actual Status and Perspectives’ addressed the current market situation and the projected growth and market changes for the short, medium and longer terms.  Mr Reiner was followed by Norbert Hansen of Johs Rieckermann, Deutschland, who outlined the latest technology for film manufacturing and extrusion.

Wilfried Tews of Treofan Deutschland explained the many film substrates appropriate for various applications, and spoke in detail about the importance of relevant aspects such as ‘Food Industry Approval’ and the differing capabilities of films to accept different techniques such as hot and cold foiling. Christer Becker, of XSYS Schweiz, then concluded the morning session with a guide to the inking systems available for film printing.

The afternoon programme, which was dedicated to drying and curing systems, featured presentations by Wolfgang Kiefer of Dr Hönle on UV-Curing, Wolfgang Ziebell of GEW on Inert Curing, Mike Lawrence of Mark Andy Inc on Hot Air Drying, and Urs Läuppi of ESI on Electron Beam Curing for lamination.

The final session was introduced by Mike Lawrence, Product Manager at Comco, who provided a clear understanding of the different types of inline equipment and the specific types of applications that can be successfully produced on each, set against background market trends that show an increase in the use of pouches, bags and wraps at the expense of more traditional, glass bottle, metal can and carton products.

Mr Lawrence stated: “Flexo can produce packaging graphics for more products on store shelves than any other print process in the world today.”  With FTA data indicating a world market for flexible packaging valued at €45 billion/year, and growing at 6%, the time to invest in narrow and mid web flexo technology has never been better.  As run lengths shorten, the advantage of inline flexo over wider width CI and gravure processes becomes more apparent.  With 15 years of experience in this market Mark Andy, with its Comco line, has the expertise in web tension and temperature control to ensure high quality film printing at high speed.

To illustrate the point, the three machines on show were then put through their paces.  The Comco ProGlide MSP is currently the most widely used press in the world for sophisticated and challenging narrow and mid web film and flexible packaging applications.  Its high running speed, servo drive, and precise control of both web temperature and tension, combined with the broadest range of curing and drying options available today, make it a highly effective production tool.  It ran a high shrink 40-micron PET-G 4-colour process job, with two spot whites.

The Mark Andy XP5000, matched with VSR300 has been key to the ‘Integrated Workflow’ concept that Mark Andy has been demonstrating at exhibitions since 2005.
Fully servo driven, the 13” XP5000 offers high speed, high quality film label production, and ran a 25-micron cavitated white BOPP on a 4-colour process job.  The machine was fitted with the AVT Print Vision/Helios platform and information management solution, providing 100% auto inspection of the printed web.  The legendary 10” Mark Andy 2200, of which more than 2000 have been sold worldwide, ran 40-micron PE, showcasing this entry level machine’s capabilities.

Thanking the delegates for attending this inaugural European Seminar, Mark Andy’s Vice President Sales & Marketing, Greg Palm, concluded:  “I am proud to be associated with the team here at Mark Andy Europe.  They are dedicated to supporting converters and the growth of their businesses throughout Europe.  It has been a rewarding experience to show this facility in such a positive way, and we shall continue working closely with industry experts to bring more events to Mark Andy Europe in the future.”