Glenwood Labels Brings Digital Printing on Board With Mark Andy Digital One
Glenwood Labels, a 40 year veteran in custom label printing, has seen immediate success with the addition of its first digital asset, the Mark Andy Digital One. The entry-level hybrid prime label press by Mark Andy was purchased shortly after the equipment debuted at Labelexpo Americas 2016, and was installed just after the first of the year at the company’s headquarters in Vancouver, British Columbia. Terry and Kelly Lawrence, brothers and leaders of the family-run business, had digital production technology on their radar for nearly three years prior to the Mark Andy press acquisition, but held out until the right solution was available at the right price point.
“We were hesitant to invest in one of the million dollar presses on the market that are slowly becoming referred to as vintage digital technology," Kelly Lawrence, VP of Glenwood, said. "Digital One was available at a more moderate investment level and offered the in-line converting and slitting that competing roll to roll devices couldn’t provide."
In addition to the robust in-line converting and diecutting capabilities, Digital One’s dry toner-based platform and wide application range ultimately pushed the leadership team to purchase the press.
Already managing a diverse job mix ranging from specialty food products to supporting many of the well-known regional microbrews, Digital One has given Glenwood the flexibility to respond to quick turnaround times and version changes demanded by its customers. Cultural diversity of Vancouver and the pacific Northwest are the foundational drivers of Glenwood’s varied book of business, and Digital One proves to be a perfect match with the wide range of applications supported by the standalone hybrid press. Digital One is not only profitable because it efficiently supports Glenwood’s job mix, the investment has also played a large part in the company’s sales and marketing initiatives. The sales team now has a new tool in its arsenal when meeting with prospects, and as a result, new, hard-won business is pouring in. Luckily, Digital One enables same day samples and live label proofs, serving dual roles: a profitable label machine and business capturing tool.
Previously outsourcing its digital work, Glenwood now serves as a hub for other local converters to send digital and short run jobs.
“With this added digital capability, we now are a full complement printer," shared Terry Lawrence, the company's president. "We can support any size run request, and can manage our runs more profitably. We have the familiarity with flexo and understand its capabilities, but now we have a tool to support those jobs that were not as efficient on flexo. With the addition of the Digital One, we do it all and we do it well."
The team at Glenwood remains committed to new technology investment and is confident that ROI expectations of this digital asset will come to fruition. Kelly Lawrence is happy with the decision to partner with Mark Andy, stating, "Mark Andy has a good name in the printing industry, and helped our father get his bearings when he started with flexo 30 years ago. It just made sense for us to take a leap into digital with the company we have partnered with and trusted for decades."
