Mark Andy

Efficient drying equipment can save money in big ways, and can be the difference between staying in the black or seeing red. SAVING A BUCK is at the top of everyone's mind right now, especially in light of the steep rise in energy costs. At this point, there is really nothing converters can do when they get an electric bill, other than pay it or get their power cut off. But taking some simple steps in the converting process can produce some big savings. One area converters can improve cost savings is to look at their drying processes. Many drying equipment suppliers are

REWINDERS PLAY AN important roll in today's print shops and can make or break a great print run. For example, registration can be right on the mark, color can be perfect, then Whammo!, during the rewinding process the entire roll can "telescope" into a useless pile of wound-up trash. "Maintaining uptime and reducing downtime on the rewinder has been a goal for some time," said Brian Ivens, manager, sales and marketing, Arpeco. "Quality of design and manufacturing has always been a significant method of providing reliability and dependability with equipment." There are many reasons the rewinding process can be a problem, but knowing what

THE USE OF servo drives in package printing, especially when incorporated into the printing press, is one of several technologies that can significantly improve quality and productivity for package printers. To get a perspective of the impact that servo technology is having, and will have on our industry, packagePRINTING interviewed executives from several press manufacturers that have staked a claim at the forefront of this state-of-the-art technology. pP: What impact has servo technology had on the package-printing industry? Mac Rosenbaum, vice president, Aquaflex—The speed and accuracy of servo-driven presses are making it possible to maintain margins while still satisfying customer demand for stabilized

HILTON HEAD, S.C.—Time's running out to book a spot at Pira's first U.S. Future of Labeling conference. The inaugural conference will take place on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 at the Crowne Plaza Hilton Head in Hilton Head, S.C. Packaging is becoming as important as the product it contains. With competition in global markets heating up, packaging is now considered critical to the success or failure of a brand. Not only does packaging need to protect, inform and promote, it is increasingly being used to add value through diagnostics and logistics. Labels are gaining popularity fast as brand owners and converters realize their advantages

APPLETON, Wis.—In its commitment to providing exemplary graphic arts/printing education and training for the flexographic printing industry, Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton, WI, recently updated its narrow web pressroom technology by replacing its 7-inch Comco Cadet with a new six-color, 7-inch Mark Andy 2200.  The upgrade was made possible because of the partnership the college has with Mark Andy. "This new press is a tremendous addition to our already world-class facility," said Gary Kilgas, dean of FVTC's Graphic Arts Division.  "The press allows our students to gain the skills necessary to be successful in the industry today and into the future." According to

Plate mounting has improved dramatically in the past few years and can now cause less headaches in the pressroom. ONE FALSE MOVE and hundreds of dollars of substrate can find itself taking the long and winding road into the scrap bin, all because the plate was a fraction of an inch off. Any number of press operators will tell you that getting the plate on straight is frustrating, yet is a very important part of the job. Why not make it easier for your operators by offering them plate mounting tapes and equipment that practically do the work for them? Plate mounting

The hi-tech technology is beginning to make headway in the diecutting industry, but it won't replace mechanical cutting methods altogether. THE DIECUTTING PROCESS is centuries old. While the equipment has progressed through the years, the basic method has remained the same—until now. Laser diecutting has made a splash at many trade shows around the world in recent years, as companies such as AB Graphic International and LasX Industries, Inc. market new laser diecutters, and HP and Mark Andy add the technology to their presses. Traditional mechanical methods of diecutting will never die out due to laser cutting's growth, but the newest equipment offers a

ROCKFORD, Ill.—The Flexographic Trade School (FTS) of Ft. Mill, SC, has received a new STS automatic butt splicer from Martin Automatic. The STS 05-13-31 has been installed on a 10-inch 8-color Mark Andy 2200 press in the school's pressroom. The school runs a number of programs and classes, from introductory courses to advanced operator training. One of the priorities of the school is to go beyond the basics of running a press to learn how to work under real production environment and profitable production flow. "We're excited to have this new Martin splicer," says Jack Duncan, Program Director for FTS. "I'm looking forward to

The Control Group uses SOP-driven manufacturing discipline and state-of-the-art press technology to meet the demands of the pharmaceutical market. SUPPLYING THE PACKAGING material needs of pharmaceutical customers demands the utmost from equipment, materials, systems, processes, and procedures. The Control Group knows this well—it's been serving the pharmaceutical market since its inception in 1971. The Control Group started its corporate life in offset printing, serving commercial and pharmaceutical customers with such items as packaging inserts and labels. It branched out into flexo printing in 1987 when it acquired a Propheteer press. By 1992, it had added two additional Propheteer presses and used this flexo-printing

With recent investments in new press and prepress equipment, Macaran Printed Products is enhancing its mission to provide the best value to its customers. SOME OF THE most demanding markets to serve in the realm of package printing include health and beauty (HBA), food and beverage, and pharmaceutical. These markets are highly dynamic and competitive, and demand the utmost in quality and service. These just happen to be three of the key markets served by Macaran Printed Products, a flexo label printer and a division of W.N. Van Alstine & Sons, Inc. Macaran provides high-quality, combination-printed labels on pressure-sensitive films and papers