Flint Group Invests in Mark Andy Press for its Minnesota Research Facility

At Labelexpo Americas, Flint Group Narrow Web announced the intent to invest in a new press for the North America Centre of Technical Excellence. The company has now confirmed the purchase of an eight-color, 10˝ Mark Andy Performance Series P5 flexographic combination press, equipped with the latest web handling and print technologies — including state of the art ProLED curing. The press will be installed at Flint Group’s Minnesota research facility in Rogers, Minn., and enables the Narrow Web business to accelerate the speed of development and increase the number of innovative products launched because inks developed in the laboratory can quickly be evaluated on press.

"This new investment is a significant milestone for Flint Group Narrow Web, and a new demonstration of our full commitment to invest in our industry and support our customers’ growth," Guillaume Clement, global VP for the Narrow Web business, said. "The new Mark Andy press allows the company to keep delivering on its global strategic vision, which includes investment in innovation necessary for growth. The advanced capabilities including LED curing, 750 fpm printing speeds and the ability to handle thin film substrates will enable accelerated product innovation in short run flexible food packaging and shrink sleeve applications, in addition to pressure sensitive labels."

Kelly Kolliopoulos, global marketing director for Narrow Web, comments, "We at Flint Group are very excited about this investment. In addition to using the press for our ink development, we invite customers to bring us their most difficult printing challenges. Our team in Rogers is prepared to investigate the technical hurdles and, via the new press, demonstrate how to improve printing efficiency or effectiveness of cure or reduce downtime by using our inks and new printing technologies like LED cure. The new press keeps Flint Group at the forefront of innovation and offers us new ways to focus on customer development."

Greg Palm, EVP business development at Mark Andy comments, "Mark Andy and Flint Group have worked together to actively develop the label and packaging market for many years. This partnership has allowed us to cooperatively bring new and productive solutions to our mutual customers. Mark Andy is proud to be installing a Performance Series press at the Flint Group Narrow Web Centre of Technical Excellence to advance this ever-evolving market."

In 2009, Mark Andy launched the Performance Series platform — installing more than 650 presses to date. Globally, this press continues to see the most installs of all narrow web flexo presses.

This investment complements the press in Flint Group's Centre of Technical Excellence in Trelleborg, Sweden that was installed the summer of 2014. Installment of the press in Rogers, Minn., is due for completion in Q1 2017.

Source: Flint Group.