Mark Andy P7E installed in Belgium

Maarten van Bergeijk, Michaёl Thorrez and Timo Donati with Flexprinter’s new Mark Andy P7E flexo line

Narrow web converter Flexprinter has installed a Mark Andy P7E at its production facility in Nazareth, Belgium.

The start-up operation, which is the brainchild of owner and managing director Michaёl Thorrez, has chosen to focus on the roll-to-roll production of labels, pouches, sachets, shrink sleeves, and flow packs, as well as other flexible packaging.

‘The market for self-adhesive labels is highly competitive with many converters working local to us,’ explained Mr Thorrez. ‘So I looked for opportunities to convert other work that could be produced cost effectively in one pass on an inline press, and flexible packaging was the most obvious.’

Although previously from a mid-web offset background, Thorrez decided the way forward was with flexo, and although he considered a number of manufacturers, Mark Andy stood out in his mind as the most fit for purpose. ‘We ran print tests at their demonstration facility in Warsaw and spoke with a number of Mark Andy users before committing ourselves to an order – but it was clear early on that the only decision we really had to make was not the brand but the specification.’

The Performance Series press he chose was a 560mm P7E, which was installed in May 2019. It is a nine-colour machine fitted with full GEW LED-UV curing, a Vetaphone Corona treater, turn bars and Mark Andy’s laminating unit.

Six months on from installation, Flexprinter has reported excellent performance from the P7E, with no job requiring a reprint, and a machine that is as easy to learn and operate as it is reliable as a daily workhorse. Mr Thorrez concluded: ‘It’s designed for simplicity of operation and maintenance, and well-built to make it reliable and fast. It’s a true operator’s press.’