HB Labels in LED first for Mark Andy

HB Label Print, based in Dublin in the Republic of Ireland, has become the first company in the British Isles to install a Mark Andy press with LED-UV curing.

From left: Declan Boran, HB Label Printer’s general manager; Paul Macdonald, sales manager for Mark Andy UK; and Ian Bowden, HB’s managing director, standing in front of the new P4.

The press in question is an eight-color Performance P4 narrow web flexo press. It’s fitted with cold foil, turn bars, and delam/relam facility as well as two die stations, including a QCDC unit.

HB Label Print, which was set up in 2002, already has two 254mm wide Mark Andy 2200 presses. But with the new P4 the company has opted for its first 330mm machine.

Ian Bowden, Managing Director of HB Label Print, explained: “We have always been a Mark Andy house because of the productivity of their presses and also always employed UV curing – so the latest P4 was as an easy choice and gives us cutting-edge technology with the Mark Andy ProLED system fitted.” 

HB Label will use the press with Flint’s Ekocure LED inks. There’s a slight premium in the price of the LED inks but this is offset by the lower running costs associated with LED, mainly in terms of not having to regularly replace lamps as well as using less electricity. 

Declan Boran, General Manager at HB, says that the press runs regularly at 225mpm, noting: “We don’t have to monitor the lamps for a drop-off in performance or have the problem of disposal when the time comes to replace them. LED offers a much more efficient and problem-free UV solution, with significant environmental benefits too.” 

HB Label Print manufactures labels for the food and beverage, logistics and airline sectors. Currently the company sees a balance of 80:20 between paper and filmic substrates. 

Boran comments: “The new press is already showing noticeable improvements to overall productivity, as well as attracting new work with its wider web and faster production speeds, with guaranteed 100 percent curing.”  

Paul Macdonald, sales manager for Mark Andy UK, stated: “The P4 is an ideal choice for label printers using 2200 series machines as there is a high degree of compatibility between the two. The Mark Andy ProLED curing system offers significant advantages in terms of curing capability, even on full-out solids, low power consumption, zero heat in the work environment and no ozone generation.  In addition, the lamps have a longer working life and suffer no drop-off in performance.” 

HB Label Print employs 16 people and has a turnover of roughly €5 million. As well as the three Mark Andy presses, the company also runs a Xeikon digital label press.


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