Headquartered in Chesterfield, Mo., it was Mark Andy’s involvement with RFID, and its live demonstration at a Labelexpo, that first attracted Northern Ireland-based Nuprint Technologies to the American press manufacturer. Since Mark Andy was a good fit with Nuprint Technologies’s view of label development, and indicated a level of commitment to research and development that was not to be found elsewhere, according to Managing Director, Gavin Killeen.
Keen to position the company ahead of the ‘me too’ brigade, Killeen set about developing intellectual RFID property that will enable him to offer customers the benefits of RFID-embedded labels in the near future. The research work took the company as far as investing in one of the latest Mark Andy 2200 flexo lines, which was commissioned at Nuprint’s modern production plant in County Londonderry in March 2006.
The new 2200 press, a 10”, eight-colour machine fitted with the latest GEW UV system, is designed to accept the RFID inline module as an original or retro fit. This facility includes the printing and inlaying of transponders in one pass, together with a quality check that tests to ensure the RFID tag is working. Uses for RFID labels include tracking, inventory management and security, as well as important communication of health and safety messages.
Northern Ireland has several small- to medium-sized companies involved in supply to the food and drink market that are now enjoying the benefits of Nuprint’s previous experience with brand leaders in terms of label and packaging solutions. These include international companies that are reviewing their bottling operations and considering a switch from wet glue to self adhesive labels due to the quality of print coming off Nuprint’s two Mark Andy lines—the new 2200 and an older 4120—and the easier downstream handling the labels offer.
One critical area for flexo print is the need to match the look and feel of screen printing. Nuprint can point to several examples where by inventive use of its UV flexo capability, it has produced an alternative to screen that is not only consistently brighter in appearance, but usefully lower in cost. Crucially, the customer, a leading drinks manufacturer, fully endorses the end result, and has rewarded Nuprint with new business.
With demand for its work growing fast, Nuprint is already looking at a second Mark Andy 2200 to allow it to reap the economies of scale. With the extra vibrancy that UV flexo offers, many existing products can have their shelf appeal refreshed, and it is no coincidence that three of the five major global drinks companies now work closely with Nuprint.
The company has a number of customers on the brink of moving into RFID tags, so it is likely that Nuprint will continue to evolve its working partnership with Mark Andy.
For more information, visit www.markandy.com or www.nuprintuk.com.
- Companies:
- Mark Andy, Inc.