Mark Andy, an industry pioneer with more than 75 years of expertise in labels and packaging, is extending its strong partnership with Konica Minolta to transform the digital converting space. Today Mark Andy is announcing that it will be the exclusive provider of Konica Minolta’s newest technology, the Accurio Label 400 (AL400), for the labels and packaging industry.

Integrating this new toner-based print technology into its industry-leading Digital Pro (DPro) line, Mark Andy is developing its first 5-color (CMYK and White) toner end-to-end label and converting solution. Combining Konica Minolta’s strengths in digital marking with Mark Andy’s strengths in web handling, decorating and converting, this new press will create a single-pass, high-quality, fast, and cost-effective solution for the mid-to-high volume label market.

The addition of digital white toner allows Mark Andy customers, for the first time, the flexibility to use clear or metallic substrates for short run label work without needing to use a flexo plate. Customers will find increased productivity moving between jobs and ease of utilizing white within variable graphics. The new press provides significantly improved print speeds up to 140 feet per minute. Similarly, converters will realize added savings associated with waste reduction, lower consumable costs, and extended duty cycles.

Mark Andy's current Digital Pro machine continues as the most affordable entry point to the Digital Pro family of products. The development of the Digital Pro family of presses continues to align with Mark Andy's strategy of offering modular, upgradeable solutions.This is the latest in a long line of innovations resulting from over five years of cooperation between the organizations. Mark Andy CEO, Jason Desai explained that, by leveraging individual and collective strengths of each company, the partnership has extended capabilities of the Digital Pro family of products and has established a new price-value position in the market with unmatched technology.

“Incorporating Konica Minolta digital marking technology with Mark Andy’s expertise in converting allows for business expansion and improved customer value for the label converters. This partnership is transforming the industry with the highest quality, most reliable, and cost-effective solutions as demonstrated by more than 300 digital press installations. And today, we continue to pursue practical technology solutions for converters of all sizes at a realizable price point.”

William Troxil, Konica Minolta President, Industrial Print & Production Print, North America agreed that the successful partnership has benefited the entire industry. “Our organizations share a strong partnership that continues to respond to, and anticipate, the needs of a growing industry. While our partnership with Mark Andy has established our production print technology in a uniquely advantaged position, the true beneficiaries are label and packaging converters industry wide. Integrating our technologies and overall strengths provides a right-sized solution for the industry, allowing for ease of entry into the Digital Transformation (DX) journey.”