Graphic Arts Magazine October 2018 | Page 11

Installations and investments PRX PRINT UPS LABELS GAME WITH MARK ANDY DIGITAL ONE PRX Print in Mississauga, ON, has been providing full-service packaging and converting services since 2010. It carved its unique niche as a print broker offering clients “one-stop packaging shopping” including printed labels, forms, boxes and shrink sleeves. Recently, growing demand for cost-effect- ive, short-run digital labels with fast turnaround times became an issue. To maximize profitability and increase customer satisfaction, owner Debbie Gil- bert began the search in early 2017 for an in-house, leading-edge label printing system for faster turnaround times and higher-quality finished products. Her search led her to the Mark Andy Digital One hybrid label press. Key fea- tures that drew Gilbert to the Digital One were the “pay-as-you-go” no-click-charge structure, its small eco-friendly footprint with minimal waste, its toner-based technology and its all-in-one (printing and die-cutting) func- tionality. The Digital One’s dry toner technology fuses ink directly into the label substrate, ensuring maximum print adhesion and durability. Gilbert knew this was key for food and beverage labels, a market that PRX Print spe- cializes in. Its hybrid flexo print station can be used for embellishments such as cold foil, spot colours, varnishes and laminations. Finally, the flexibility of the Digital One to print small-run, multiple-version, high-quality labels with inline die-cutting was perfectly aligned with PRX Print’s core goal to pene- trate that market successfully. PRX Print employees (from left) include Kristina Sauve, office and production manager; Debbie Gilbert, president; and Andrew Stewart, press operator. Bottom line: The company was already experiencing aggressive growth in sales and profits prior to acquiring its Digital One, growing by over 45% in 2016 and over 25% in 2017. But in 2018, Gilbert projects business will grow by more than 50% over 2017. PRINTPRO DIGITAL & OFFSET PRINTING INSTALLS XEROX IRIDESSE PrintPro Digital & Offset Printing in Winnipeg has acquired the first Xerox Iridesse production press in Canada to help continue the double-digit annual revenue growth it’s maintained since 2012, and enter the packaging printing market. Founded in 1989, PrintPro is a family owned commercial printing com- pany that provides high-quality, value-added digital printing, variable printing, data integration, direct mailing services and on-demand print. PrintPro also plans to take advantage of the press’s range of metallic hues when entering the packaging print market, while building a higher profile in Winnipeg and its neighbouring provinces. The Xerox Iridesse is equipped with six toner stations, making it the only digital press that can print metallic gold or silver dry ink, CMYK and clear dry ink, in a single pass. PrintPro plans to use it as its go-to digital colour press to serve its customers in the manufacturing, mining, healthcare and automotive industries – as well as academic institutions, not-for-profits and associations. The shop produces a wide range of applications including marketing collat- eral, flyers, postcards, tags, direct mail, catalogues, guides, manuals and annual reports. PrintPro’s entry into the packaging market in the coming months is directly related to Iridesse’s ability to print on thicker stock, along with the metallic and clear dry ink capabilities that will give them an added advantage in this segment, said the company. To market the new capabilities, PrintPro has developed sample packages showcasing the range of embellishments that the Xerox Iridesse can produce – and has plans for a fall open house. The executive team at PrintPro, from left are: Gaurav Bhatt, sales; Bhadresh Bhatt, CEO and founder; and Nirav Bhatt, production. @graphicarts GRAPHIC ARTS MAGAZINE | October 2018 | 11