Digital Printing
JR Labels installs first Mark Andy Digital Pro MAX in Ireland
Having invested in Ireland’s first Mark Andy Digital One toner/flexo hybrid press in 2017, Irish trade house JR Labels has recently taken delivery of Mark Andy’s latest version, the Digital Pro MAX to cope with its growing demand for short run work.
Three generations of the Carson family, Andrew, Ron, and Robbie E
stablished by Ron Carson in 1978, and now under third generation family management with grandson Robbie at the helm, who succeeded his father
Andrew, JR Labels is a fi ne example of how you don’t need to grow big to be successful. A strategy of careful and considered investment over the years, largely with Mark Andy technology, has seen the business keep pace with changes in demand and market trends, none more so than its latest investment in more digital print capability.
Conscious that as a trade printer security and
confi dentiality are paramount, JR Labels prides itself on hitting quality and delivery deadlines fi rst time, every time. Having long depended upon the reliable performance of their fl exo presses, JR Labels saw Mark Andy as the logical choice to understand the needs of a label printer looking to ‘go digital’. The resulting installation of a Digital One press in 2017 was key to building in-house capability as run lengths were declining. Nine years on, and the Digital One is still in daily production and delivering high- quality commercial work.
According to Robbie Carson: “Digital One showed us what a hybrid could do in one pass. In addition to CMYK it has a fl exo unit to print
another colour or add varnish or cold foil and then die cut before delivery – so effi cient!” As demand for digital work grew JR Labels became aware of the need for higher speeds and even greater production capability. “We knew toner/ fl exo hybrid was the right way to go, so turned to Mark Andy for advice,” he added. The result was a decision to invest in the press manufacturer’s latest version, known as the Digital Pro MAX. In addition to CMYK it features an innovative white dry-toner and is capable of print speeds up to 39m/min across a variety of stocks from paper to BOPP, PET, PP, vinyl and foil on web widths from 254 to 330mm.
In addition, the DPro MAX comes with two flexo stations for print, lamination or cold foil, and varnish, and a semi-rotary die station that Robbie Carson describes as: “brilliant, because it allows us to run 21” repeat jobs with ease.” Usefully, it also has a bypass function that allows JR Labels to run the line with or without the digital engine, which provides additional production flexibility. General manager David Duffy takes up the story: “Like the Digital One, the new DPro MAX is quick to make ready – it’s very much a label printer’s machine, so if you’re used to narrow web flexo it’s an easy crossover. It’s also a perfect match for the work we do on our flexo presses – in fact I’d say the colour management on the DPro MAX is fantastic.” The company’s years of experience with the Digital One has given it good knowledge of the different workflow patterns between flexo and digital production, and with both print capabilities in-house, it can select whichever press is most suitable for each new job. This is further facilitated by the interchangeable tooling with its other Mark Andy presses.
Antony Cotton with Robbie Carson and the new Mark Andy Digital Pro MAX
Robbie Carson, Antony Cotton and David Duff y at JT Labels HQ in Clondalkin
18
April 2026
www.convertermag.com
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