A few weeks ago we looked at the gap between the desire for brand owners to take advantage of the ‘potential’ offered by digital label print production, and the current level of adoption of digital print production compared with flexo and offset solutions. The market is always trying to reach the elusive Quality, Productivity and Cost (QPC) balance. Of course, there really isn’t a balance or a solution that addresses all needs, since brand owner requirements vary. Some who have higher margin opportunities are willing to spend more than others who just need high-volume low-cost labels. Ultimately brand owners want to differentiate their products, target specific market segments, and get products to the market quickly without any compromise in quality.

Some of that balance is being achieved through the use of hybrid presses, or presses that incorporate a variety of print production and finishing functions. One of the early entrants into the hybrid space was Gallus Holding, founded in 1923 in St. Gallen, Switzerland, now a member of the Heidelberg Group. Gallus has a broad product line of label print production equipment, designed with the concept of configuring the press as needed, and changing that configuration as needed with swappable modules. These modules include flexo, screen, and even offset printing, in addition to finishing and embellishment. Each of the modules was designed for quick job changeover and fast makeready. In 2016, Gallus introduced the Gallus Labelfire 340, an 8-color production UV inkjet printing module that can be configured as a part of a total hybrid printing and finishing system to address shorter run requirements and expand the opportunities for brand owners to differentiate their products and markets.

Mark Andy is another manufacturer of hybrid label printing solutions. Founded in 1946 in Kirkwood Missouri (now located in Chesterfield Missouri), Mark Andy, too, has been manufacturing hybrid printing solutions primarily focused on label production. Its Performance Series flexo presses are designed for quick makereadies and change-overs using a modular approach, allowing for the quality of flexo print with the potential for shorter runs. Mark Andy designed the press transport to support a wide variety of finishing and embellishment options, including an option for a screen printing station. In 2014, the company introduced a digital UV inkjet press component to its product line, providing even more label production flexibility supporting shorter runs with a wide range of solutions that can further address the QPC balance and growing needs of brand owners.