Spanish label converter expands hybrid printing capacity to improve efficiency, support shorter print runs and meet growing demand for high-quality labels.
Spanish label converter Mirmar S.A. has strengthened its digital label production capabilities by installing a second Mark Andy Digital Series HD (DSHD) hybrid press, following the success of its first installation in 2023.
Based in Valencia, the family-owned company has been a long-time Mark Andy customer and operates six Performance Series flexographic presses alongside its hybrid technology. The additional DSHD press is designed to provide greater flexibility for short- and medium-run label production while releasing flexographic capacity for longer production jobs.
According to Mirmar CEO Jaime Mir Pastor, the increasing number of SKUs and declining run lengths prompted the company to invest further in hybrid printing technology. The single-pass production workflow offered by the Digital Series HD was selected over standalone digital printing with offline converting because it integrates seamlessly with the company’s existing flexographic operations.
The new 430 mm Digital Series HD is equipped with a seven-colour UV inkjet engine (CMYK plus orange, violet and white), four flexographic stations, web turn bars and a web translator for peel-and-reseal label applications. It delivers print resolutions of up to 1200 dpi at production speeds of 73 metres per minute, supporting a wide variety of premium label applications.
Since the installation of the first DSHD press, hybrid production has expanded significantly. Mirmar reports that hybrid technology now processes approximately 50% of its jobs, while representing less than 20% of total production volume, allowing conventional flexographic presses to focus on longer production runs.
The company has also enhanced its prepress operations by bringing the function in-house to maximize hybrid press performance. Mark Andy provided installation, operator training and technical support, enabling both hybrid presses to enter commercial production within a week of installation.
Mirmar serves customers across the food, home care and cosmetics sectors and has seen growing demand from home care brands requiring multiple SKUs and cosmetics manufacturers seeking high-opacity white and premium print quality. Looking ahead, the company plans to invest in linerless label production and additional automation to further improve efficiency and address industry-wide labour shortages.
source :Mark Andy