Press release submitted on behalf of Mark Andy

Mark Andy, a leading provider of label and print solutions, is pleased to announce key additions to its sales leadership team as part of the company’s commitment to enhance customer satisfaction and drive mutual growth. Mark Andy welcomes Craig Black as Senior Vice President of Domestic OEM Sales and Steve Welkley as Regional Vice President OEM Sales, both bringing decades of experience in sales, leadership, and customer-focused solutions to the organization.
Craig Black, a seasoned executive with expertise in sales strategy, account management, and team development, joins Mark Andy from Baldwin Technology Co., where he served as Vice President of Sales, Americas. Prior to that, Black was Director, National Accounts for Eaton Corporation. With a proven track record of integrating sales teams and driving customer value, he will lead Mark Andy’s efforts to deliver innovative solutions tailored to customer needs.
Steve Welkley brings more than 20 years of experience in consultative sales and business development, most recently serving as Director of National Sales at Kyocera Document Solutions. Welkley has successfully built and led high-performing sales teams focused on aligning customer solutions with business goals.

“Craig’s leadership and expertise will enhance our ability to meet evolving customer demands while driving growth and innovation across our product portfolio,” said Mark Andy CEO Duane Pekar, “and Steve’s extensive experience in building relationships and delivering tailored solutions will strengthen our ability to serve customers at a regional level.”

These appointments are part of Mark Andy’s broader efforts to evolve to meet the dynamics of industry consolidation and to reinvigorate the company’s commitment to all domestic converters large and small. The company aims to provide more personalized service and a single point of contact through strategic account management and a consultative selling model that focuses on delivering tailored ROI-driven solutions. Pekar added, “These changes to our domestic sales organization reflect Mark Andy’s long-term commitment to our customers. By realigning our approach, we intend to better serve and help our customers grow because their growth is our growth.”

Caption: Craig Black, Senior Vice President of Domestic OEM Sales

Caption: Steve Welkley, Regional Vice President OEM Sales

About Mark Andy Inc.
Mark Andy is a pioneer of the graphic arts and printing industry. As the world’s leading manufacturer of narrow- and mid-web printing and finishing equipment, it supplies leading global brands, including Mark Andy and Presstek printing presses, Rotoflex finishing solutions, as well as a complete line of Mark Andy Print Products consumables and pressroom supplies. All products are backed by the largest customer support team in the industry, minimizing downtime and helping customers be profitable, efficient and at the forefront of innovation. Mark Andy does what it takes to understand each customer’s unique business, the challenges they face and the pressures they feel. It strives to provide products and services that help customers solve their problems and solutions that go a step further, allowing them to excel in their day-to-day operations, ultimately increasing productivity and reaching their full potential. For more information, visit www.markandy.com.

Press release submitted on behalf of honle group

The Hönle Business Unit Curing, Gilching, Germany, will showcase LED-UV and UV curing systems, as well as IR/hot air dryers for digital printing at the Hunkeler Innovationdays 2025. The drying specialists offer tailor-made solutions for every printing application, ensuring process reliability and top-notch product quality.

For decades, the Hönle Business Unit Curing has been a trusted partner of the printing industry, with their customized curing and drying systems used worldwide in a wide variety of printing machines. At the Hunkeler Innovationdays, the focus of their exhibition will be on combined IR/hot air modules designed for drying water-based inkjet inks. The highlight of these systems: the hot air not only enhances the drying process through powerful removal of moisture but also cools the IR lamp, thus significantly extending its lifespan. Both drying components can be controlled independently.

Developing this IR/hot air module the developers also prioritized user-friendliness: Thanks to its space-saving design, the module can be easily integrated into printing machines. Moreover, the IR/hot air dryer can be quickly and easily removed from the machine due to its unique cassette technology – for instance, for the rare lamp replacement or to make room for an optional UV module, depending on the application’s requirements.

Hönle will also present a selection of its pioneering LED-UV curing devices for digital printing.

A world first is the new UV Scan MACS, featuring patented measurement technology for the simple and precise determination of UV dosage. The system consists of the reliable, industrial grade macsReader and the calibratable macsStrips, providing accurate measurement results.

Learn more and visit the Hönle Business Unit Curing at the Hunkeler Innovationdays in Hall 2, Booth 611.

With Hönle BU Curing’s IR/hot air cassette, water-based inkjet inks can be reliably dried.

Highly precise, easy to handle – and a world first: the UV dosage measurement device UV Scan MACS with patented measurement technology.

About Hönle Group:
Dr. Hönle AG is the parent company of the Hönle Group, based in Gilching / Munich. The publicly listed UV specialist is one of the world’s leading suppliers of industrial UV technology. The company develops, manufactures, and markets UV/LED-UV systems and equipment, UV lamps, and UV measuring technology worldwide. The business is divided into three units:

The Business Unit Curing comprises experts in curing and drying solutions for printing and coating applications, as well as for exposure and solar simulation. Hönle develops, produces, and distributes UV/LED-UV devices and systems for coatings and digital printing, along with the corresponding measuring technology. Additionally, the product range of the UV expert includes devices and systems for solar simulation and professional lighting, for example in the automotive industry.
The division Eltosch Grafix represents UV/LED-UV curing devices and IR/hot air dryers for sheetfed printing applications, as well as peripheral equipment for the printing industry.
PrintConcept is the expert for UV devices and UV/inert UV systems for web printing.

The Business Unit Disinfection consists of disinfection experts such as uv-technik Speziallampen (UV/IR lamp manufacturing, ballasts, sensors), Sterilsystems (UVC devices for disinfection and sterilization of air, water, and surfaces), Hönle (UVC surface disinfection), and Sterixene (pulsed-light xenon systems, bioindicators, rapid analysis in microbiological laboratories).
Raesch Quartz (Malta) is the expert in glass and lamp manufacturing, specializing in custom quartz glass components.

The Business Unit Adhesive Systems units experts for bonding and sealing applications: Panacol (industrial adhesives and sealants), Eleco (industrial adhesives and dispensing systems), and Hönle (UV and LED-UV curing systems). Their products are used in manufacturing processes for emerging markets such as electronics, microelectronics, precision mechanics, optics, automotive (including e-mobility), aviation, and medical technology.

In addition to international subsidiaries in China, Korea, France, Great Britain, Austria, Malta, and the USA, as well as a sales office in Italy, the group has a dense network of distribution partners worldwide.

For more information, visit www.hoenle.de.

Press release submitted on behalf of Great Western Foils.

Great Western Foils (GWF), Sparks, Nevada, has announced its new black holographic hot stamping foils. Customers can unveil a new level of brilliance with GWF’s stunning black holographic hot stamping foils. With a black base that offers a timeless elegance which then transforms into an iridescent, multi-colored refraction, these foils add an eye-catching, dynamic effect to any project.

Whether you’re looking to elevate your packaging, add a bold statement to branding, or create limited edition designs, GFW’s black holographic foils are designed to help you make a lasting impression.

GFW is currently stocking the following patterns:
HU 987,  Circles
HU 988,  Stars
HU 989,  Sunburst

GFW will be adding more of these black holographics, so please check back periodically to see what has been added.
For more information, visit www.gwfoils.com.

Premium Label & Packaging Solutions (PLPS) Deer Park, New York, announced today that it won Silver at the 44th Annual Package of the Year Awards in the Health & Beauty / Personal Care category. The winning package was produced with longtime client Devoted Creations for its Vault Tanning Bronzer.

The packaging design was a true partnership between Devoted Creations and PLPS. The design team at Devoted Creations drew inspiration from the product’s name and its benefits, aiming “to unlock the darkest color possible.” This concept was brought to life by mimicking an actual bank vault, featuring silver tones and 3-D embellishments replicating a door and lock.

PLPS produced a multi-dimensional silver shrink sleeve that complemented the uniquely shaped container and closure. The sleeve exemplifies 2024’s “pattern” packaging trend by showcasing a herringbone and repeat pyramid pattern that tricks the eye into perceiving texture where none exists. This effect was achieved by strategically applying silver cold foil alongside black, white, and silver inks.
Renowned for its expertise in specialty finishes and shrink sleeves, PLPS has received numerous industry awards. This latest accolade further solidifies their status as an industry leader

Leslie Gurland, VP of Sales and Marketing at PLPS, expressed the company’s excitement, stating, “The designers at Devoted Creations are some of the best we’ve had the pleasure of working with. We love being challenged by their out-of-the-box, intricate label and shrink sleeve designs, and we have won numerous industry awards for our work with them.”

Premium Label & Packaging Solutions was formed in 2021 to bring together a group of award-winning converters with decades of experience in the Pharmaceutical, Nutraceutical, Beauty, Food & Beverage, and Household Product industries. Forming one company with redundant capabilities, a large fleet of state-of-the-art equipment, and market proficiency offers the personal touch of a small business with the infrastructure of a large organization and a unique quick-turn model that puts exceptional quality, speed, and customer service first. They supply best-in-class pressure sensitive labels, shrink sleeves, extended content labels, and flexible packaging to companies nationwide. For more information, visit www.premiumlabelandpackaging.com.

About Devoted Creations
Founded in 2004, Devoted Creations has provided the highest quality sun care products to professional salons worldwide. With over 15 diverse product lines distributed in over 70 countries, their products are designed and formulated to meet the needs of all salon clientele. Recognized as one of the fastest growing and most renowned names in the sun care industry.

About New Jersey Packaging Executives Club (NJPEC)
Founded in 1962, the NJPEC is a non-profit organization of packaging professionals from all disciplines in the industry. The organization provides valuable networking, learning, and business-building opportunities to those working in all areas of the packaging industry.

Press release submitted on behalf of Mark Andy

The first Mark Andy hybrid started operation at MD Labels, Kalisz, Poland, in 2018 and gave the company an immediate growth in production capability. It was joined in 2022 by the second hybrid, this time a Digital Series HD. The third press, also a Digital Series HD, started production this year. All three use a combination of flexo and UV inkjet technology.

According to MD Labels’ co-owner Marcin Jasinski: “These presses are the ideal response to market needs that are constantly changing. Today’s consumers expect more high-quality personalized products at affordable prices. The market also demands shorter print runs or different versions of the same product and label. With Mark Andy presses we have the right technology to meet these challenges.”

The innovative technology of the Mark Andy presses has proved an important stimulus for market growth with MD Labels securing both new orders and new customers. In addition, they have also allowed the company to grow its workforce and expand its total production capacity. This means that its customers now enjoy a top-class production portfolio that allows their products to stand out on the shelf.

Mr Jasinski added: “The Mark Andy Digital Series offers multicolor printing, including white, as well as VDP and versioning. This produces premium labels that can be highly embellished, metalized, transparent, or printed on decorative paper – and from one copy to short- and mid-runs.” Commenting for Mark Andy, Sales Manager for Europe Lukasz Chruslinski added: “Digital technology in label production brings huge opportunities and capacity for the food and other industries, especially with changing market conditions and a developing business environment.”

So comprehensive is MD Labels’ new capability that Diet-Food, the Polish manufacturer of health and organic food, has established a strategic partnership with the company that covers the production of all its labels. Diet-Food was established in 2013, and its current portfolio covers more than 300 different products, nearly 90% of which are organic. Its products use the highest quality raw materials from various countries, such as Brazil, Peru, Romania and China.

“Among other things, these exceptional ingredients give our products their unforgettable taste and unique character,” said Michal Szafarz, co-owner of Diet-Food. “We deliver them to the Polish domestic market as well as to many countries around the world, even exotic ones like Dubai! As a result, we make healthy food available to many people on a global scale.”

Diet-Food’s cooperation with MD Labels dates back many years, with its entire label requirement now supplied by the Kalisz-based company. “It’s a really big challenge,” said Marcin Jasinski. “We always do our best to make our customers’ products distinguishable on the shelf – after all, it’s consumer choice that impacts our customer’s success in the shop. So, our labels must be of the highest quality while meeting the very different needs of brand owners. We can only achieve this because of the investment we have made in Mark Andy hybrid presses.”

Michal Szafarz confirmed: “Having MD Labels as a business partner allows us to offer a high-quality and eye-catching product. In our industry, short delivery times are also very important, so packaging must be manufactured and labeled very quickly. Our co-operation with MD Labels, and the hybrid presses they use, guarantees fast delivery of ready-to-go labels. What’s also important and gives us added flexibility and comfort is that we can order various types of print runs, depending on a final product. Our dynamic sales and market growth is all thanks to MD Labels and their Mark Andy presses.”

As Lukasz Chruslinski concluded: “What’s most important from our point of view is that MD Labels bases its production purely on Mark Andy hybrid technology. The growth of both companies is proof that our technology can be at the core of our customers’ and their customers’ development and successes – after all, their growth is our growth!”

About Mark Andy Inc.

Mark Andy is a pioneer of the graphic arts and printing industry. As the world’s leading manufacturer of narrow- and mid-web printing and finishing equipment, it supplies leading global brands, including Mark Andy and Presstek printing presses, Rotoflex finishing solutions, as well as a complete line of Mark Andy Print Products consumables and pressroom supplies. All products are backed by the largest customer support team in the industry, minimizing downtime and helping customers be profitable, efficient and at the forefront of innovation. Mark Andy does what it takes to understand each customer’s unique business, the challenges they face and the pressures they feel. It strives to provide products and services that help customers solve their problems and solutions that go a step further, allowing them to excel in their day-to-day operations, ultimately increasing productivity and reaching their full potential. For more information, visit www.markandy.com.

Press release submitted on behalf of MEYERS

Meyers, Minneapolis, Minnesota, a leader in sustainable packaging solutions, proudly announces the successful completion of its first year achieving net zero emissions for operational carbon output. This milestone underscores Meyers’ commitment to sustainability, setting a benchmark for the packaging industry and delivering value to environmentally conscious clients.

Achieving net zero emissions reflects Meyers’ unwavering dedication to creating eco-friendly packaging solutions for brands in the beauty, wellness, retail, and food & beverage industries. Through initiatives such as reducing energy consumption, transitioning to renewable energy sources, and incorporating sustainable materials, Meyers continues to minimize its environmental footprint.

“Our mission at Meyers extends beyond creating exceptional products— we aim to protect the planet and support a sustainable future,” said Christopher Dillon, CEO of Meyers. “Achieving net zero in our operations is a significant milestone, and we are committed to building on this progress as we move forward.”

Meyers’ sustainability efforts include a Phase 1 solar array, featuring 128 roof-mounted panels that generate approximately 58,000 kWh of clean energy annually, reducing CO2 emissions by nearly 90,000 pounds each year. The company’s zero waste-to-landfill status demonstrates its innovative approach to waste management, combining recycling and waste-to-energy initiatives. In 2023, these initiatives diverted 3,095 cubic yards of waste from landfills, preventing over 3,000 tons of CO2 emissions, conserving 5.7 million gallons of water, and saving nearly 14,000 trees.

To further support its clients’ sustainability goals, Meyers offers a diverse range of eco-friendly packaging materials, including FSC- and SFI-certified options, recycled content, unbleached paper, and labels made from renewable sources. These efforts not only help brands reduce their environmental impact but also contribute to a broader circular economy.

“As a sustainability leader, we’re proud to partner with some of the world’s most recognized brands to drive meaningful progress toward sustainability,” Dillon added. “By achieving carbon neutrality in our operations, we’re paving the way for a greener, more sustainable future.”

Meyers has been recognized for its sustainability leadership and people-first approach. The company achieved 100% carbon-free electricity across its operations by the end of 2021 and remains on track to fulfill its broader carbon neutrality goals

For more information about Meyers and its commitment to sustainability, visit Meyers.com

ABOUT MEYERS: 

Meyers is committed to creating a sustainable future for people, products, and the planet by producing environmentally friendly packaging and labels. Since its founding as a small print shop in 1949, Meyers has evolved into a globally respected partner to leading and emerging brands across the United States. 

Specializing in the Food and Beverage, Health, Beauty and Cosmetics industries, Meyers collaborates with renowned companies such as Hormel, Frito-Lay, Estée Lauder, Ulta Beauty, Saucony, and Microsoft. 

For more information, visit Meyers.com.