Belgium-based narrow web converter Desmedt Labels has become the first company worldwide to install a Mark Andy Digital Pro MAX hybrid press equipped with Martin Automatic non-stop unwind/splice technology.

For Henri Köhler, CEO and fourth-generation owner of the Brussels-founded company (established in 1889), the investment is less about press speed and more about operational efficiency.

“It’s not about speed, it’s about improving productivity by increasing uptime and reducing waste,” Köhler says, pushing back on the common assumption that automation’s primary benefit is higher running speeds.

Desmedt’s move reflects a long-standing focus on automated production. The converter began reshaping its investment strategy in 2013 when it replaced an older flexo press with three Mark Andy Performance Series P7 presses, each fitted with Martin Automatic MBSF non-stop unwind butt splicers. By 2024, two additional P7 lines had been added as the company leaned more heavily into highly efficient flexo production.

Although digital printing remained essential for ultra-short runs and customization, Köhler noted that manual roll changes on previous digital equipment created production interruptions — estimated at roughly five minutes per roll change, with the press stopped.

When it came time to upgrade digital capacity, Desmedt selected the Mark Andy Digital Pro MAX hybrid platform following print demonstrations, ROI analysis, and technical evaluations. The 330mm web-width DPro MAX combines a five-color CMYK+W toner-based digital engine with servo-driven flexo units and inline converting capabilities, including web cleaning, corona treatment, lamination, semi-rotary diecutting, and slitting. The modular construction allows for future expansion.

According to Timo Donati, sales manager at Mark Andy, the DPro MAX offers “low cost-to-print at an affordable price entry point,” positioning short-run digital production as an economically viable complement to flexo.

To address downtime associated with roll changes, Desmedt integrated a Martin Automatic MBSC compact unwind butt splicer. The system can handle two 4,000-meter rolls and includes Martin’s EOPP operator guidance package and laser-assisted tape alignment to reduce splice errors and prevent matrix breaks. The web storage system was calibrated specifically to match the hybrid line’s production speeds.

Köhler estimates the DPro MAX and MBSC combination delivers approximately one additional hour of production per shift. Operating three shifts per day, five days per week, the system is projected to generate roughly 750 additional production hours annually — a gain that significantly shortens ROI timelines.

Beyond reclaimed production time, Desmedt also cites reduced substrate waste as a key benefit. Non-stop splicing enables full roll utilization and simplifies the use of part rolls without stopping the press, improving material efficiency and bottom-line performance.

With 45 employees and annual sales of approximately €15 million, Desmedt continues to invest in automation as a core competitive strategy. Additional flexo installations are planned, with non-stop unwind/splicing technology expected to remain central to the company’s production model.

As the facility expands, Desmedt is positioning itself as a highly automated narrow web operation — demonstrating that in today’s label market, productivity gains stem as much from workflow intelligence and uptime optimization as from press speed alone.