In the manufacturing industry, one of the greatest gifts one generation can leave to the next is a successful company. At Impression Label, that legacy is not only a story of business continuity, it’s also one of innovation, grit, and family. Founded in 1986 in Colorado and purchased by Luly Solis and Spencer Brown in 2008, this woman-founded, 100% Hispanic-owned company has grown from a single press in a garage to a formidable force in the US label industry.

Today, Impression Label is led by Luly and Spencer’s sons Christian and Marco De La Vega, who are building on their mother’s vision by blending deep technical expertise with relentless adaptability. As Christian puts it, “Alone, we’re beatable. But together, we’re unstoppable.”

Most recently, the duo invested in a Mark Andy Digital Series iQ (DSiQ), the company’s first inkjet-powered hybrid press, to alleviate mounting pressure on their flexo assets and meet explosive customer demand for shorter lead times and mid-volume production.

Impression Label currently operates five traditional flexo presses ranging from seven to 17 inches wide, along with two Mark Andy Digital Pro toner-based digital assets. In recent years, the company has seen a sharp increase in order volume and complexity, driven by both existing customer growth and new business wins.

“We’re buried,” says Marco. “This new Mark Andy press will give us the ability to get back to our roots: fastest turnarounds, highest quality, and best pricing. It will also open up capacity on our flexo assets, which are currently running massive volumes.”

The company’s largest account was a significant catalyst behind the DSiQ investment, with unpredictable ordering patterns that range from 1,600 labels to 1.6 million, all for the same product. Marco explains, “I received an email from them recently asking for a quarter of a million labels in two weeks’ time. They ordered 20 rolls only a month ago, it’s just the nature of their business and their demand.”

A Platform Purpose‑Built for the Mid‑Volume Market

Impression Label has strategically aligned its production capabilities with specific run sizes. Short‑run work is managed on the company’s two Mark Andy Digital Pro toner‑based systems, while long‑run jobs move through its fleet of flexographic presses. The new Digital Series iQ now fills a vital gap in between, handling the 10,000‑ to 100,000‑label volume range with precision and speed.

Christian De La Vega describes the addition as follows. “This is a natural evolution of how we serve our customers. The DSiQ delivers the one‑pass efficiency, white‑ink capability, and hybrid flexibility we need to support higher throughput while still being able to maintain rapid turnaround times. By taking mid‑range work off of our flexo assets, the new press frees up both capacity and personnel for complex, high‑volume production.”

The configuration of the new press – four flexo stations (two before and two after the inkjet engine), lamination, turn bars, and full rotary die cutting – gives the company extensive flexibility. Marco De La Vega explains, “This new press enables us to lay down primer, add a spot color like a custom metallic, print opaque white and CMYK digitally, and then finish entirely inline. The result is a more streamlined, end‑to‑end process that reduces setup times and waste.”

Impression Label’s relationship with Mark Andy dates back to 2008, when the family acquired the company and installed its first 2200 press. Over the years, the De La Vega brothers have standardized their operation around Mark Andy technology, investing in Performance Series P3 and P7 flexo platforms to expand both efficiency and capability.

Marco believes that choosing Mark Andy has been integral to their success: “We’ve had other brands in the past, but Mark Andy has always delivered the reliability and partnership we count on.” Impression Label’s original 7‑inch 2200 remains in daily use, a testament to its enduring performance. Marco adds, “Despite our attempts to retire it, the 2200 consistently fills up with new work, proof that some machines just refuse to quit.”

Engineering a Culture of Possibility

With 33 employees and annual sales of more than $11 million, Impression Label operates with the agility of a mid‑sized company and the technical rigor of an engineering firm. The business is recognized for its ability to execute highly complex jobs, such as 96‑page pharmaceutical booklets, unsupported film constructions, and intricate industrial or consumer applications.

Marco estimates that roughly 40% of their work involves challenging or unconventional formats. Rather than avoid those projects, the company embraces them as opportunities to innovate. The brothers attribute this to a collaborative, “no‑fear” culture where employees are encouraged to think critically and share ownership of outcomes.

“Our operators know we’ll be right there beside them if a job needs troubleshooting,” Christian adds. “That mindset builds confidence, and the results speak for themselves.”

The Digital Series iQ will inevitably reshape production planning at Impression Label, providing the flexibility to handle fluctuating order volumes and tighter customer timelines without straining existing resources. The De La Vega brothers view the new machine purchase as a stabilizing force: a tool that supports sustainable growth rather than reactive expansion.

The company is already planning for the next phase, exploring both the addition of a second DSiQ as well as making targeted acquisitions. “We’re not looking to exit,” they both emphasize. “We’re focused on scaling thoughtfully, growing our capabilities while staying true to our mother’s values that built this company.”