Growth through innovation Anthony R. White, NarroWebTech 4-2009, p. 60. About 13 years ago, a small group of enthusiastic, hard working and knowledgeable people got together and started a label press manufacturing company in the East of the Netherlands. The company, MPS has grown in size and stature ever since. How did they achieve their remarkable success in such a relatively short period of time? One word »innovation«, and by listening and reacting to customers’ requirements. They have a full order book, an expanding and modern production facility and worldwide recognition. The company slogan is »Technology with respect«. What does that mean? Respect for customers? Respect for the technology of printing? Respect for their employees? Recently I had the opportunity of visiting MPS in Didam/NL to see their new production facilities and meet with Eric Hoendervangers, Co-owner and Managing Director. This article outlines the strong position that they find themselves in despite the economic conditions. It was very noticeable that MPS had a larger stand than usual at the 200 Labelexpo. When I discussed this with Eric Hoendervangers, he told me that the stand was some 200 sqm larger than 2007. This was needed to show the three new presses and five new innovative features of the new presses. An added bonus was the 11 presses that were sold during the exhibition. During my visit the word »Innovation« cropped up continually. Asked if MPS were considering the same area for the 2011 exhibition, the answer was yes. One of the questions asked during my visit related to the current status of the company given the current economic situation. The answer was honest: »Being a professional company we had to let 15 people go leaving us with a workforce of 75« commented Eric. »On the positive side we have also had some very encouraging results in the pas few months. August is traditionally our ›quiet‹ month. This year we actually sold eight presses during August!« I had the opportunity to look around the expanded production area during the visit. There was activity everywhere. I discovered that the current capacity is 12 presses and I counted at least ten at various stages in production some with a significant number of print stations. I was also told that an impressive 40% of orders come from repeat business. Whilst I was being shown round I couldn’t help but overhear that some serious enquiries were being received from some really big name companies. I had noticed that one slogan kept repeating itself everywhere I went in the factory and offices »Technology with respect«. When I asked exactly what this means the answer from Eric Hoendervangers was simple »We respect our existing and potential customers, we listen to their needs and respond quickly. We apply innovative solutions to our presses which we have been developing for the past two years. These innovations are designed to help the converter get a reasonably fast return on investment by saving time and wastage. For this reason we have added to our MPS logo the sentence ›Printers First!‹« In fact I discovered that some really serious effort has gone into developing new ideas for the past two years and is continuing with some very encouraging products for the future. I had the opportunity to see for myself the application of the innovations shown at Labelexpo. Some of the innovations which I had the opportunity to discuss in some detail with Eric included iControl, E-print, EC-shortweb, Lean Inking and Auto Register. A short description of each innovation gives a basic outline of each. Let us deal with iControl first. This is an unique method of giving the operator unprecedented control over almost every function on the press. A clear touch screen shows the machine mode, not only that but it indicates and allows the operator to adjust print pressures, register etc. at every unit. The click dial means that it is possible to quantify the adjustments accurately. Lean Inking is about flexibility. Basically it is a single chamber ink system which holds 260 ml of ink at any one time which gives up to 85% reduction in waste. Two systems can be supplied manual and automatic which means the operator can have more or less control as he or she wishes. The system allows the automatic control of ink levels ensuring easier ink management. The system incorporates an easy removable anilox roller which makes changeovers relatively quick and guarantees no ink misting. The systems can be used with any type of ink. Auto Register is based on MPSensor technology and can be either mark to mark of mark to cylinder with the registration integrated into the servo technology. On the press there are separate we transport and printing technologies included based on a free running impression cylinder rubber covered. This system eliminated gear-marking on the final print. Plate control uses only three different air mandrel sizes to cover the range of repeat lengths making significant savings in sleeve costs. The Ultra-flex rail system allows converting units to be »inserted« into certain positions on the press giving it much more versatility. Integrated finishing allows the printer to cover a range of finishing options to cover several en-use applications. There is a whole raft of heat management profiles which can be fitted according to individual needs of the customer. This article shows how MPS is looking to a very bright future with many dynamic ideas and developments still on the horizon. »Technology with respect« certainly seems to pay off.