UPM, Mark Andy renew Americas partnership for seventh year, targeting label stock performance

NORTH AMERICA – UPM Adhesive Materials and printing equipment manufacturer Mark Andy have renewed their partnership in the Americas for the seventh consecutive year, continuing joint work on label stocks for conventional, hybrid, and digital presses with a focus on operating performance, sustainability, and overall costs.

The collaboration sits within a broader international cooperation covering the Americas and Europe, linking UPM’s labelling materials with Mark Andy’s printing and finishing equipment.

UPM materials will continue to be used at Mark Andy demonstration sites, where products are shown during equipment trials for visitors.

What the Partnership Delivers

Kirit Naik, senior manager for new materials and technologies at UPM Adhesive Materials, explained that the company is pleased to continue its partnership with Mark Andy for a seventh year.

He noted that by combining UPM’s material innovation with Mark Andy’s printing technologies, the partners support converters with solutions that perform reliably on press while aligning with sustainability and market demands.

For label converters, the renewal means continued access to pre-validated material and press combinations, reducing the risk and time required to qualify new label stocks.

Rather than testing independently, converters can rely on UPM-Mark Andy joint testing to ensure that materials run efficiently on specific press models, reducing waste, downtime, and material consumption during setup.

A Trusted Technology Partnership

David Medlar, vice president of product line management at Mark Andy, explained that Mark Andy remains a trusted technology partner for converters across the Americas, and this renewal reflects the company’s ongoing focus on delivering practical innovation.

He noted that UPM brings strong materials expertise and an extensive portfolio to the table, and together, they help converters make confident decisions about materials and print processes.

Broader Context: UPM’s Global Expansion

The partnership renewal follows UPM Adhesive Materials’ recent announcement of plans to expand its operations in India through a new slitting and distribution location near New Delhi, due to start operations in the third quarter of 2026.

That facility will bring slitting capabilities closer to customers in Northern and Eastern India, reducing lead times and enabling faster response to regional demand.

The Bottom Line

For the printing and label converting industry, the UPM-Mark Andy partnership renewal signals continued commitment to pre-validated material-press combinations that reduce risk and accelerate time-to-market.

As converters face pressure to adopt sustainable materials while maintaining productivity, having trusted partners who have already tested material performance becomes increasingly valuable.

The seventh year of collaboration demonstrates that both companies see long-term value in joint innovation rather than isolated development.

Subscribe to our email newsletters that provide busy executives like you with the latest news insights and trends from Africa and the World. SUBSCRIBE HERE