Soma CI demonstrates short run capability

Soma’s Flexo Challenges conference brought together label and flexible packaging converters from across Europe to see demonstrations of the Optima 820 mid-web CI press and to hear about the latest developments in fixed palette flexo printing.

Up to now most label converters have known Soma for its slitter rewinders. Now the company is to bring its Optima Central Impression press to Labelexpo Europe where it will produce short-to-medium runs of label and packaging films.

The Optima press is built in a mid-web format, defined by Soma as 620-820mm – ‘a niche but growing market,’ according to commercial director Pavla Kusa (who is also the daughter of the company founder). ‘We see the Optima as a complementary press for wide web printers, allowing them to handle short runs. And it extends the portfolio for label printers who can offer their customers shrink and wraparound labels and also flexible packaging.’

Other types of labels well suited to the press include IML and even thinner gauge pressure-sensitive labels with off-line finishing. ‘These units would include die-cutting, embossing and other value added processes, similar to digital label finishing systems produced by companies like ABG,’ said Kusa.

Kusa says the Optima press can match in-line machines for combination printing by using a fixed color palette and allocating additional print stations to added value whites, metallics and specialist coatings. This configuration was demonstrated during the open house to print a pack using CMYK on four satellite stations, then two whites and a metallic to produce 150 metallic shades.