Editor’s note - Trend spotting

Firstly, ready-to-go flexible packaging presses are now arriving from manufacturers who started life as dedicated PS press suppliers. Bobst (M6), Nilpeter (FA-6*) and Mark Andy (P7) showed dedicated flexible packaging lines including in-line lamination, and with a mix of UV, LED-UV and solvent/water-based drying and curing systems. Bobst and GEW were demonstrating in-line UV dose monitoring systems which can assure buyers that the roll is fully cured. This should help address the ban imposed by many global brands on UV for even indirect food contact applications and could open up significant new markets for label converters diversifying into filmic products.

Secondly, the use of inkjet for jetting functional fluids rather than CMYK+ inks. We saw a range of digital suppliers – including Xaar, Domino, Epson, HP Indigo and MGI – using inkjet for fully variable spot varnishing and post-print decoration, as well as digital cold foiling. Xaar even had one of their ink bars printing a first down white on a Codimag Viva340 intermittent offset press as a replacement for a screen unit.

Thirdly, we saw UV LED taking major steps to becoming a mainstream process.