Labelexpo Americas 2014: pulse of development for labels & printed packaging

Starting on the digital front, HP is using the show as a platform to show its HP Indigo 20000 press in the US, and to launch the successor press to the established WS6600, the WS6800. The key advance for the WS6800, apart from a larger print frame, is an in-line spectrophotometer which opens up new possibilities in automated color matching and closed loop color control.

And Mark Andy shows for the first time the capabilities of its Digital Series hybrid flexo/digital press based around the Performance press frame. Other firsts in the North American market include the Graphium hybrid flexo/inkjet press; Epson’s first single pass LED-UV inkjet press, the SurePress L-6034VW; EFI Jetrion’s new LED-curing inkjet press, the 4950LX LED ; Screen’s Truepress Jet L350UV; Durst showing its established Tau330 with in-line laser die cutting; and much more.

There will also be the latest edition of the now established Inkjet Trail, with presses from multiple suppliers printing the same label designs on the same substrates to show what this technology is now capable of.

New at this year’s show is the Smart Mart where visitors can see host of cutting-edge smart and interactive label technologies from NFC/RFID to temperature indicators, QR authentication systems and much more.

There are also new launches in the conventional space including Omet’s new ‘entry level’ XFlex X4 in a 17in (440mm) format and Nilpeter’s first showing of its FP4 in-line flatbed foil/embosser as part of a fully loaded FA-4* press line.

We also see a much bigger commitment to package printing at this show. There will be a dedicated pack print workshop featuring a Xeikon press producing short run cartons with variable print, digital varnish and in-line converting; and a Delta Industrial Mod-Tech converting and packaging line producing fully finished and packed medical parts.

For end users, the show brings the Craft Beverage Day.

Ensure you make plans for the whole show. You can find our show preview Chicago: Converter's Compass in the latest edition of L&L.

We look forward to seeing you there.