DGpM shows Thallo prototype

Thallo was first announced last year, designed by DGpM, a sister company of DG press ServiceS and daughter of DG press Holdings, to maximize sleeve technology in the package printing market.

Sleeve technology in offset allows printers to work with variable sizes, and allows sizes to be easily changed without having to completely change the unit or cassette, and is a recognized way of cost-effectively printing different repeat lengths.

The development of the Thallo includes various innovations to address the challenges and limitations that it is said have held back mainstream use of web offset by package printers.

A printing deck was displayed at Labelexpo Europe 2013, while two production site machines have already been sold and are in the process of being constructed – 5-color and 7-color units – and these will be delivered to offset customers in The Netherlands and Belgium during the middle of next year. 

By the end of 2015, with feedback from commercial operation from these first two production machine sites, series production of the Thallo will begin with a view to a global launch at drupa 2016 in Düsseldorf, Germany.

DGpM co-owner Peter Kloppers said: ‘Thallo, which means “goddess of youth”, is our answer to all the questions posed by all of what we call Generation 1 variable size web offset press technology, and will enable package printers to benefit from a process that has now be honed for high productivity in the flexible packaging market.

‘Offset has numerous advantages over flexo and gravure, including cheaper plates, a total lack of solvents, which along with UV or EB curing makes it food-safe, the capability of printing on a diverse range of substrates with the highest quality, and the ability to be "fast-on-press".’

Kloppers added: ‘Ink migration is a hot topic, especially in the rapidly growing food industry, and with runs lengths shortening and customers requiring just-in-time delivery, offset has the fast response times to meet deadlines.  It’s also sustainable and adaptable to meet the demands of new substrates, especially flexible ones.’

For converters interested in Thallo who did not attend the Open House at the former Drent factory in Eerbeek, DG press has offered an invitation to visit the demonstration facility and see the prototype in action on a one-to-one basis.

Read an exclusive report on the Thallo Open House, and the people behind the press' development, here