Labelexpo Europe 2015 new products preview - digital presses

As part of L&L's comprehensive preview of new products to be seen at Labelexpo Europe 2015, here the magazine highlights new digital presses that will be seen at the show.

EFI is showcasing its Jetrion 4950LX LED press at Labelexpo Europe 2015

The full preview can be read in L&L issue 4, 2015, and online here, while you can read more about the following technologies on the L&L website: conventional presses; inks, curing and drying; materials, adhesives and coatings; MIS and pre-press; finishing; ancillaries; inspection; linerless and package printing.

Bitek

Launches in Europe the Any-001 and Any-002 desktop color label press operating at 9m/min with variable data software included. The Any-Cut I is a new desktop laser die-cutter with a 200 x 200m cutting area, while Any-Cut II is a compact A3 size laser die-cutter (300 x 300mm). The Any-Cut I has a maximum output speed of 18m/min and Any-Cut II 40m/min, or 5,000 labels ‘of any shape or size’ per hour, and includes a slitting unit. The Any-Cut series facilitates both cutting and marking simultaneously. 

cab Produkttechnik

cab introduces the Hermes+ XC6 2-color print and apply system dedicated to the production of GHS-compliant labels. The XC6 uses thermal transfer technology with a resolution of 300dpi and printing speed of 125mm/s on a print width of 162.6mm. A ribbon saver for colored printheads reduces the consumption of ribbon and single labels can be printed on demand. Applications options include tamped, blown or rolled on.

Colordyne

The Colordyne Technologies Production Class 3600 Sprint will be introduced: an entry level, roll-to-roll printing system capable of printing full-bleed on die-cut media (ready for label applicator equipment) or on continuous rolls of media (to complete the job off-line on existing web finishing systems). Print resolution is 1600 x 1375 DPI and speeds up to 275ft/min (84m/min). The newly released Colordyne 2600 Series Mini Press bridges the gap between Colordyne’s 1600 Series Industrial Class products and the 3600 Series Production Class family of products. The single Memjet printhead is capable of printing at up to 60ft/min (18m/min) at up to 1600 x 1600 DPI resolution. The frame can handle 24in (600mm) outside diameter rolls.

Dantex

Dantex launches the PicoColour II UV inkjet digital label press, a 210mm wide machine running up to 35m/min. The press is available with CMYK and optional white. Used in conjunction with optional Corona treatment, PicoColour II can be used for paper as well as filmic based media. Also new is the DW Mk2 flexo plate processor, available in 2735, 4835 and 4260 sizes and incorporating a new PC-based control panel. The company’s DigiWash plate processor now incorporates the AquaClean filtration system.

Domino Digital Printing Solutions

Domino launches a modular hybrid version of its established 7-color N610i digital press, integrated with an ABG Digicon 3. The new configuration incorporates flexo, varnishing and die-cutting modules in-line, and screen and foiling modules can also be added. Also on the stand are two K600i digital print modules integrated onto a GraphiMecc web inspection system to print black variable data and to demonstrate Domino’s new digital foiling unit. This uses the K600i to print a digital adhesive and create the image area prior to UV-curing and delamination. Domino’s digital cold foil unit can utilize a wide range of metallic foils including security and decorative holographic foils.

Durst

Durst launches Tau 330 E, a ‘budget priced’ single pass UV inkjet label press designed for the small and medium-sized label converters.  Tau 330 E is available in 200mm or 330mm print widths, with 4 (CMYK) or 5 colors (CMYK+W), offering a print speed of up to 48m/min (157ft/min) and the choice of two print resolutions – the standard print mode at 720 x 360 DPI and the HD print mode at 720 x 1260 DPI. Durst says newly designed high pigmented UV inkjet inks provide a noticeable cost reduction compared to existing systems. New options for the Tau 330 digital label press include an industrial scale jumbo roll unwinder/rewinder, handling rolls of 1,000mm diameter – or roll lengths up to 4,000 linear meters – for material widths up to 350mm, thus facilitating uninterrupted print production of long print runs with less roll changes. The unwinder/rewinder system features motorized loading and unloading of heavy rolls with a built-in roll lifter and is equipped with a servo drive to feed the loaded material in both directions. A Durst Tau 330 will be shown integrated with an in-line finishing system designed by German company Printum. This can incorporate a range of modules including print buffer, web turning bar, registered feeding of pre-printed web for ‘sandwich labels’, delam/relam (for printing on adhesive), multiple flexo printing stations, lamination and label dispenser, semi-rotary and rotary die-cutting with sheet delivery, slitting unit and semiautomatic turret rewinder.

Edale/FFEI

Shows a new configuration of its Graphium hybrid digital inkjet label press on the Edale stand: two pre-digital flexo stations; 6-color inkjet; two post-digital flexo stations with foiling and Edale’s new hybrid semi/full rotary die-cutting system.

EFI

EFI is showcasing its Jetrion 4950LX LED press. The ability to print directly on thin, heat-sensitive films and adhesive-backed labelstock opens the door to new options, says the company, including printing on recycled materials. EFI says LED technology consumers ‘far less energy’ than mercury-based UV curing systems. The 330mm-wide machine prints CMYK plus white and incorporates variable data capability.

ETI Converting

ETI introduces the compact (7.3m/24ft) Mini-Cohesio machine equipped with both a Jflex digital printing station and a Pellicut die-cutting unit, allowing thin liner label laminates to be constructed, printed and die-cut in a single operation. The Memjet-based print unit runs up to 70m/min (225ft/min) at 1,600 x 1,375 DPI, CMYK with provision for an optional fifth color.

Flexor

Flexor has partnered with Memjet and Superweb Digital from the US to launch a digital press with in-line die-cutting, laminating, slitting and rewinding. The Webjet 280C can be used as a standard slitter rewinder/die-cutter or as a fully integrated in-line machine for digitally printed labels. It uses Memjet’s Waterfall imaging technology. Flexor also shows a 440B slitter rewinder with integrated semi-turret running at speeds up to 300m/min.

Fujifilm

New is Fujifilm’s hybrid inkjet printer, the Acuity LED 1600, which will be demonstrated producing prototype packaging samples and short-run labels and stickers using the printer’s spot varnish capability.

Gallus

Launches the first commercial version of the DCS 340 press, which integrates an inkjet printing module into a Gallus machine platform, allowing converters to varnish, embellish and further process digitally printed labels in-line.

Graficon

Launches the Puma R digital press, operating at speeds up to 75m/min. The UV inkjet system is CMYK with optional white and varnish. The Puma R consists of an unwind with web edge control, optional web cleaning and corona, the digital printing unit, varnishing, semi-rotary die-cut, matrix stripping and slitting/rewinding. Other embellishing modules can be added. The Puma R is also available as a module for integration into reconditioned Gallus T180/T200 presses (Puma iT) and R160 /R200 (Puma iR).

Hapa

Launches the Hapa 862 UV inkjet system which can be configured as top-mounted, stand-mounted and roll-to-roll. The system is fully modular, allowing, for example, corona station, inspection system or label-reject station to be added. At the heart of the system is the new ‘redcube plus’, an integrated printing module that can go from single to four spot colors, or print CMYK. The 862 is driven by Hapa’s new multi-touch HMI, which uses HMTL5 web technology and is claimed as easy to operate as a smartphone. It integrates into complex production lines and monitors machine operation. Also on the stand is the Universal Label Printer (Universal LP), a UV DOD, W+CMYK precision-inset printer designed for printing on a variety of blank or pre-printed web-fed substrates, opaque or transparent. It handles material widths up to 340mm, and prints at speeds up to 54m/min in single or multi-color CMYK or spot and lacquer application. The tension on the integrated material rewinder is adjustable, so that printed labels leave the system production-ready. Hapa’s division Hapa Ink produces and delivers individual inks designed to the exact specifications of a particular application – all foil substrates, plastic, glass, aluminum or labeling material of any kind.

HP Indigo

Launches a new color management system based on the in-line spectrophotometer now standard on HP Indigo WS6800 series presses. Once the press has been fingerprinted and a characterization database created, the in-line spectrophotometer continuously measures output and communicates with the DFE to automatically bring the press back to its calibrated state. HP says this can be used to calibrate multiple presses on one site or across multiple sites. Also new is an ElectroInk set incorporating fade-resistant Magenta and Yellow for applications that require a high level of lightfastness in outdoor conditions; and Optimizer, an on-press algorithm which constantly optimizes the print queue and allows for seamless proofing without the need to break between jobs.

Industrial Inkjet (IIJ)

Launches a new 600dpi mono inkjet range with print widths up to 520mm, suited to printing variable text down to 2pt fonts at over 50m/min. And following the successful launch of its ‘iS’ range of color inkjet modules in 2014, IIJ will demonstrate its monochrome range. These units print variable images in black, white, varnish or spot colors, as well as security inks such as IR black or UV-fluorescent. The new ‘HS’ or high-speed models print continuously variable text images and barcodes at speeds of 160m/min.

Inkjet Solutions

New from Inkjet Solutions is the IS600HSK inkjet module that can be integrated into narrow or mid web press lines or off-line converting and inspection units. Monochrome and CMYK modules are available, with print widths of 108-556mm (monochrome) and 108-220mm (CMYK). Using aqueous inks, the IS600DSK offers a print speed of 100m/min at 600 x 600 DPI.  It is suitable for use on most packaging films requiring variable data and the inks are approved for indirect contact food applications. Based on proven Kyocera technology, the printheads use a ceramic nozzle plate, which provides increased robustness in industrial environments. ‘Print Go’ and ‘Product Detect’ features are included as standard. Included software enables variable data such as barcodes, 2D/QR codes, dates, batch and source numbering to be created and printed onto labels, packaging films and direct mail products. Customized variable data can be created from packages such as Access, Excel, dbase, xml and html files. Working in partnership with KPG Europe, InkJet Solutions is able to offer complete web handling and digital printing systems, including a wide range of options such as pre-coating, flexo varnishing, laminating and die-cutting. This choice of options enables complete packages to be tailor made to meet individual customer demands and a wide range of substrates to be printed.

INX International

Introduces the NW210 LED-UV inkjet press in-line with a Spartanics X210 laser cutting station. The press operates at speeds up to 80 fpm (24m/min) on a maximum width of 210mm. The press uses 15 Xaar 1002 print heads on five color ink channels – CMYK plus white – with three additional channels and varnish as an option. The NW210 supports media up to 5mm thick on 3in cores up to two feet in diameter. 

Konica Minolta

Launches the toner-based bizhub PRESS C71cf digital press. The press runs at speeds up to 13.5m/min with a maximum paper width of 330mm and 1200 x 1200 DPI resolution (with optical resolution of 3,600 DPI). The press is designed to fill the gap between entry-level and high-end label printing presses currently available.

Mark Andy

Launches in Europe the Digital Series hybrid flexo-digital press, consisting of a 5-color (CMYK+W) inkjet unit running at speeds up to 76m/min (200fpm) as one module on a Performance Series P7 flexo press platform.

MPS

Launches the EF flexo press with an integrated 7-color inkjet printer. The EF Neo incorporates a more efficient servo drive technology, and as a result of a partnership with GEW, will be equipped with a hybrid UV/LED drying system. Alongside the EF will be an EB UV flexo press. MPS is an official sponsor of the Label Academy and is on the Linerless Trail.

Nilpeter

Nilpeter will launch a new digital press line. The Panorama press uses UV inkjet and workflow technology developed by Screen and an integrated finishing line now being developed by Nilpeter. Screen has for some years been Nilpeter’s distributor in Japan. The print engine will be branded the Nilpeter DP-3 and uses Screen’s Truepress imaging technology to deliver a top speed of 50m/min (164 feet) at 600 DPI resolution with four grayscales. Screen’s Equios DFE (Digital Front End) provides a fully automated workflow.

Omet

Shows the JetPlus hybrid press, configured in-line on an XFlex X6 press. 

Primera Technology Europe

Introduces a new product class, the LX2000e Color Label Printer. It is Primera’s fastest pigment inkjet label printer and uses BS5609 Section 3 certified ink. The combination of pigment-based inks and various synthetic materials like Primera’s Tuffcoat Extreme Polyjet material make LX2000e labels highly water and UV resistant. This durability supports applications such as frozen or refrigerated foods, beverages, but also bath and shower products or containers and drums of chemicals. Large, separate ink cartridges for cyan, magenta, yellow and black keep cost per label low, says Primera. Print speeds are up to 152mm/sec (6in/sec) in draft mode, with 210mm (8.25in) print width. Wired Ethernet, USB 2.0 or wireless connectivity enables integration into existing production processes, allowing printing jobs to be decentralized. A ‘pizza wheel’ label cutter is built in, which cuts individual paper labels and through heavy papers and plastics. The LX2000e also features a front color LCD control panel and a viewing window for label stock levels.

Printing Innovation

Launches the iCube digital ink jet printer family, based on Memjet technology and with a 300mm/sec production speed.

QuickLabel Systems

Introduces the Kiaro! 50 compact color label printer, designed for printing small labels from 14-63mm in width and 25-400mm in length. Standing just under 10 inches tall and weighing just over 5kg, the Kiaro! 50 prints up to 150mm/sec at 1,200dpi resolution.

Screen Europe

Features Truepress Jet L350UV inkjet label press with new ‘vivid color’ extended gamut, JDF-enabled job control software and in-line/off-line finishing. The new link to Cerm (MIS) allows JDF communication to the Screen Equios digital front end to eliminate many repetitive manual tasks and automating planning and step and repeat routines. In turn information is fed back live to a digital dash board displaying production data, printing speeds and meters printed for all scheduled jobs. The new Screen JetConverter L350 modular finishing solution offers the flexibility of both in-line and off-line operation. Standard functions include varnishing, lamination, die-cutting and slitting. Screen also launches Vivid Color Mode which allows the press to further extend the color gamut that can be achieved from the existing inkset. The Equios DFE’s new text resolution function offers HD quality text sharpness by reducing ink spread across the whole job or on selected elements – even on uncoated paper substrates.

Shiki

Introduces its newly upgraded LED UV inkjet digital label press, operating at speeds up to 50m/min.

SPGPrints

Launches a range of low-migration UV-inkjet inks for safe, uncontaminated packaging in the food and pharmaceutical markets.

The inks meet the guidelines of the European Printing Ink Association (EuPIA) and are compliant with the Swiss Ordinance on Materials and Articles (SR 817.023.21). The inks do not contain any materials that have been excluded by the Nestlé Guidance on Packaging Inks.

Toshiba Tec

Introduces the CF1XL inkjet head, which jets grayscale droplet sizes up to 180p. This makes it ideal for laying down opaque white base coats and other pre-treatment or finishing fluids. The heads incorporate through‐channel ink recirculation, which prevents particle sedimentation, allowing the larger particles to be jetted successfully. The recirculation process allows ink to be passed through a conditioning unit, where optimum ink temperatures and viscosity levels can be maintained.

Trojan

Shows TrojanTwo digital press running at 18m/min and up to 1,600 x 1,600 DPI. Designed to run larger volumes and maintain high print quality with maintenance self-predict, and auto cleaning, TrojanTwo hold rolls up to 600mm in diameter and each CMYK ink tank holds two liters, replaceable during production. A set of sensors and servo driven engines help control the placement of the rolls. Workflow software is included for continuous cost calculation.

Valloy

Introduces three new products under the Anytron digital press/finishing brand. Any-001 is a single-pass LED toner-based label press with registration accuracy of 0.2mm for pre-die-cut labels. Rolls of 500m can be loaded. Sensors include gap, front-side black mark, back-side black mark, and duplex printing is supported. The Any-002 adds an off-line rewinder option. Any-Cut I is an upgrade model of the current Any-Cut CO2 laser die-cut finishing system,
with an additional in-line slitting module using multiple blades and enhanced straight feeding accuracy.

Xeikon

Launches commercially its Xeikon CX3 5-color digital label press, based on Xeikon Cheetah digital print technology. Xeikon also launches its Creative Colors toner line: MatteSilver and PalladiumSilver, two special silver metallic toner colors will enable more creative possibilities for designers. They are the first products in the new Xeikon Creative Colors toner group. Varilane 4.0 is a new version of the imposition software plug-in for the Xeikon X-800 digital front-end (DFE). VariLane 4.0 is now fully integrated within the X-800 4.0 workflow.