HP unveils color automation suite for WS6800

Key features include automated on-press color match, continuous color calibration and import/export of media fingerprint.

‘Once a job has been fingerprinted, it can then be moved between different HP Indigo presses and the color is guaranteed to remain consistent,’ said Alon Bar-Shany, vice president and general manager, Indigo Division, HP.  The Color Automation Package is available for all WS6600-series presses.

A number of new ElectroInk announcements were made, including a fluorescent pink which glows under UV light; a high pigment loading Premium White, claimed to approach screen opacity; fade resistant yellow and magenta ElectroInks; and a new Michelman DP680 primer for in-line media coating.

Bar-Shany announced the 1,000^th installation of the HP Indigo WS6000 series press, with Eurostampa adding a WS6800 to its battery of four HP Indigo narrow-web machines.

Other WS6800 installation announcements included U.S.-based Dion Labels, with two new machines to expand into shrink sleeves; and Dutch-based label converter Etiflex. This is the first digital investment for Etiflex, a 30m Euro turnover group which specializes in the food industry.

‘This industry has many short runs and now we can deliver in two days from receipt of order,’ said MD Mark Arends. ‘And we can get a better price for this service.’

Bar-Shany also announced upgrades for HP Indigo’s wider web digital packaging presses. The HP Indigo 20000 press upgrade package includes a new slitter, reinsertion capabilities and HP ElectroInk White for shrink sleeves. Options for the HP Indigo 30000 sheetfed press include new metalized substrates and reinsertion. 

New at the show is the Comexi Nexus L20000 laminator, designed for use with the HP Indigo 20000 digital press and demonstrated in HP’s booth.

Bar-Shany reported that sales of 20000 and 30000 presses have reached 70 units worldwide since 2014 commercial availability, with six customers installing multiple presses.