MPrint chooses Vetaphone corona for digital cold foil

MPrint, a German digital print and finishing company, has turned to corona and surface technology supplier, Vetaphone, as part of its development program into digital cold foil application.

Located in Baiersbronn, in the north of Germany’s Black Forest (Schwarzwald), MPrint has built a reputation for its digital inkjet print technology for a variety of applications, including direct to shape, cards, tickets, mailings, packaging such as blister packs, folding cartons and labels, as well as roll-to-roll tissue, fleece and napkin products. Founded by Michael Morlock in 1999, the company has been part of the Leonhard Kurz Group since 2019.

Its digital print engines are available as standalone units or can be integrated into existing narrow-web lines up to 540mm in width (specials up to 1080mm) and from single color up to CMYK and white. The whole concept is to enhance the capability of analog technology with the late-stage flexibility that digital print offers.

Although relatively small in number with 40 employees occupying a 1,500 sqm unit, as part of the larger Kurz Group, MPrint enjoys the support of more than 5,500 colleagues worldwide and can draw on the parent company’s 120 years of expertise in surface finishing. 

MPrint sales and marketing manager David van Loo said: 'The big challenge came from digital cold foil transfer, which required digital print to mix with analogue foil. The issue is with the adhesive applied to the reverse side of the foil, which then needs to be overlaid in perfect register,' he explained.  

A perfect finish requires perfect adhesion, and with expensive, non-absorbent foil, this demands high-quality corona that can be accurately controlled. After a detailed study of the market and corona technology suppliers, MPrint chose Vetaphone for its expertise and experience. 

The commercial need for corona treatment at MPrint relates to the company’s MJet range of standalone label technology. These include the MJet eco, which is a single-color UV-LED unit designed for late-stage customization on pre-produced, embellished and die-cut labels. These are often used in the wine industry, for which MPrint is well-positioned. The range also includes the MJet basic and plus models. These modular lines offer up to four-color printing plus white with a variety of finishing options.  

The range is completed by the Mlabel 3. Capable of printing in five colors plus white using UV-LED and LM inks, this line has a 324mm web width, a finishing module and digital metal embellishment capacity. This makes it a complete standalone digital inkjet label press with a production speed of 75m/min at 600 DPI, and with a usefully small footprint.

Vetaphone sales manager Ahmed Türkmen stated: 'It is always a pleasure to work with a manufacturer that has the same approach to innovation and ongoing development as Vetaphone. There is a natural synergy that benefits both companies and the end-user. We look forward to continuing our cooperation with MPrint as the market for digital print and finishing technology evolves at a fast pace.'

With the opening of MPrint in the US, the company, which is now 80 percent in Kurz ownership, and with Michael Morlock as CTO, the prospects for growth are positive. Van Loo said: 'Our focus is Europe and the US, but we are keeping a close eye on the Asian markets too, where demand is growing fast.'