GRE drop on demand color alliance with Impika

GRE Engineering has announced a strategic alliance with ink jet printing systems manufacturer IMPIKA Jetting Solutions of Aubagne, France, that will integrate the product lines of both companies. GRE has been providing tailored converting solutions to the label, business forms and packaging industries for over 16 years and the Impika Drop on Demand (DoD) range will compliment these activities with print engines capable of printing variable data in high resolution color on small and medium width substrates at high speeds. 

GRE and IMPIKA joined forces at IPEX 2006 by presenting the IPS C-9000 high resolution, full color DoD printing system in combination with converting equipment from GRE for the production of high quality labels using UV curable inks. The IPS C-9000 prints text and graphics at 900dpi (vdot) over widths of up to 429mm and greyscale printing technology makes it possible to sharpen the print quality by regulating the ink jet. C-9000 systems are especially suited to the label and packaging industry allowing a wide range of jobs to be printed in high resolution CMYK color.  

‘With our new C-9000 systems, we are once again driving innovation in this industry,’ said Jean-Marc Pasturel, director of business development, IMPIKA. ‘The new systems are easy to install and easy to operate. They are already being used in characteristically demanding sectors such as identity and security printing.’ 

The combined offering from the two companies of the IMPIKA with GRE unwind station, laminating, new Digicut die cutter with digital stylus module, laser die cutting and matrix/finished rewind provide a cost-effective solution in the JIT market. Additional converting options from GRE include sheet delivery, foil stamping, UV coating and curing, hologram deposition, RFID insertion and rotary die cutting with either fixed solid or flexible magnetic dies. 

‘We view digital printing technology as a natural progression to our product range,’ stated Jules Farkas of GRE Digital Solution. ‘With the growing demand for variable data printing and JIT delivery the benefits of partnering with a supplier of DoD digital print engines are obvious. The ability to offer both monochrome and four color digital print capabilities on our converting platforms will enhance our product offering. We believe the technology and products IMPIKA offer will provide us the ability to meet current and fast changing customer needs.’