HP to launch digital label press at drupa

HP Indigo will launch new machines for the commercial and industrial print markets, including the latest in its ws Indigo series of presses for labels and packaging, at drupa 2008.

The new HP Indigo ws6000 digital press is aimed at longer-run, higher-volume work, and is claimed to offer twice the productivity of its predecessors. It addresses jobs up to approximately 4,000 linear meters (13,000 linear feet), and is said to offer total cost of ownership advantages for converters producing more than 300,000 linear meters per month. It complements the ws4500 press targeted at customers with monthly volumes of 150,000-300,000 linear meters.

The ws6000 prints at 30 meters (100 feet) per minute in four colors, and can print up to seven colors on a broad range of materials, including thin flexible packaging substrates from 12 microns (0.5 points) and folding carton media up to 450 microns (18 points), as well as label and shrink sleeve media.

The press’ repeat length of 980mm (38.58 inches) permits greater productivity and drives even lower costs per label. The machine is expected to be available in early 2009.

You can read a full report in the next issue of Labels & Labeling.