Italgrafica Sistemi named as world’s first XJet customer

Durst has confirmed Italgrafica Sistemi as the world’s first customer for the new Omet XJet.

Italgrafica Sistemi named as world’s first XJet customer

XJet is a hybrid printing platform integrating Durst’s Tau RSC 330 digital inkjet system with Omet X6 flexo stations and converting units. The system will be installed at the Italian converter’s headquarters in Castelgomberto, in the province of Vicenza, in the early summer.

Together with Omet, a manufacturer of printing and converting machines, the two companies are providing a complete hybrid print and finishing line to Italgrafica Sistemi that will offer ‘unlimited flexibility’, it is claimed, and a wide range of final applications with a consistent cost reduction.

With 18 printing lines already running at Italgrafica Sistemi, the new Omet XJet, which is being provided through Lirma Print, a Durst and Omet distribution partner, is expected to replace two flexo lines as demands continue to increase for short run, personalized technology in a single pass.

The printer chose the Omet XJet because of the ability for in-line multi-process configurations that finalizes products in a single pass. XJet will open up new opportunities for cold foiling, printing on reverse and adhesives, as well as varnish and die-cutting, it is claimed.

Francesco Niorettini, general manager at Italgrafica Sistemi, said: ‘This investment opens up a new world of opportunity. It allows us to give far more choice to the market and produce so many more different types of labels for any kind of job. By including the Durst Tau, we will be able to broaden our portfolio by combining all the technologies together.

‘What is also really important is to ensure that we retain the same high level and definitions produced with flexo and offset, and the Durst-Omet hybrid will enable this. Other factors in our investment decision included the 50 percent increase in speed, the low service and consumable costs, as well as the fact that both Durst and Omet have good reputations in the marketplace.’

Niorettini added: ‘We’ll be saving huge amounts of money and time. We expect a 20 percent saving in overall production costs and will benefit from faster start-up times, which will enable us to offer a wider product range. As one example for, say, a 4-color job we expect to increase the productivity of the machine by 40 percent with faster set-ups. In addition, we will be saving around 70 percent in material waste by using digital.’

Helmuth Munter, segment manager for labels and package printing at Durst, said: ‘Italgrafica Sistemi is one of the increasing numbers of forward-thinking companies that are seeing the huge benefits of using the best technologies in a complete all-in-one printing process. This ability to combine digital inkjet printing with conventional pre- and post-press printing and finishing world, offers our future customers a highly cost-effective solution.

‘In addition, the feedback we received from our recent Durst Digital Days has also convinced us of how customers perceive future market opportunities to increasingly involve UV inkjet digital in flexible configurations or as a complementary technology. It’s the future.’