Codimag introduces ‘hybrid’ Viva340

In a joint project between Codimag and Xaar a special modular print unit has been developed which allows an opaque white to be laid down by inkjet rather than a semi rotary screen unit.

The press was printing customer jobs using extended gamut (six colors out of CMYK+OGV) inks and using Presstek Zahara water-processed plates. Presstek demonstrated plate making live on stand, with its chemistry-free waterless Zahara plates imaged on its Dimension Pro2 CTP system and processed on the company’s Eco-Kleen rinse unit.

According to Codimag CEO Benoit Demol, the press has been well received by American converters, not least because of its Aniflo inking system, which uses anilox rolls to ink the plate directly.

‘Converters here are looking for a press which can handle short to medium runs with a small amount of waste. We calculate the crossover with digital to be just 1000ft (300m), and it is competitive with flexo on medium run work. The press is so efficient on short runs - as we keep the same inks in the press - that we see off-line finishing of printed rolls as a good solution for converters who already have, for example, a Digicon off-line unit.’

Codimag has most of its current installations at wine label converters – most recently at a converter in Napa Valley. But Demol explained the press has applications in all high value applications, with the Xaar unit providing sufficient opacity for the cosmetics, and health and beauty markets.