Durst to launch UV inkjet label press and finishing systems

Durst, a manufacturer of digital printing equipment for the wide format graphics, photographic and ceramic tile markets, will launch its Tau 150 digital UV inkjet label printing press and the Rotoworx 330 family of finishing systems at Labelexpo Europe. 

Durst will present its full product range at Labelexpo Europe on stand 9H75 and an end-to-end demonstration including pre-press workflow software, a high speed liquid UV ink label press with variable data printing capability and a matching die-cutting and lamination unit, dedicated to the special requirements of short-run label production market.

The new Tau 150 and Rotoworx 330 products are said to demonstrate improvements in productivity, reliability and cost of ownership, with the company claiming that a run length of 40,000 labels is ‘now a realistic benchmark for cost-effective digital label printing’.

The Tau 150 covers web widths from 10 cm (4”) to a maximum 16,5 cm (6,5”) and utilizes liquid ink technology. The system reaches a throughput speed of close to 50 m/min (160 ft/min).

Building on its product offerings in the photographic market, Durst’s Tau 150 delivers an apparent resolution in excess of 1000 dpi – utilizing grayscale inkjet print head technology from Xaar. The result is claimed to be vivid, near-photographic images, sharp texts clearly legible to font sizes as small as 3 point, smooth gradients (vignettes) and homogenous solid colors. ‘The Tau 150 delivers repeatable image quality from the first to the last label and from run to run at the push of a button,’ said the company in a statement.

Durst’s proprietary UV inkjet technology features CMYK ink colors plus white as an additional configuration option. A broad range of standard substrates are supported without the need for pre-treatment and post-treatment. Lamination is not required from an image durability point of view but is offered as an option in the Rotoworx 330.

Lower production costs are achieved thanks to ink-only cost models – users pay only for the ink they use. Tau inks are available directly from Durst in 5 liter containers with a secure ink refill system. The Tau inks have been specially formulated to provide the broad color gamut demanded by the label industry.

Durst’s managing director Dr Richard Piock commented: ‘As with all Durst products, the industrial strength Tau 150 is a highly reliable press designed for continuous production. This is a very exciting development for Durst and for the label industry. We have gained significant customer confidence in other markets as a supplier of highly reliable and highly productive imaging systems with outstanding image quality. Our product positioning in the label-industry will mirror this track-record.’

The Tau 150 is delivered with pre-press software from EskoArtwork, with built-in RIP, substrate calibration and color management. The optional Variable Data Printing (VDP) module offers full label-to-label variability.

Completing the end-to-end solution, the Rotoworx 330, a stand-alone, modular semi-rotary die-cutting and lamination system, will also be launched. 

The Rotoworx 330 range is complete with product unwind, semi-rotary die-cut, lamination, matrix rewind and two product rewind modules. It has a web-width of 33cm (13”) and is available in a standard version, the 330 with a speed of up to 25m/min (80 ft/min), and a high-speed version, the 330HS with a speed of up to 50m/min (~160 ft./min.). The system features a web transport based on Durst’s patented ISO tensioning technology with high registration accuracy of /- 180 microns. Min/max repeat size of 20.3cm (8”) and 40.6cm (16”), respectively, and the system will be provided with a two year warranty.

‘The new product offerings from Durst mark our entry into this industry,’ Dr Piock said. ‘However, Durst is a 70 year-old family owned company and throughout our history we have shown a strong and continued commitment to our customers. This is only the beginning of what we have in-store for the label industry.’ 

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