In anticipation of a label show where digital printing will be making a major impact, we preview what visitors can expect to see at the Brussels Expo in September. By Neel Madsen.
Digital printing technology takes up more and more floor space for each Labelexpo held and is now visible in every hall throughout the show. Manufacturers of both toner and inkjet technologies are launching new products and upgrades to existing products.
From table top label printers to B2 sized packaging presses, there will be a solution for every need. We will also see many new players entering the arena as manufacturers attempt to grab a bite of this expanding sector.
On show
Delta Industrial (stand 6J30) will be demonstrating its solutions for die-cutting and laminating challenging materials by running a polyurethane film on its Delta Mod-Tech custom converter. The system will feature a variety of processes, including multiple rotary die-cuts, tight registration and lamination capabilities. Other Delta systems may include additional capabilities such as semi-rotary, full rotary and laser cutting.
The show will see the worldwide launch of Domino Printing Sciences’ next generation full colour digital inkjet label press. This new addition to the N-Series range can be seen in a series of live demonstrations on stand 9F70, including integration into a working AB Graphics Digicon finishing line as well as a separate standalone press. An integrated AVT quality inspection system will also be on display.
Building on the success of its N600i, the new label press will combine the productivity of flexo with the flexibility of digital printing and provide advanced colour capabilities to deliver a much wider colour gamut to suit a greater range of label applications.
Delta Industrial will show its web converting technology
The next generation press will also incorporate a range of the company’s i-Tech intelligent Technology productivity-enhancing smart features designed to optimise printer performance and maintain the highest levels of productivity.
These include CleanCap automated cleaning and capping station, and StitchLink micro-motor controller technology that enables precise head alignment, reduces set up time and eliminates stitch lines. It will also include the ActiFlow ink circulation system that degasses the ink for greater nozzle performance.
Also on the stand will be the K600i single colour high resolution VDP printer, which will be integrated onto a rewinder.
Philip Easton, director of Domino’s digital printing business, said, ‘Key to the success of our latest product portfolio is the ability to draw on our long and established understanding of ink jet technology that spans some 35 years. This combined with our ongoing commitment to R&D enables Domino to continually break new boundaries in terms of technological development to deliver the most reliable and productive solutions designed to fulfil real production needs.’
Durst (stand 9H57) will launch a new range solutions for the label industry. For a complete digital end-to-end workflow, the Tau 330 high speed UV inkjet label press will be showcased with inline digital laser finishing that incorporates laser die-cutting technology from Spartanics, with 1000 Watt laser for highest productivity and automatic job changeover to handle multiple jobs in a single run. For a complete finishing process, optional UV coating and lamination can be added.
Domino is launching a new label press at Labelexpo
The company will also introduce the new Tau low migration UV Inks from Sunjet. The ink components all appear on the EuPIA and Swiss Ordinance positive lists and do not utilise material specifically excluded on the Nestlé list, which when combined with the specially designed UV curing system can achieve migration limits of <10ppb.
The Durst Tau 330 together with this ink will expand the range of suitable applications for unsupported foils, such as blister packs, yogurt lids and many more. Depending on application requirements, Tau 330 users may now choose from two different UV inkjet inks: the standard UV inks for all industrial applications, or the very new LM inks.
To cover a broader range of applications, the press is now also suitable for applications using non-PS materials. On stand at the show will be a second Tau 330 press with built-in chill roller that allows the printing of unsupported films and foils. The press will be fitted with a high resolution video inspection system from Nikka for increased print quality, reliability and production security.
The press can be installed with external unwinder and rewinder units as well as other finishing devices, allowing a full integration of the press into nearly any existing production workflow. The specially designed connection box provides thereby all related signals to synchronise with external devices.
The Tau 330 features a maximum print width of 330 mm and a printing speed of max 48 m/min reaching an hourly production capacity of 950 square metres. Its standard colour configuration CMYK can be completed with optional white, and two optional process colours, orange and violet, essential for label applications that require accurate Pantone colour matching. Furthermore, the standard configuration also includes RIP software with built-in substrate and colour management.
EFI (stand 9H55) launched the Jetrion 4900 digital label press at Labelexpo Europe two years ago. For the 2013 show, the company is planning to present the latest upgrades to this modular end-to-end digital label system which features inline varnishing and lamination, laser dieless cutting and rewinding options. The combination of digital technology and industrial construction has resulted a fully integrated unit that is designed for performance and productivity, offering high levels of versatility as required by today’s label convertors.
The Jetrion 4900 is able to reduce waste by only printing the stocks that are needed, saving energy and reducing turnaround time. By using a digital end-to-end system, makeready is faster and the integrated finishing incorporates cutting, slitting, back-scoring resulting in finished rolls at the output end. This enables consistent faster working, with no outsourcing or the need to work on multiple devices.
Offset, screen and flexo print businesses can also benefit from moving into the digitally produced label sector by combining EFI’s production software with Jetrion’s flexible capabilities. EFI’s Fiery XF speeds up production while generating superior image and colour quality across multiple print devices, guaranteeing consistent results.
The added options of EFI Digital StoreFront bring users an online shopping platform so that customers can place and track their jobs while EFI Radius is designed specifically for the labelling and packaging sector with its flexible, scalable ERP capabilities that manage all business processes and lead to greater efficiencies overall.
Epson (stand 9H50) is gearing up for the global launch of its SurePress L-6034VW single pass digital label press, which was first shown as a prototype at drupa in 2012. It is the first Epson product to use LED-curable UV ink. Designed to handle both short and medium run jobs, it is capable of printing on a wide range of film and paper substrates.
Also on show will be the SurePress L-4033AW press printing high value, high quality labels for premium products. This seven colour inkjet digital label press with white ink delivers excellent print quality and accurate colour reproduction on a wide variety of standard label substrates, including clear and metallic materials. Using Epson SurePress AQ ink set with green, orange and white inks, the press delivers precise colour matching and accurate reproduction of spot and specialty colours.
The company is also taking part in the Labelexpo Inkjet Trail where visitors can compare a selection of the same labels printed on the same range of substrates but on a variety of different presses around the show. As part of this initiative, Epson will print specific food, pharmaceutical or industrial labels each day on the SurePress L-4033AW.
Duncan Ferguson, director pro graphics, Epson Europe, said, ‘At Labelexpo, we will show our strong commitment to developing a range of professional label presses that enable companies to grow their business and access lucrative new markets with confidence. Our presses are designed and built to the highest standards of Epson engineering and use Epson Micro Piezo printheads and dedicated Epson ink sets to deliver the very best combination of quality, productivity and reliability.’
The company will also show its portfolio of digital proofing and prototyping for a variety of packaging applications.
Esko is setting up shop on stand 5B25 where it will present its large array of solutions for the label industry. On a number of workstations, visitors can experience its design, pre-press and workflow applications in Suite 12, such as tools for combining advanced workflow automation and smart MIS integration with online approval and collaboration; integrated on-press web inspection for standardization of production processes; compliance and content management for ensuring brand integrity and regulatory compliance; and support for combination printing where several processes are used to produce labels.
The company has also teamed up with HP and Sharp Iris in a major collaboration that will see a large stereoscopic 3D HD LED video wall from Barco set up on HP’s stand to demonstrate a complete virtual supermarket where customers can ‘walk around’ and ‘pick up’ products. Visitors will don special 3D glasses and be able to get a real feel for how printed products will perform in a sales environment all generated by Esko’s Studio Store Visualizer software.
Chris Stowe, product manager – 3D Solutions Esko, said, ‘Every brand manager in the process of bringing a new product to market wonders how the final product will stack up in the store, among all its competitors. Making physical mock ups is time consuming, and doesn’t come cheap.
A setup like the one we have at the HP Pavilion is the perfect showcase for the high level of reality that the Studio Store Visualizer offers. It is an exciting submersive 3D virtual experience that completely changes the way that brand managers, designers and packaging converters will work together.’
Focus Label Machinery (stand 7M28) is showing its d-Flex digital inkjet system for the first time at Labelexpo. The hybrid inkjet/flexo press incorporates a four colour inkjet module from Industrial Inkjet incorporating piezo ‘drop on demand’ inkjet heads from Konica Minolta for single pass multi colour printing with finishing inline. White can be added as an option in addition to the process colours and substrates can be pre-coated if needed using the flexo station.
The d-Flex press from Focus Label Machinery is fitted with an inkjet module from IIJ
The modular press is available in three printing widths, 142 mm, 250 mm and 330 mm, with running speeds of up to 75 m/min and a resolution of 360 dpi.
Displayed on Fujifilm‘s stand (7L32), FFEIis unveiling its new Graphium modular digital UV inkjet press with high opacity digital white. The inks for the press were developed in conjunction with Fujifilm.
Jon Harper-Smith, marketing manager industrial and packaging, Fujifilm Speciality Ink Systems, said, ‘It is becoming increasingly important for converters and printers to look at digital inkjet technologies for the production of labels, packaging and speciality print.’
He continued, ‘There are growing opportunities for printers to differentiate and expand their product offerings through the use of these new technologies. Graphium, in particular, represents a new calibre of inkjet press designed for the narrow web market and, when combined with the new Fujifilm Uvijet Graphium ink developed specifically for label and packaging applications, breaks new ground in terms of the performance that can be achieved from a digital label press.’
The Graphium is a modular press, which supports up to five digital modules and six flexo stations enabling inline finishing for reduced production times.
Gallus (stand 5B50) will be using its Print Shop concept to demonstrate how the benefits of digital and conventional printing methods can be combined to produce labels faster and more cost effectively. It will feature the Linoprint L digital ‘drop on demand’ system from Heidelberg with the Gallus ECS C digital finishing solution. The Print Shop will combine and control the entire order planning and processing workflows of all the presses running on the stand via central MIS workflow software.
The Linoprint L uses the drop-on-demand inkjet method and supports a resolution of 600 dpi and a printing speed of up to 48 m/min in four colour mode. A new digital front end has been developed by Heidelberg specifically for the press, Prinect Digital Print Manager Label, for increased RIPping performance and processing of variable data.
It will be demonstrated live in combination with the Gallus ECS C digital finishing solution which is based on the Gallus ECS 340 and has a format-free die-cutter at its heart. Minimal changeover times and virtually waste-free job changes are made possible by front loading, a sleeve system, chambered doctor blade, pre-setting and an extremely short web path. The robust design, based on technical granite, and the Gallus register control function combine to ensure smooth operation and high processing quality even at very fast speeds.
Graficon Maschinenbau AG (stand 11R16) has developed a new digital press for labels and packaging, which is based on its T200 model. The Puma is a digital machine for inline printing, die-cutting and finishing of multi-coloured labels in one pass. The UV inkjet press is based on drop-on-demand technology and is supplied with four colours with white as an optional extra.
As well as offering the new standalone unit, existing T180/200 presses can be converted into a Puma iT by incorporating the new digital printing unit.
Both solutions are modular in nature and be fitted with flat screen printing, UV letterpress printing, hot foil stamping, embossing, varnish, laminating and in setting devices.
HP will have its largest-ever presence with its latest presses, applications and partners, offering solutions that can be integrated into existing workflows or configured as end-to-end digital production lines.
Featured on the stand (5C105) will be the new HP Indigo 20000 digital press for flexible packaging, sleeve and label applications, and the HP Indigo 30000 for sheet-fed folding carton production. Also on show will be the latest of the established press series, the HP Indigo ws4600 and WS6600 digital presses.
The company will also showcase a variety of real life packaging examples, demonstrating how some of the world’s leading brands have been using HP Indigo digital printing technology to innovate their packaging solutions.
HP Finishing and Media Partners will also be on hand to present value adding solutions for all applications. There will be a variety of presentations and workshops featuring HP expertise and speakers from HP partner suppliers, customers and end users.
Industrial Inkjet Ltd (stand 9H60) will be demonstrating its DLM ‘i-series’ with the latest Konica Minolta technology. The ColourPrint Module is a complete digital module designed to fit quickly and simply to an existing flexo press. It gives instant full colour print with zero setup time at print widths up to 422 mm with wider widths available to special order. The module can also be seen in action on Focus Label’s d-Flex press.
iSys Label (stand 12U108) offers the Apex 1290 and Edge 850 label printer for short to medium runs. A standalone printer, the Apex 1290 is a well established machine that comes with a 305 mm OD rewinder and features large capacity toners cartridges and cutting on the fly for continuous output. The more compact desktop Edge 850 is ideal for short run label production in four colour single pass. Also on show will be the Apex2Print and Edge2Print label software programs, and iVDP software for the printing of variable data.
Showing its next development in small footprint/high production machines, Impression Technology Europe (ITE) (stand 12T75) will be showing the Eclipse LF3 label cutter and slitter.
After its launch, the company received enquires regarding the machine from all over the world. The diminutive size, high quality and high productivity of the machine gave it a wide appeal. It will be shown alongside the larger, LF330, a new model in the Eclipse range which has been designed for quicker production and is capable of handling larger media.
The LF330 has double digital label cutting heads and is capable of a cutting speed of 5.1 m/min for single blade operation on 240 mm paper, and a 10.2 m/min for twin blade operation on a 330 mm paper width. The twin cutter facility also needs a twin rewind facility and this is included with it as standard. It includes waste matrix removal and self-wound lamination and handles rolls of media up to 400 mm diameter.
The LF330 though will not be the only new machine from Eclipse at the show. Visitors can also see the Uw-1 Label un-wind device and the RW-1 finished label rewind device.
Label Traxx (stand 7N70) will be launching version 7 of its software. This utilises the latest database engine technology, which brings a number of new enhancements. A new visual scheduling system aids the scheduling of jobs across multiple pieces of equipment and helps to organise common jobs together to reduce makeready times. The tool can group press types together so that the scheduler can group jobs by their key drivers, for example material types for digital jobs or by die for flexo jobs.
Version 7 also introduces a new custom-report writing tool. The new version of Super Reports has a completely revised interface, with new features including zooming of forms and unlimited ‘undo’. It is compatible with all existing super reports, including the 100s available online for customers to download and customise.
Primera Technology Europe (stand 9F55) is presenting its new products, the AP550e Label Applicator and LP130e Laser Marking System. The LP130e enables in-house production of labels and tags for use in a wide range of severe and harsh duty applications, including IUID program labels, UDI labels for medical devices and healthcare equipment, automobile VIN and under-hood part number, warning and instruction labels, aerospace and solar panel labels, serial tags for outdoor equipment, automobile parts, building materials and much more. Finished labels and tags are extremely robust and do not require lamination to withstand extended exposure to UV light, chemicals, liquids and temperatures of up to 300 C.
AP550eis a new semi-automatic label applicator that makes it fast and easy to precisely apply product and identification labels onto a wide range of flat surfaces. Labels are applied straight, without wrinkles or folds, in exactly the location desired. This gives finished products a highly professional look and significantly increases the number of containers that can be labeled per hour versus manually applying labels.
In addition Primera’s label combos, the CX1000e/FX1000e and the CX1200e/FX1200e will be presented.
The Truepress Jet L350UV digital label press makes its European commercial debut at the show, where it is being demonstrated by both manufacturer Screen Europe (stand 9G50) and European reseller Dantex (stand 5D20). First shown as a prototype at drupa last year, it prints widths up to 322 mm and at a top speed of 50 m/min.
Screen’s Truepress Jet L350UV gets its European premiere at Labelexpo
This inkjet label printing system boasts photo-realistic quality, fast job turnarounds and stable output that requires almost no daily maintenance. The new press prints widths up to 322 mm and at a top speed of 50 m/min producing 16.1 square metres per minute. Lamination, die-cutting and other post-press processing devices can be connected inline.
Combined with advanced colour management technology based on Screen’s Equios universal workflow, the Truepress Jet L350UV creates smooth, vivid gradations. To provide a wider colour it uses the company’s proprietary high definition UV inks. Optional opaque white ink further boosts colour vibrancy while enhancing application versatility by allowing printing on transparent film and metallic foil. The press incorporates single pass greyscale piezo printheads with a minimum droplet size of 3 pl and printing resolutions of 600 x 600 dpi.
President of Screen Europe, Brian Filler, said, ‘Screen is committed to providing the packaging industry with a choice high quality and ultra reliable imaging and digital printing solutions that deliver flexibility, low cost of ownership and a swift return on investment. The Truepress Jet L350UV is a superb digital press designed to meet the needs of the market to produce highly competitive high-quality, high value labels.’
Shuttleworth Business Systems (stand 9F85) will show its latest MIS developments, amongst them a new iPhone and iPad mobile CRM app designed to save time and gives instant access to essential information including company, contact and event details. The new job tracking functionality, Milestones, automatically updates jobs making it quick and easy to view the status of any job as it progresses through the business while the Drag & Drop functionality enables quick and easy updating of details.
Also on display will be the Supply Chain Management software, for the wide format industry. This is a web-based tool designed to enable manufacturers to quickly get prices from their suppliers so they can respond immediately to their customer needs. Hosted by Shuttleworth, it requires no infrastructure investment to take advantage of the functionality and is all delivered over the web.
Stork Prints (stand 6H40) will be demonstrating the DSI UV inkjet label printer, which boasts speeds up to 700 square metres per hour.
The DSI is modular in design, and suitable for everything from standalone digital printing to use in complete lines with inline (semi-rotary) converting. Multiple demos will be given each day for markets, such as personal care, food and industrial. The company is also participating in the official Labelexpo Inkjet Trail showing labels for pharma, food and industrial sectors.
With its See the Proof campaign, Xeikon (stand 9H45) is giving converters the opportunity to upload their own artwork in advance via a dedicated website and pick up the printed results at the show. Submitted labels will be printed on five different substrates, one of which is a PE substrate using Xeikon’s new ICE toner, which is being launched at the event.
The company will also be showing its range of 3300 and 3500 digital label presses to demonstrate their label printing capabilities for the wine & spirits, industrial, pharma, health & beauty, food and beverage markets. The Xeikon 3300, built around the commonly used 330 mm web width, will be running with inline converting unit, including a laser from GM. The Xeikon 3500 allows the use of material up to 516 mm wide, and will be running in a roll to roll configuration.
Software tools and solutions will be on display in the ‘Software Corner’ and these include ColorControl, a cloud-based colour management tool ensuring repeatable, predictable colours; ColorMagic, a tool that saves time in pre-press when printing on clear substrates; Vectorizor, the missing link in a digital print and digital die-cut environment; and MyPress user interface for the Xeikon X-800 digital front end.
Also on show is the Web2Label workflow, an all-in-one integrated solution for the production of labels from online input through to the die-cutting.
‘We are especially excited about exhibiting at Labelexpo Europe 2013,’ said Filip Weymans, director business development and marketing labels and packaging. ‘The historic size of the show makes it a terrific opportunity to continue our mission of educating the label and packaging markets about the benefits of digital printing. In that spirit, we are launching an innovative program called ‘See The Proof’ that gives converters first hand experience with the technology andseethe outstanding quality for themselves.’
The results of Xeikon’s ‘See the Proof’ campaign can be seen at the show
Xeikon is also playing a part in the Package Printing Zone in Hall 12, where it will be demonstrating its folding carton solution with a Xeikon 3500 running the Alpine 516 fuser, with inline Bograma finishing unit.
