Here, we report on the digital flexible package printing technologies that have been and continue to be developed for the next stage of digital package printing and converting.
With the market for digitally printed flexible packaging set to ‘follow the same path as the digitally printed label market,’ as predicted by HP Indigo’s Alon Schnitzer, it is no surprise that these technologies were the ones most likely to generate the headlines this summer.
The new HP Indigo 25K, replacing the 20000 Series 4 digital press, affords greater flexibility with two white ink stations, plus higher productivity through a frame expansion from 729mm to 737mm.
Landa was widely expected to finally make good on its promises for the flexible package printing market in terms of press speeds and widths, as its 1m-wide W10 was predicted by many to be a cornerstone of its presence at drupa 2020. W10 supports a 1050mm web width, printing at high-speed in four to eight colours.
Also returning with an update for the flexible packaging market are Kodak and Uteco, who have furthered their partnership to introduce Sapphire Evo W, the first flexible packaging press to enter the market using Ultrastream continuous inkjet technology. The two companies have previously collaborated for Sapphire Evo, which includes Kodak Stream technology, the precursor to Ultrastream. The first system featuring Ultrastream technology with a print width of 1.25 metres has been sold into the market, with a ‘healthy pipeline of active prospects’ reported. Enabled by water-based inks, having a wide format and offering production speeds equivalent to analogue presses, Sapphire Evo W can print short- to medium-run length jobs, achieving price points claimed as favourable to flexography, and producing in formats comparable to those seen in conventional flexographic package printing.
An entirely new technology is the Screen PacJet FL830, a water-based inkjet printing system for flexible packaging able to handle full-scale production applications. The PacJet FL830 is currently scheduled for release from around March 2021. PacJet FL830 can handle media up to 830mm wide at speeds of up to 75m/min. It is capable of printing at a resolution of 1200dpi using CMYK and white water-based inks that conform to relevant food safety regulations.
Japanese press builder Miyakoshi has developed the MJP30AXF as another water-based inkjet press for printing on flexible packaging. The company has identified food packaging applications as particularly relevant for MJP30AXF owing to the use of water-based inkjet and its associated benefits in terms of food safety. The first MJP30AXF was installed with a beta customer in Japan in May 2020.
The MJP20W/30W models are new UV inkjet digital printing systems for flexible packaging applications. These aim to build on the initial success Miyakoshi has record with the MJP13LXV UV inkjet digital label press.
Memjet’s technology is likely to be that which many inkjet digital flexible package printing systems are built off, particularly its DuraFlex platform. DuraFlex is a modular single-pass print system designed to combine speed, simplicity and affordability with new attributes such as enhanced durability, A4 and A3 plus widths in a four-colour printhead, a high-speed data path and modules that control all printhead functions.
This will be at the heart of Italian press manufacturer Rigoli’s next-generation of MVZ presses, with a higher print speed enabling integration directly into many new packaging lines including horizontal flow wrap systems.
Industrial Inkjet (IIJ) has introduced a wider printing module, designed to meet the requirements of an ever-expanding and demanding range of applications for inkjet, such as flexible packaging. MonoPrint 775i can print up to 160m/min at 360dpi or 80m/min at 720dpi. The flexible design has been developed to be capable of printing in up to four colours at a maximum print width of 845mm wide when using Konica Minolta’s 360dpi KM1024i printheads, or 891mm when using 600dpi KM1800i printheads. The design of the MonoPrint 775i inkjet printing module is also compatible with the new 450dpi Konica Minolta KM1280i printheads, which allow up to an 849mm print width at speeds above 130m/min. With the first system now installed, IIJ is working on packaging projects that require four-colour printing above 800mm wide, with the same scalable architecture to be used to go even wider.
Read about the latest technological developments in digital label printing here
Read about the latest technological developments in digital folding carton printing here
Read about the latest technological developments in digital corrugated printing here
Read about the latest technological developments in finishing and converting here
