As it moves closer to full commercialisation, the first HP PageWide C500 Press will be installed at Carmel Frenkel. The printing company will serve as the customer-testing site for the corrugated post-print press, which was first announced at drupa 2016.
Established in 1950, Israel-based Carmel Frenkel supplies packaging solutions for leading brands, including in the food and beverage industry. ‘The installation marks a significant milestone in the launch of the HP PageWide C500 Press,’ said Eric Wiesner, general manager, HP PageWide Industrial Division. ‘This ground-breaking technology can address the broadest range of digitally post-printed corrugated packaging applications, including the growing segment of food packaging.’
The HP PageWide C500 provides a digital alternative to offset lamination and flexo printing. It delivers offset quality direct-to-board with mainstream productivity on both coated and uncoated papers using water-based inks.
‘Unlike some other digital printing alternatives, HP PageWide water-based inks are 100% free of UV-reactive chemistries. Thus, these inks enable robust and trusted food-safe printing for both primary and secondary corrugated packaging,’ added Mr Wiesner.
Printing on 1.3 x 2.5m boards at speeds up to 75m/min, the press uses HP’s Virtual Belt and Corrugated Grip technologies to support a wide range of media, including industrial grade corrugated boards, from micro-flute to the double-walled board.
