Plans to develop the HP T1100, a high speed 2.8 m wide simplex inkjet web press for the pre-printing of corrugated top liner, have been announced by HP and KBA. 

The printer will enable corrugators to combine many individual jobs together on a roll or across rolls for short, mid or long runs. Unlike traditional analogue pre-print, every box can be different.

Planned to print at speeds of up to 183 m/min and produce up to 30,000 sqm/hr, this inkjet press will print corrugated liner rolls that can then be placed directly onto existing industry-standard 2.5 or 2.8 metre (110 inch-wide) corrugators. 

This press will be the first solution co-developed by the two companies since the announcement of their strategic collaboration at Graph Expo 2014 in Chicago on 28 September 2014. 

Centralised corrugated box plants serving major retail brands will especially benefit from this digital pre-print solution for all corrugated print applications. Brands are increasingly requiring just-in-time inventory, shorter runs, and faster turn-around time. HP’s inkjet technology enables significant time, material, and shipping cost advantages when compared to analogue processes. Digital preprint is more efficient than post-print alternatives.

‘Addressing the enormous digital opportunity in the corrugated market requires best-in-class technology innovation, a portfolio of solutions, scale, and a market vision,’ said Aurelio Maruggi, vice president and general manager, Inkjet High-speed Production Solutions, HP. ‘The new press will transform the short and mid-range corrugated packaging market, dramatically disrupting operating models and costs and more importantly create new value for brand customers.’

‘KBA has a rich heritage of developing innovative solutions that meet or exceed customers’ quality expectations,’ said Christoph Müller, executive vice president for the Web Press Product House, KBA. ‘In working with HP, we will combine our complementary technological strengths for the needs of packaging converters.’ 

HP Thermal Inkjet Technology helps meet converters’ needs for high-quality print, along with high-volume productivity, reliability and versatility. Ultimately, it opens the way to value chain cost savings and capabilities for brands and packaging converters.