(L-R) Rapid’s Nick Mansell with the XL220 and Evolution Labels’ Scott Fredman
It has been revealed that Evolution Labels is the first Australian buyer of the Rapid XL220 digital label press, a fact kept secret since the purchase was made in May 2014.
Evolution manager Scott Fredman said, ‘We have been developing a new business concept for the label industry here in Australia and wanted to remain below-the-radar during this phase. We are now ready to roll and the XL220 is central to our vision for on-demand short run, full colour labels printed on-time, with minimum fuss and delivered to trade label printers anywhere. Our primarily trade-only model means that conventional label printers can accept orders for short run quality labels that are not economical to put onto a flexo or offset press, without the need to invest in new plant and digitally – skilled labour.’
The Rapid XL220 is an inkjet digital label press with multiple finishing and converting options. It produces full colour labels on a variety of inkjet-receptive stocks, in vibrant colour and with stunning resolution up to 1600 x 1600 dpi using the Australian-developed Memjet printheads and inks. The web width is 220 mm, traveling at up to 18 m/min.
Rapid’s general manager Nick Mansell commented, ‘We have known and done business with Scott for over 20 years and he has provided trade label printers with fast, high quality, simple and low cost solutions with his previous business, now sold. With the XL220 he has created Evolution Labels which, as the name implies, takes short run label printing to the next level as a trade service.’
The base model XL220 can include inline die-cutting, matrix stripping and lamination if required. Additional modules that can be added include flexo coating, cold foil embellishing, embossing, slitting and spot coating. An RFID converting station is under development.
