(L-R) Shaun Kennedy, product manager, Thunderbolt Solutions, and Kevin van Dyk, managing director, Spec Systems
South Africa-based Spec Systems has installed a Xeikon 3030 digital colour press to complement its current business – a first of its kind in South Africa.
With offices in Durban, Johannesburg and Cape Town, Spec Systems has grown into being an important label solution provider in South Africa and specialises in thermal transfer solutions, bar code labels and blank labels. The company philosophy is top quality and fast service to customers. Making its move into full colour label production, the company decided to skip traditional flexo label printing as it would be too cumbersome, and opt for a digital printing system. After comparing a range of competitive solutions, Spec Systems decided to invest in a roll to roll configuration built around the Xeikon 3030 and an offline Xeikon miniDCoat for UV coating, die-cutting and rewinding as it was confident this configuration would best serve its needs.
‘Being in a remote area, it is crucial to be able to rely on your supplier. The personal approach of Xeikon and its local dealer Thunderbolt Solutions gave us confidence from the beginning. Furthermore, we were able to buy the complete solution, the printing press and finishing equipment, from one supplier,’ explained Kevin van Dyk, managing director. ‘While evaluating the technology we experienced that the print quality is superior. When we found out that the Xeikon press can print on standard label substrates, without the need for pre-treatment, the choice was obvious; this is the basis for an easy implementation.’
‘More and more printing companies in remote regions understand the offering of Xeikon. We are delighted that Spec Systems realises not only that we have top products, but also that our approach of offering complete solutions, including software and workflow, finishing and service, fits perfectly well with its needs,’ added Filip Weymans, director business development and marketing, labels and packaging, at Xeikon. ‘It’s just a matter of time until the MEA area will fully embrace digital label printing, and Spec Systems proofs to be on the forefront of that.’
With five printing stations, the Xeikon 3030 is the entry level member of the 3000 series of digital label presses. It offers the capability to upgrade in the field in both speed and width, should there be a need in the future. Due to its full rotary printing technology, the speed of the press is unaffected by the number of colours used and the size of the labels. All Xeikon presses print at true 1200 dpi with four bit per spot. The Xeikon QA-I toners have top lightfastness properties, ranging from six to eight on the blue whole scale.
