Gaining ground

Domino entered the full colour digital printing market at IPEX 2010 by launching the N-Series piezo inkjet range, which will incorporate both stand-alone label presses and modules featuring scalable print width for OEM integration. The N600 digital label press offers 1,200dpi nominal print resolution with a native resolution of 600dpi and four greyscales operating at 50-75m/m using durable UV inks. Capable of printing paper and film labelstocks, it was demonstrated at Ipex in a reel-to-reel format with a print width of 333mm – compatible with most standard finishing systems.

The press can also be configured to operate in-line with digital finishing systems, such as those from GM and AB Graphic, via dancer roller web infeed. A corona treatment module enables most industry labelstocks to be used without the need to pre-treat.

Ipex also saw the global launch of Epson’s SurePress L-4033A digital label press, aimed at label converters taking their first steps into digital printing or expanding their existing capacity, and general commercial printers looking to add digital label printing to their portfolio. First shown in prototype form three years ago, the SurePress L-4033A has undergone significant development to meet the needs of short run label producers. It uses Epson's Micro Piezo inkjet technology and new 6-colour, water based pigment ink to ensure consistent, high quality results, and prints off-the-shelf paper and film up to 330mm wide, at speeds of up to 5m/min.

A range of third-party postpress options is available to suit specific needs, and Epson is working with partners on all aspects of digital label production from colour management to substrates and finishing options.

Yet another Ipex introduction was a new finishing system for Primera’s CX1200e digital label press, enabling customers to source a complete digital labels system from the company. The new FX1200e digital finishing system – also suitable for use with other narrow web output engines - will laminate, die cut, slit and rewind, as well as remove the waste matrix, at speeds up to 9.14m/min.

First launched in March 2009, the CX1200e press now features a rewind/tensioning system using IntelliTorque technology to ensure ‘perfect rewinds’ on every roll ready for finishing.

Convertec says the latest version of its BrailleMaker digital printing machine for plain labels, leaflets for cartons, booklets and multi-ply pharmaceutical labels fully meets the new EC directive 2007/24/EC on the application of Braille to packaging, which becomes effective in November 2010. The new Version 4 has a new X-Tend2 software suite and touchscreen control, making operation quick and easy to learn. Twelve international Braille languages can be printed and, to ensure accuracy, the machine can be linked to an Internet based translation facility that converts text to Braille ‘in minutes’.

Xeikon’s latest offering, the 3500 digital label press, is capable of handling web widths up to 512mm at 570m2/hour. It is said to enable cost effective production of volumes beyond 4,000 linear metres using digital technology. With a top speed of 19.2m/min, the new press features true 1,200dpi resolution and 1,200 x 3,600dpi addressability, delivering ‘photographic image quality’. The press has five colour stations, four for the standard process colours and one for spot colours. It also uses Xeikon’s new FDA approved QA-I toner, which has been developed specifically for the label market.

US based Sun Automation’s new CorrStream high speed digital printer for the corrugated packaging industry uses Kodak’s Versamark printing technology. It runs at production speeds of up to 500ft/min and provides 45 inches of colour print area across a corrugated sheet up to 60 inches wide. Versamark DH90 printheads produce colour images suitable for applications such as point-of-purchase displays and versioned or variable primary and secondary graphic image packaging.

Another system for printing corrugated, Durst’s Rho 750 HS UV inkjet printer, is now available with 80% more productivity without loss in print quality. It now has twice as many nozzles in a new Quadro Array 30D printhead, while a new fully automated corrugated feeder stacker system is also said to reduce loading times dramatically.