Digital & Hybrid Presses

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Digital & Hybrid Presses
A deep dive into the latest products meeting demand for quick turnarounds and short runs.
Afinia Label running live demos at Printing United.
Joe Sanchez details the newest press line from Dantex.
Domino showcased its wide range of digital label printing solutions to attendees at Labelexpo Americas in Rosemont, IL, in September.
Felix Mueller (L), Dario Urbinati, and Dan Maurer discuss Heidelberg’s launch of the new Gallus One digital label press at Labelexpo Americas.
HP Indigo demonstrated its range of presses at Labelexpo.
The Konica Minolta booth saw strong interest from Labelexpo attendees.
Mark Andy drew a crowd for its three digital presses at Labelexpo.
Duncan Griffiths explains the advantages of going with NeuraLabel.
Greg Ross discusses Xeikon’s latest press sale at Labelexpo Americas.
Greg Hrinya & Steve Katz, Editors11.14.22
As was evident at Labelexpo Americas 2022, where not one flexo press was on display, digital printing is continuing to make strong inroads in the label and package printing industry. Suppliers are ramping up their R&D efforts to provide the fastest speeds and best quality to help meet evolving brand needs. 
This is not the early days of digital printing, where a snail’s pace and grainy images were commonplace. Digital has been fine-tuned to answer the ongoing supply chain issues and requirements for short and variable runs.
What follows is an in-depth account of what’s new in the world of digital label printing. Suppliers appear in alphabetical order.
Afinia Label    
Afinia Label, which was founded in 2009 to offer specialty printing solutions at affordable prices, offers a wide range of digital color label printers, as well as finishing options and accessories.
The company’s L502 Industrial Duo Ink Color Label Printer is a mid-level production unit requiring medium initial cost and ink cost per label. It has been optimized for durable applications (BS5069 certified), gaining in-house production flexibility and reducing long-term labeling costs.
Meanwhile, the L901/L901 Plus Industrial Color Label Printers have been built for inline integration and high-volume roll-to-roll production. According to Afinia Label, these printers are characterized by fast print speeds and high image quality.
Anytron
Anytron has unveiled the ANY-JET III, a fully digital one-stop label solution. All the processes – digital printing, laminating, laser cutting, slitting and matrix removal, work together in a digitally
integrated platform.
“Combining the best of digital printing and laser finishing into a single, integrated platform, ANY-JET III exploits the full power of digital. ANY-JET III is the most cost-effective solution to produce customized, short-run orders. Label converters can enjoy next-level printing efficiency in a speedy, automated, seamless single-pass operation,” says Amy Choi, marketing manager, Anytron.
Unlike hybrid or conventional systems, ANY-JET III doesn’t require additional time and costs associated with analog tools, such as plates or flexible dies, the company says. Moreover, an intelligent, automated workflow requires no human intervention and reduces operation time. ANY-JET III offers fast turnaround times with a setup time of five minutes and an automatic changeover function. The press is equipped with ANY-FLOW, an intelligent workflow solution tuned for optimal production efficiency, which can process everything – from printing to finishing – in a single workflow.
“ANY-JET III is faster, smarter and more cost-effective than any hybrid or conventional printing system,” adds Choi. “I was excited to show Labelexpo attendees what the fully digital one-stop solution can do. They discovered how our technology helps label converters meet customer needs by providing the most cost-effective short-run printing solution.”
Arrow Systems
Arrow Systems offers water-based pigment inkjet printing using Duraflex technology from Memjet on its ArrowJet Aqua 330. Designed to print labels, flexible packaging, blister foils and shrink sleeve materials, the ArrowJet Aqua 330 can print 1600 x 1600 dpi at speeds up to 150 fpm. In addition to its high-speed inkjet products, Arrow Systems also offers a wide range of digital finishers and inline equipment for printing and cutting in a single pass.
The ArrowJet Nova 330R is the company’s newest laser finisher with the latest in inline print-and-cut technology. The ArrowJet Aqua 330R uses a stationary 13" waterfall printhead, allowing for high speed, single pass operation. Unlike UV presses with high capital costs, expensive components and large footprints, the ArrowJet Aqua 330R gives commercial printers all the same benefits of larger presses without the high barriers of entry.
The design and components used in the ArrowJet Aqua 330R are built to make production fast and seamless. Plus, the short web path and open face roll loading allow for fast and easy material changes, minimal waste, and more run time. Equipped with an automated web guide, IR drier for difficult substrates, proprietary RIP software and user interface, the Arrowjet Aqua 330R is equipped with all the essential features for high speed printing.
AstroNova     
AstroNova recently released the QL-E100, an entry-level addition to its QuickLabel product lineup. The QL-E100 is a user-friendly, compact, full-color tabletop label printer. It delivers professional-quality output at a price point ideal for smaller businesses, as well as larger enterprises that require multiple on-demand label printers at the point of sale or at distributed locations throughout their facilities. 
“The game-changing design of our QL-E100 opens up a large untapped market opportunity to reach customers with smaller budgets or those just beginning to leverage the many advantages of in-house label printing,” says Greg Woods, president and CEO, AstroNova. “The QL-E100 combines the benefits of professional printing with flexibility, portability, simplicity, and affordability. We are excited to extend our industry-leading color labeling solutions into this large and growing market segment.” 
Featuring a 7" color touchscreen interface and internal image storage, the QL-E100 allows customers to print professional-quality, customized labels at the touch of a button. The QL-E100 uses high-performance, water-based inks to consistently deliver bright, vibrant color labels.
AstroNova also recently launched the TrojanLabel T3-OPX, a post-printer designed to print on various substrates, supporting the current trends in sustainable packaging.
Continuing trends in e-commerce, like printing on sustainable materials, branding, emphasis on brand experience, and changes in supply chain agility all play into the strengths of the T3-OPX. The T3-OPX direct-to-package printer uses HP technology to digitally print high-resolution color images directly onto a broad range of products, including cardboard, postcards, boxes, paper or fabric bags, wooden planks, or thicker objects like blister envelopes, cases, or folded boxes ready for shipment. As an additional advantage, these materials require no pre-treatment.
Bobst
Bobst has announced its latest portfolio of products and services to help converters and brand owners navigate through a new packaging environment. In addition to its flexographic capabilities, Bobst has placed a premium on connectivity, digitalization, automation and sustainability. The Bobst All-in-One Digital Master 340 and Digital Master 510 label presses were launched in March, and the company says the machines change the way label production is set up – fully digitalized from the PDF, with 100% inline inspection as a closed loop, to the final embellished and finished labels across one unified workflow.
“As a leading supplier and innovator, Bobst is driving the future of label production with new, best-in-class digital printing technology and more automation,” Matt Bennett, label zone business director, Bobst, told L&NW in a recent interview. “We have a complete lineup of integrated and highly automated flexo presses and digital presses, including the new range of All-in-One machines that seamlessly combines digital and flexo – printing, converting and embellishments – all inline in a fully modular and upgradable architecture.
The overall aim for Bobst is to provide label converters with industrial-powered solutions they need to optimize their production floor, lower costs, and to give them the opportunity to grow their business in the most sustainable and profitable way.”
Along with Bobst’s newest digital hybrid presses, the company is emphasizing its workflow capabilities with an updated Bobst Connect. This product provides digital solutions to prepare, produce, react to, maintain, and optimize the production workflow of a job. The newly launched version of Bobst Connect offers a host of features and functionality to help customers optimize their packaging at every stage. By linking up every single step of the process, Bobst Connect heightens efficiency, control, and data knowledge, improving quality and efficiency across the value chain.
Canon
Based on its UV inkjet technology, the Canon LabelStream can achieve an output speed of 1,845 m²/hr at 410mm print width and 75 m/m. In its hybrid configuration, the LabelStream press includes two additional flexo units, cold foiling and automated semi-rotary diecutting, in addition to the 5-color (CMYK+W) digital print unit. Thanks to the configuration’s inline finishing and embellishment capabilities, converters can further reduce its turnaround times while delivering excellent quality output.
The Canon LabelStream’s ability to achieve a white ink opacity of up to 80% is another benefit as it opens up new application possibilities. Canon also says the LabelStream is the first inkjet press to have been awarded the Fogra Process Standard Digital (PSD) Print Check specification based on the Fogra55 7-color benchmark gamut and to have obtained its certification for “Pantone Capable” by Pantone, which the company emphasizes as another benefit to converters.
Colordyne Technologies
Colordyne Technologies, which recently opened a new Inkjet Innovation Center at its Brookfield, WI headquarters, has numerous digital printing technologies to meet converters’ needs – from retrofits to industrial benchtop printers. Colordyne enables converters to add process color digital inkjet to existing flexo equipment, which saves capital costs.
Colordyne has established several partnerships in recent months to help converters expand into affordable digital printing. For example, MGF Services & Equipment has added Colordyne Technologies’ UV and water-based inkjet print engines to its new equipment offerings. Plus, Colordyne has joined forces with EFI in order to feature the market-proven, high-end prep and processing workflow capabilities of the Fiery Impress digital front end (DFE).
From an ink standpoint, Colordyne has continued its strategic partnership with Kao Collins through the development of the 3800 Series WB – Retrofit, a new sustainable water-based mechanical piezo print engine for narrow web labels and packaging.
“Together, Colordyne and Kao Collins have created an innovative product to serve new markets and applications,” says Taylor Buckthorpe, director of sales and marketing, Colordyne Technologies.
Buckthorpe adds, “What makes our approach unique is the open conversation we have together with the customer. This allows us to understand the customer’s needs in-depth, so we can craft a solution that combines our custom digital print engine approach with Kao Collins’ tailored ink formulation. The end result is giving the customer’s digital business a competitive edge today and in the future.”
Dantex
Dantex has launched its next generation of Pico UV inkjet digital presses, and according to the company, the new digital range represents a breakthrough in digital press technology and design, with the press range offering a multitude of features to benefit customers. With four different modular print platforms, from entry-level to full hybrid, 8-color and high-speed models, this new technology has been designed to take digital label production to new limits.
Having been in development for the last two years, the range includes the PicoColour HD 1200, PicoJet 1200, PicoJet 1200i, and the flagship high-speed model, the PicoJet 1200s. Built to the highest quality industry standards, each press is based on a modular design, incorporating inline finishing and a new innovative touchscreen operating system.
SuperWhite technology and DecoTactile are also included as standard. SuperWhite is capable of producing a white ink opacity up to 92% in a single pass, making it the highest opacity inkjet white available on the market, the company says, while DecoTactile can create a wide range of high-quality textured embellishments to enhance detail and add vibrancy to print. The presses also offer three new additional color options of orange, violet and green, extending the color gamut to more than 96% Pantone colors at a Delta E of 3 and below.
“After several years of unwavering commitment, I am proud to launch this incredible, industry-changing solution for the digital label market,” states Ben Danon, Dantex Group CEO. “Developed in line with our philosophy of always providing the market with the most modern high-tech equipment, Pico will now offer our customers an incredible new experience while ensuring the highest quality results are achieved every time. This defining moment takes us even deeper into digital technology and confirms our ongoing commitment to the digital label industry.”
Domino
Domino is touting multiple new digital products, including a brand-new digital press and a collaboration with Mark Andy. The Domino N730i digital UV inkjet label press features 1200 dpi BITSTAR printhead technology and is configurable in up to seven colors (CMYKOVW). The press has an ergonomic design with automated roll lifts provided as standard at the unwind and rewind, and supports media rolls of up to one meter in diameter. The press offers flexibility with an optional flexo priming station (pre-digital) to optimize print quality on more difficult media types; and an optional flexo station (post-digital) to support varnishing, a brand spot color, or for cost-effective flood white for shrink sleeve applications.  
The company is still seeing strong demand for its N610i digital UV inkjet label press, as well as the K600i dual bar digital UV inkjet printer with variable data printing (VDP).
Plus, Domino has partnered with Mark Andy on the latter’s Digital Series iQ. Built on Mark Andy’s Evolution Series flexographic platform for application flexibility, the press uses a Domino N610i UV inkjet module for high-quality production-class printing. Boasting digital technology from Domino and Mark Andy’s web handling and digital implementation, the Digital Series iQ strives to deliver maximum performance at an affordable initial capital investment level. Digital Series iQ is available for immediate order.
Domino has also emphasized its role in partnering with customers to overcome various supply chain challenges plaguing the industry. Domino recently filmed a documentary-style video, which is available on its website, telling the story of the label material supply chain crisis and how to overcome with resiliency, sustainability, transparency, best practices; minimizing waste while maximizing efficiency; and productivity with digital printing.
Durst
Durst has engineered an ecosystem of printers and software for label and package printing converters. During a busy event season this fall, Durst touted two key products from its label portfolio: the Tau RSCi and the Tau 330 RSC E.
First, the Durst Tau RSCi has been designed for an industrial level of productivity, and this press offers high quality in the most economical way. Available in printing widths of 330, 420 or 510mm, the machine is described as a productivity workhorse with printing speeds up to 100 m/m. The printer can now be equipped with the new double white feature, increasing productivity when printing with white ink at the highest opacity to 80 m/m.
In addition, Durst has showcased the Tau 330 RSC E. Designed to evolve with a business, the RSC E is fully upgradeable to an 8-color press in order to grow with the converter. The Tau 330 RSC has native 1200 dpi resolution and print speeds up to 80 m/m.
The RSC line is equipped with native 1200 dpi resolution, offering excellent print quality at all levels of investment.  All Durst printers come fully equipped with Durst Workflow and Durst Analytics software, as well as optional Durst Smart Shop software, enabling web-to-print solutions.
“The feedback we’ve received was very positive and customers continue to adapt to digital printing with our leading inkjet solutions at a very high pace,” says Steve Lynn, director, Labels and Packaging, Durst.
Epson
Epson America has debuted two new SurePress digital label presses. The SurePress L-4733AW water-based resin ink digital label press delivers improved automation. Additionally, as label converters look for ways to add additional color gamut to labels without increasing price, Epson is adding the SurePress L-6534VW with Orange Ink to its portfolio of UV inkjet digital label presses.
These new additions to the SurePress line offer higher levels of print quality, consistency, flexibility, and value for label converters, specialty printers and vertical manufacturers. The SurePress L-4733AW builds on the success of its predecessor, the L-4533AW, a top selling digital inkjet label press, to offer advanced automation and unattended printing features, higher productivity on film substrates and an optional inline spectrometer.
The SurePress L-6543VW with Orange Ink, an alternative to the L-6534VW with digital varnish, has a 92% Pantone coverage certification within a Delta E of 1.5, using minimum colors to deliver maximum gamut. Enabling reliable and repeatable high-speed printing of up to two million square feet per month, it can serve the largest of label converters.
“Label converters and specialty printers are looking for solutions that are simple and cost-effective to operate and maintain, and can deliver on stable, predictable production,” says Mike Pruitt, senior product manager, Epson America. “Epson enhanced its industrial SurePress lineup by adding new capabilities with the L-4733AW and expanding gamut with the L-6534VW with Orange Ink, which can help businesses save on upfront costs and maintenance. These advancements come without the compromise of simple operation and maintenance, production or print quality.”
On the ColorWorks side, Epson America has announced its newest on-demand color inkjet label printer, the ColorWorks C4000. The printer is now available through Epson’s authorized partners. The ColorWorks C4000 features comprehensive connectivity in a compact design for businesses that require high-resolution print quality and durable barcode and product labels.
Heidelberg-Gallus
Gallus has announced the launch of its first fully digital label press, the Gallus One. Marking a ground-breaking new addition to the company’s conventional and hybrid portfolio of label presses, the Gallus One has been specifically designed to remove the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) barrier for the adoption of reel-to-reel digital labels with the highest level of automation and cloud-based technologies. In doing so, it provides brands, for the first time, with access to cost-effective and sustainable, high-quality digital labels, the company says.
The Gallus One is built on the Gallus Labelmaster press platform. As a 340mm wide roll-to-roll UV inkjet digital inline label press, Gallus One utilizes a host of features to achieve high levels of automation and press efficiency, with what the company says is unrivaled UV inkjet print quality and print speeds of up to 70 m/m. With the new press available to pre-order, Gallus hopes to reinvent the way in which converters approach digital label printing – providing either a standalone digital offering or a complementary service within a traditional analog operation.
“With the launch of the Gallus One, we are doing more than just bringing a new press to market – we’re providing a unique solution that has the capability to drive the next big opportunity in labels,” explains Dario Urbinati, chief sales and service director, Gallus Group. “With cloud capabilities in-built within Gallus One, you can not only enjoy remote setup, but transparent performance monitoring and standardization across your press portfolio and manufacturing sites. In conjunction with the sophisticated press design, the Gallus One offers a complete reel-to-reel digital label solution, including all the software and hardware necessary to produce high-quality, profitable digital labels. All this, with the highest level of automation available and the most competitive TCO.”
Urbinati adds, “Offering all the familiarity benefits of a Labelmaster, Gallus One is a complete solution and not just a standalone print engine. Within the new Gallus One ecosystem, users have state-of-the-art inkjet technology, a new Gallus One ink set, sophisticated workflow software and a new predictive press monitoring service to ensure minimum press downtime. All of these Gallus elements working in harmony have enabled us to dramatically increase press efficiency and productivity to unlock this new market opportunity.”
HP
To complement its versatile range of digital label printing presses, HP has launched the new HP Indigo V12 digital press. Designed to revolutionize label production, HP says the  V12 digital press will allow label converters to continue outgrowing the label market through changing their mindset to “Indigo First and Flexo Second.” As a result, brands will benefit from an agile and sustainable supply chain without compromising on print quality or packaging innovation, HP says.
“The V12 will change the math of label printing, the sweet spot of HP Indigo print will grow to cover 70-80% of a label converter’s job basket,” says Eli Mahal, head of labels and packaging marketing, HP Indigo. “The HP Indigo V12 digital press printing side-by-side with the HP Indigo 6K, the HP Indigo 8K and the mid-web HP Indigo 25K digital presses will allow for customers to run an extremely efficient digital label factory, grow their business, and diversify into shrink sleeves, pouches and web-2-pack.”
Rooted in HP Indigo’s formula and utilizing what the company says is new, industry-altering LEPx technology, the HP Indigo V12 digital press and the HP Indigo 6K digital press were demonstrated frequently at Labelexpo Americas, showcasing a wide range of solutions for sustainable packaging, automation and applications propelling new business opportunities.
All 4Labels Global Packaging Group is one of the first beta customers to install the HP Indigo V12 digital press, leveraging its capacity to deliver customized solutions that allow all customers to adapt to fast-changing markets.
“With more than 25 years of experience in leading digital transformation across the labeling and packaging industry, All4lLabels will deploy the first HP Indigo V12 digital press to commercialize one of the most revolutionary, sustainable and versatile digital production technologies for the labeling and packaging industry,” says Massimiliano Martino, CTO at All4Labels. “Together with HP we are now ready to shape a new era of digital printing by welcoming the HP Indigo V12 digital press into our core of operations.”
INX International Ink Co.
In addition to INX’s wide range of digital inks, the company offers a lineup of hardware solutions for label and package printers. The NW350 is the newest addition to the narrow web series of UV digital label printers. Designed to combine printing and conversion to produce brilliant color printed labels at a maximum printing width of 350mm or 13.78", the NW350 delivers single pass output up to 160 fpm on any labelstock.
This complete solution includes enhanced quality inks, making it ideal for printers looking to meet the demand for productive, short-run digital printing.
Meanwhile, the NW210 press delivers single pass output up to 80 fpm on any labelstock and combines printing and conversion to produce vivid color printed labels at a maximum printing width of 8.25". It comes equipped with a Spartanics laser diecutting station and Xaar patented technology, with multiple drop sizes and color ink channels.
Konica Minolta
Konica Minolta has announced a new label press, the AccurioLabel 400, which will be available for purchase in early 2023. The Konica Minolta AccurioLabel 400 will also be fully upgradeable for AccurioLabel 230 customers who are expanding their own business in the growing markets of label production and packaging.
New developments include the ability to expand applications with white toner, improved productivity with superfast print speeds of up to 39.9 m/m, and further running cost reductions thanks to durable parts life, as well as enhanced print quality. It is available in 4- and 5-color options.
Konica Minolta’s Intelligent Quality Care and the IQ-520 increase usability and automation with the AccurioLabel 400, hence label production benefits from higher levels of control. Intelligent Quality Care enables real time control of white toner opacity, color stability control, as well as automatic calibration, density adjustments and profile creation.
With a main scan capability at 1200 dpi (equivalent to 3600 dpi), the Konica Minolta AccurioLabel 400 single-pass toner production press prints on paper widths up to 330mm or 250mm.
Multiple touch panel monitors in three different areas of the label press enable intuitive operation and is easy to use for operators, eliminating the need for extensive user training. Tasks that were time-consuming on analog machines can be performed quickly and accurately in delivering stable print quality.
This year, Konica Minolta celebrated the 1,000th installation of its AccurioLabel 230 toner digital printing press – less than seven years since entering the label market.
Mark Andy
Mark Andy has just launched its newest toner-based solution, the Digital Pro MAX.  The press is a result of its long-term experience in digital and feedback from users of the Digital Pro 3 model. The new press runs at speeds up to 160 fpm. Converters have the ability to start with roll-to-roll version and then – as their needs grow, include flexo spot color printing. They can add up to three flexo stations in any combination before or after the digital engine. If inline embellishment is needed, cold foil and lamination stations can be added at any time. 
If converters need to print on the back of the liner, the press can be equipped with a turn bar and upgraded with Mark Andy’s semi-rotary vertical diecut unit. The toner white adds transparent and metalized substrate capability without the need for a flexo station.
“Digital Pro MAX offers new opportunities for printers and converters who specialize in short run label production,” says Stu Gallup, vice president of digital sales. “It reduces waste and consumable costs, and offers extended work cycles that result in more savings and improved overall efficiency.”
Mark Andy has also developed a production inkjet press, the Digital Series iQ. The iQ is built on Mark Andy’s Evolution Series flexographic press platform for application flexibility and boasting proven award-winning web handling and digital implementation. The iQ was developed for converters looking to start their digital transformation using proven inkjet printing and converting technology. Completing the digital lineup is the Digital Series HD press – configured with four flexo units – and with inline flexo varnish and diecutting.
mprint
German equipment manufacturer mprint, a Kurz company, specializes in inkjet printing for converters seeking texts, QR and barcodes with variable data. The mlabel compact is a combination of mprint’s previous mlabel 2 generation and the new mlabel Gen3 flagship and is intended as an entry-level digital printing machine that includes mprint’s latest print engine technology, as well as proven converting modules. At 10" wide, the system uses the Kyocera KJ4A (or B) printheads with a native resolution of 600 x 600 dpi and print speeds of up to 246 fpm.
The standard configuration includes web guide, web cleaner and corona treater, CMYK print engine with ink reclaiming, laminating, and rotary diecutting. The user interface is the same intuitive HMI as used for all other products mprint has to offer. The small footprint, combined with the capabilities of finishing a label in a single pass, makes this small hybrid press a production powerhouse, the company says.
MPS
Dutch press manufacturer MPS has embraced hybrid label printing, which leverages its flexo expertise, in combination with that of Domino’s digital inkjet know-how. The EF SYMJET powered by Domino is a hybrid press that gives converters a range of new print potential with the combination of conventional and digital printing technologies. The press is built with the standard MPS EF platform and an integrated Domino digital N610i inkjet printer. With a Domino digital inkjet unit integrated on the EFS or EFA flexo platform, converters get the best of both worlds together in a future-proof press.
One such converter is New York-based DWS Printing & Packaging, which has invested in an EF SYMJET hybrid press. The company and its customers are reaping the benefits.
According to John Gulino, senior technical director at DWS, their press has been configured to meet the exact needs of the company. He explains, “We have two flexo stations in front for printing UV ink, we have cold foil, we have the Domino N610i with 7-colors, we have two flexo stations in the back for printing UV ink, we have a turn bar for two-sided printing, a lamination station, we have semi and full-rotary diecutting – and it’s all powered by one press console.”
Gulino adds, “Clients often come to us because we have our own in-house design team, and they’re looking for how we can make their labels better…One of our brewery clients wanted to put different dogs on all their beer labels, but they had no idea how to do that. We were able to show them how variable data can improve their selling ability. Without having the digital capabilities of Domino, we could not have done that with our traditional flexo or offset printing. So having the Domino hybrid technology has taken us to a completely different level.”
NeuraLabel
NeuraLabel has unveiled the NeuraLabel Callisto GHS label printer. The new printing solution prints durable, full-color labels at 90 fpm and can print various label sizes on the same device – up to 12" wide and 52" long. Converters have the option to print labels with variable information directly out of SAP, Nicelabel, Bartender, and others, along with BS5609-compliant labels that withstand 90-day saltwater submersion, UV exposure, and abrasion testing.
These water and chemical-resistant labels use pigment inks that withstand alcohol, acetone and more. Converters can produce 16,000-20,000 standard pages per color with extra high-yield ink cartridges. Plus, converters can print fanfold or roll-to-roll. NeuraLabel also offers a range of other printing products, from the NeuraLabel Sirius to the NeuraLabel 550e and 600e.
OMET
Italian press manufacturer Omet offers the XJet, a flexo + digital hybrid solution in collaboration with Durst, also an Italian OEM. The XJet combines the Omet modular platform with Durst’s Tau RCSi, with print widths of 13", 17", and 20". This all-in-one solution can be configured with any Omet high-performance printing, converting and finishing unit by combining digital, flexo, finishing, and converting modules all inline and in a single pass on the same press.
The machine features the benefits of digital technology, such as immediacy, variable data, personalization and high uptime, along with new high-performance features such as inline integration of finishing and converting units. Additionally, Omet flexo stations enable primers and special varnish application, Pantone or metalized color printing, compensating for technology limitations. Printers can choose the most convenient combination of technologies at every run, adapting the production to changeable market trends like personalization, just-in-time deliveries and final product valorization.
Nilpeter
The Panorama press portfolio from Nilpeter consists of a DP-3 digital inkjet unit, flexo units and converting solutions – all configured to fit customer needs – all inline, from a single supplier.  The digital hybrid configurations cover a wide and varied spectrum of customer needs and requirements – from stand-alone, to all-round, and value-added Panorama hybrids.
Along with the Panorama press, Nilpeter offers its Customer Care setup, with online trouble-shooting, onsite support, preventive maintenance program predictive diagnostics, and more.
PCMC
Paper Converting Machine Company (PCMC), part of Barry-Wehmiller, boasts the ION digital conversion system. This new flexible inkjet printing solution provides enhanced print quality for many platforms, including labels, folding cartons, flexible packaging and other specialty printing markets. With 1600 x 1585 dpi native resolution, the system can print in various modes at speeds up to 668 fpm.
The ION digital conversion system is powered by Memjet’s DuraLink technology. DuraLink combines long-life printheads, pigment ink and flexible modules that can be configured from 8.5" print widths up to 60". DuraLink’s aqueous pigmented ink set offers a durable, water and light-fast solution for a variety of digital print needs. With these features, PCMC can quickly and easily develop products for high-volume commercial, packaging and industrial printing markets.
The ION is a fully modular system and is available as a mono-color print-bar and full-color printing platform with expanded gamut printing. “We are excited to add ION digital to our product portfolio,” states Rodney Pennings, PCMC’s printing, coating and laminating sales director. “The combination of PCMC’s vast experience in flexographic printing with Memjet’s breakthrough inkjet technology results in a powerful solution for our customers in a variety of print and packaging markets.”
Screen Americas
Screen Americas has seen continued adoption of its Truepress Jet L350UV series, which just saw its 200th installation earlier in 2022. Launched in 2019, the Truepress Jet L350UV SAI joins earlier models like the Truepress Jet L350UV+ and Truepress Jet L350UV+LM and the original model, the Truepress Jet L350UV, to offer great stability with printing speeds of up to 60 m/m. The press also allows for seven printheads with the option for an eighth.
Screen Americas has announced a new high-opacity white mode as an option for its Truepress Jet L350UV SAI S. The new printing mode allows for reduced transparency when applying white ink on clear substrates. The upgrade provides additional value for label manufacturers, particularly those in the beverage industry, whose labels are printed on transparent substrates intended for green and brown bottles. The ink configuration of the Truepress Jet L350UV SAI S is CMYK plus white. Owners of the press have the option to add orange and blue to the arrangement. The standard speed using the CMYK+W configuration is 98.5 fpm with the option to upgrade to 165 fpm.
Since color accuracy is imperative for a brand’s image, the new high-opacity white ink printing mode has been designed to give owners of the Truepress Jet L350UV SAI S an edge on their competition. “It’s important that the colors in a brand’s logo are not altered due to the label being placed on a bottle, box, or other material that is already colored,” says Mark Schlimme, vice president of marketing for Screen Americas. “Furthermore, the overall quality of the image on a package or bottle can have an impact on whether or not someone decides to purchase that particular product.”
Xeikon
Xeikon has developed a versatile product portfolio featuring toner and inkjet presses. Most recently, Xeikon has combined its expertise in Cheetah (toner) and Panther (inkjet) technologies to offer label converters a hybrid solution. Xeikon has launched a fully digital hybrid based on its digital press (Cheetah or Panther series), the recently developed Xeikon Label Converting Unit (LCU) and its X-800 digital front-end. This solution can be configured to the needs of the converter and becomes a powerful production system enabling label converters to step up their productivity while remaining fully flexible for all their customers’ needs.
Dry-toner is a proven technology for all applications requiring adherence to high food safety standards while delivering high, matte-finished quality and achieving high quality on standard natural paper substrates (wine and spirits). Today, the second-generation Cheetah technology is used in Xeikon’s current dry-toner digital presses. Xeikon’s UV inkjet Panther Technology was introduced in 2017, with a specific focus on labels across industries requiring high durability, including the health and beauty markets. These applications make use of the key benefits of the features of UV inkjet such as scratch, scuff, and rub resistance.
“At Xeikon we take customer input seriously. Our solutions are cloud-connected, providing us with a lot of data on how the equipment is performing. This results in the ability to provide more automation in combining production runs to increase efficiency,” says Filip Weymans, Xeikon’s VP of marketing, “That is why, along with the presses, we develop fully digital converting and embellishing products, such as the Xeikon LCU, which can be configured into hybrid print and converting solutions.
“Some of our customers call a hybrid solution the best of both worlds,” adds Weymans. “All developments at Xeikon fit into our mantra of digitizing label manufacturing with the purpose of enabling label converters to develop a profitable and sustainable future-proof business.”