“This HP Indigo 8000 is the latest generation of the Series 3 label press, with speeds as high as 80mpm, and we’re showing it at Labelexpo in-line with a Digicon Series 3 and a lot of automation. It has a semi-auto turret rewinder on the back-end and has generated a lot of interest,” said Currie Group Director of Label & Packaging ANZ, Mark Daws, when he spoke to “Labels Plus” in Brussels. “We expect to see another one of these in Australia very soon.”
He said the Indigo 8000 allowed converters to work across a wide range of products, including pressure-sensitive labels and shrink sleeves, with easy and quick changeovers. “It can print on substrates from 12 micron to 450 micron including off-the-shelf substrates with in-line priming. HP Indigo ElectroInk Premium White delivers high opacity white in a one-pass process, which we believe will open up new digital opportunities.”
Mark said this press was totally new, targeting almost a cross-over into the flexo market space. “We have a press that delivers very good speed, suitable for short and long runs, and a platform that benefits from digital technology.
“The latest generation of the much anticipated Indigo Silver ElectroInk is in the final stages of a very successful beta trial, and we’ll be launching very early in the New Year. It is going to open up a whole range of new applications, for wine, beverage, and health care markets, to name just a few.”
Mark said the company had also released the HP Indigo Pack Ready Lamination for flexible packaging, production, enabling rapid time to market. “Developed and patented by HP, Pack Ready is designed to maximise the value of Indigo digital print for labels and packaging. This easy-to-use ecosystem, lowers entry barriers with a variety of HP qualified material and hardware solutions.
“HP is now introducing the Pack Ready Coating solution, to extend the application range of digitally-printed flexible packaging, to high-performance applications such as retort. It has an industrial focus and by adding a few additives to varnishes that people would be familiar with – and introducing a new primer for the in-line priming unit – you can change the structure of the ink. We cross-linked the structure to achieve the scuff resistance, chemical resistance, water and thermal resistance. It makes for an extremely durable label.”
Another hit with converters attending the show, the HP Indigo GEM – a fully-digital one-pass printing press for embellishing with foil, screen, tactile, varnish, and other special effects, using one workflow, one operator, and one design file – without the need for tooling. The HP Indigo GEM utilises GEM Coat and GEM Clear, sold by HP Indigo. Developed with JetFX, shipping of the GEM is expected to begin in the spring of 2018. “The unit we showed at Brussels with the 6800 press, can have a retro-fitted table added to existing machines in the market,” said Mark. “We can achieve digital embellishments that are as unique as the image, running at the speeds the machine runs at, and already have an order for one of them.”
The last press on show was the HP Indigo 20000, a multi-faceted machine that can do labels, added Mark, but is also for companies who are already in packaging or who want to move into packaging. “It will deliver high quality for shorter runs and quick changeover. The kind of work which is growing extremely fast in the Australian and New Zealand markets.”
For more information contact Mark Daws, Director – Labels & Packaging ANZ, Currie on +61 ( 0 )411 755 400 or visit www.curriegroup.com.au
Caption:
Mark Daws said the new HP Indigo Silver ElectroInk is in its last stages of trialling before release and is ideal for the high-end products like wine, beverage and healthcare.
Caption
HP Indigo GEM – fully-digital one-pass for foil, tactile, and other special embellishments from one design file, without the need for tooling.
