Packaging
HP Presents Digital Flexible Packaging Solutions at Interpack
Tuesday 29. April 2008 - HP Indigo presses Offer Packaging Printers a Range of Opportunities
HP announced today that it is showing end-to-end solutions for digital flexible packaging printing created on the HP Indigo press ws4500 at Interpack, 24 – 30 April, Düsseldorf, Germany.
The HP Indigo press is running on the HP stand (Hall 8A, Stand D25) to demonstrate how a digital packaging capability can create new revenue streams for packaging printers and better services for customers. Its ability to produce trial packaging, quickly and cost-effectively as well as short runs for specialist markets or customers, using its variable data capability, makes it the ideal complementary press for packaging printers.
A print server created in collaboration with EskoArtwork includes four dedicated tools for labels and packaging applications to provide enhanced quality and productivity. The HP SmartStream Packaging and Labels Server, powered by EskoArtwork, is a DFE server that establishes PDF 1.6 workflows, eliminates time needed to prepare files for raster image processing (RIPing), and enables on-screen soft proofing and ICC colour management. The HP Indigo Labels and Packaging Colour Kit, powered by EskoArtwork, is a high-end colour management solution that gives users the ability to cost-effectively and quickly match Pantone colours, flexography, offset, or other print outputs.
HP Indigo Labels and Packaging VDP Tools comprise Adobe Illustrator plug-ins offered as a package or stand-alone modules that enable variable-data, barcode, and step and repeat work in digital printing environments. The HP Indigo Labels and Packaging Connectivity Module is a driver that enables the HP Indigo Labels and Packaging Server to connect to the HP Indigo press, feeding up to four HP Indigo presses in a non-concurrent print mode.
Substrate versatility has always been the hallmark of HP Indigo presses and the HP Indigo press ws4500 can handle a range of substrates down to 12 microns including PP, OPP, PE, PET, PVC and PS/OPS (Polyolefin).
For label, shrink sleeve and flexible packaging printers, the HP Indigo press ws4500 offers opportunities for business development, enabling print service providers to offer new services to existing and potential customers.
The HP Indigo press ws4500 is being shown in conjunction with HP partner A B Graphic International, which will be showing its DigiLam laminator, designed for laminating foils destined for the food industry with speeds of up to 100m/minute.
New horizons for digital packaging printing
HP recently announced a future press for the industrial market, the HP Indigo WS6000 digital press. This press, scheduled for availability in 2009, is aimed at printers producing in excess of 300,000 linear metres (100,000m2) per month. The new press will run at 30 metres/minute (100 feet per minute), and has a larger format size of 317 x 980mm. Like the HP Indigo press ws4500, the HP Indigo WS6000 digital press has an EskoArtwork DFE and can print on substrates ranging from 12 – 450 microns.
The HP Indigo WS6000 digital press has an estimated “break even point” at 4000 metres (the point below which it is cheaper to print digital than to print on conventional presses) which encompasses an estimated 70 percent of packaging jobs.
The HP Indigo WS6000 digital press will complement the HP Indigo press ws4500, which will continue to be available and aimed at printers with a requirement for <500,000 linear metres per month.
Information about the HP Indigo WS6000 digital press is available at the HP stand.
Also on the HP stand at Interpack are HP thermal inkjet solutions for the pharmaceuticals market including the new HP Pharma Black thermal inkjet ink for use on capsules and tablets. Branding, logos, dosage information, and 1- and 2-D barcodes can be printed using this new ink in conjunction with HP OEM partner solutions.