Business News

Xeikon attends Labelexpo Americas with largest portfolio of digital label presses

Thursday 02. September 2010 - Show marks announcement of Xeikon 3000 Series and first showing of Xeikon 3500 in North America

Xeikon is introducing the Xeikon 3000 Series, its expanded range of four dedicated digital label presses, at Labelexpo Americas in Chicago (14-16 September). With a prominent presence at the show in Booth 6135, Hall F, Xeikon will demonstrate its innovative and industry-leading digital label technology, together with its substrate, workflow and finishing partners. All the presses in the Xeikon 3000 series handle the entire gamut of digital label production right from data preparation through printing and finishing, with exceptional quality and color fidelity as demanded by brand owners.

“With Xeikon’s new and stronger portfolio on the show floor, we truly believe that Labelexpo Americas 2010 will mark the beginning of a new era in digital label production. Our new Xeikon 3500 press takes the breakeven point to more than 4,000 linear meters (~14,000 linear ft) as compared to conventional technologies. And our expanded Xeikon 3000 Series portfolio offers something for everyone who is seriously interested in the digital label market. Xeikon is proud to be a leader in accelerating the transition from analog to digital production in the growing label market,” says Filip Weymans, Business Development Manager Labels & Packaging, Xeikon.

“Over the past 15 years, digital label printing has grown to become a mainstream printing technology. Label converters worldwide have been investing in digital as it allows them to offer new services and cost-effective, innovative solutions to their customers. What’s more, by reducing printing costs they also become more competitive”, says Mike Fairley, Labels and Labelling Consultancy’s Managing Director. “Xeikon is one of the world’s key pioneers in developing digital label printing technology. The profitable installations of their presses with label converters worldwide demonstrate the added value offered by digital label printing.”

Largest portfolio of digital label presses
The Xeikon 3000 Series allows label printers and converters to take advantage of the right speed points, productivity and printing widths to optimize their label printing environments. All presses of the Xeikon 3000 Series deliver the same print quality, featuring true 1200 dpi resolution and are divided into two maximum web widths: 330 mm (13″) and 516 mm (20.3″). In addition, the QA-I FDA-compliant food-safe toner expands the range of applications digital label printers can address to include labeling or packaging with direct or indirect contact with dry food products. Combined with the broad array of substrates usable with these presses, it’s the most flexible portfolio of digital label solutions in the market(1).
· Xeikon 3030: the newly upgraded 330 mm (13″) web width entry model.
· Xeikon 3050: a new entry level digital printing solution for applications that benefit from a wider web width capability up to 516 mm (20.3″).
· Xeikon 3300: award-winning high-volume label press, with the most common 330 mm (13″) web width.
· Xeikon 3500: the new high-end press with wider 516 mm (20.3″) maximum web width.

A first for the US market
The Xeikon 3500, announced at Ipex in May 2010, will be demonstrated for the first time in North America at Labelexpo. The Xeikon 3500 will print a wide range of labels on a variety of different substrates during live demonstrations throughout the show. Its inline finishing system, UCoat, will apply flood varnish and include slitting and rewinding.

The Xeikon 3500 handles web widths up to 516 mm (20.3″) and prints at a speed of 19.2 m/min (63 ft/min), regardless of the number of colors used or the size of the labels, making it almost twice as productive as its closest competitor. This flagship label press is ideal for the production of self-adhesive and heat transfer labels. It is standard-equipped with five color stations: four for the standard process colors (CMYK), while the fifth allows the use of spot colors. The press can also apply a special security toner for anti-counterfeiting applications, and ‘one-pass’ opaque white to create a desired ‘no-label or label-less look’ on transparent labels.

Xeikon 3030 at the Printing Technology Workshop
Xeikon is also supporting the Printing Technology Workshop during Labelexpo Americas and will demonstrate the Xeikon 3030 press in this area. This is a newly upgraded entry level press for up to 330 mm (13″) reel widths and a printing speed up to 9.6 m/min (31.5 ft/min). The Printing Technology Workshop is a new initiative of the Labelexpo show management that will educate visitors on new opportunities outside conventional labels and allows them to compare the printed results of four different printing technologies: digital dry toner technology with the Xeikon 3030, digital liquid toner, UV inkjet and high definition flexography.

Real-world applications
A range of different substrates are being printed on both Xeikon presses during the show. Many of these substrates are standard flexo materials. At the show, Xeikon partners up with Fasson to produce ‘label-less’ and ‘no label look’ applications on Fasson Clear BOPP material and with Manter for wine label applications. Raflatac white BOPP label substrate is used for pharmaceutical labels; MACtac paper label material for food applications and Masterpiece Graphix for metalized paper label applications.

Xeikon is working with its industry partners at the show to demonstrate real-world solutions. Newfoil (booth 1829) will produce Xeikon printed wine labels by adding hot foil stamping, die-cutting and embossing. The integration between Xeikon presses and its software and workflow partners will also be demonstrated, reproducing the real-world system used by Dutch label printer W&R Etiketten. This configuration combines the EskoArtwork automated workflow solutions and CERM Management Information System (MIS) to create a streamlined and JDF-connected production process, outputting to the Xeikon 3500 on the stand. Prism MIS will demonstrate an integrated system with Xeikon X-800 and the separate Prisme web2print will bring a web2print solution to the show.

Visitors to Xeikon’s Labelexpo Americas stand 6135 will also have the opportunity to speak with Xeikon and partner experts to assist in determining the best end-to-end solution for each individual business. Companies interested in becoming a Xeikon dealer, specifically for the Latin-America market, are also kindly invited to visit the Xeikon stand for more information.