Page 36 - Print21 November-December 2022

Labelexpo highlights
The floor of the Chicago expo centre had plenty of new development
for visitors to peruse, Print21 looks at some of the technology highlights.
ESKO
The recent acquisition of Tilia Labs, coupled with the announcement of a new partnership, helped ensure Esko attracted a crowd of visitors at this year’s Labelexpo Americas.
The global developer of integrated software and hardware solutions
for label professionals used this year’s event to showcase how its latest innovations empower label businesses to improve ways of working, eradicate waste and optimise operational processes.
And in the wake of the acquisition
of Tilia Labs just weeks before, the opening day announcement of
a collaboration to deliver a new connection between GMG’s profiling and colour prediction solution,
GMG OpenColor, and Esko’s native prepress editing software, ArtPro+ , meant the Esko booth was a hive of activity throughout the event.
MARK ANDY
Mark Andy, supplied in ANZ by Aldus, had a strong focus on digital transformation and end-to-end workflow, embellishing, die-cutting and production automation.
It was the first public showing of Mark Andy’s digital press incorporating Konica Minolta’s AccurioLabel 400 toner-based print engine. The press
is configured as standard with five colours, CMYK and white, printing at speeds up to 130 ft/min in roll-to-roll and hybrid configuration.
Mark Andy was showcasing its latest production inkjet press, the Digital Series iQ. The iQ is built on Mark Andy’s Evolution Series flexo platform for application flexibility. It was developed for converters looking to start their digital transformation using proven inkjet printing and converting technology.
Completing the digital line-up was a Digital Series HD press – configured with four flexo units and with in-line flexo varnish and die-cutting.
Mark Andy gave a world premiere for the Digital Pro MAX. It offers CMYK + white at up to 49m/min, beginning with roll-to-roll, and adding flexo spot colour printing with up to three flexo stations before or after the digital engine. Cold
foil and lamination stations can be added at any time.
ABG
It was the first time that ABG has showcased its non-stop converting line at an exhibition. The company has had a great deal of success with its non-stop solutions since Enprom became part of ABG.
Of particular interest on the
stand at Labelexpo was ABG’s flagship machine, the Digicon
Series 3, displayed for beverage specification, including Big Foot and Flat Bed Screen. With the Digicon and a DigiJet running the same samples during the show, visitors were able to see the differences in finishing capabilities between the two machines.
The new Omega SRI3 digital label finishing system, being showcased with new functionalities, was also popular, as was ABG's DigiLase for roll-to-roll, individual pieces and A4 sheets, complete with its new decal option and ease of use for operators, while being fully retrofittable, DigiLite. DigiLase was shown with
a new decal option for roll-to-roll, individual pieces and A4 sheets; and an RTS Sheeter.
HP INDIGO
HP has a full range of digital presses for labels, flexibles, and cartons, including the narrow web digital press, the V12, which was shown at Labelexpo, and which will compete on speed with analogue presses, running at 120 metres a minute. The Series 6 V12 will print in 12 colours at 1600dpi.
Key benefits of the HP Indigo V12 Digital Press include printing up
to six colours at 120 linear metres per minute (400 f/pm), using six inline imaging engines running simultaneously. It is able to produce up to 130,000 linear metres per day with one operator. A new high definition (HD) imaging system on press provides 1600 dpi resolution. There can be up to 12 colours on press, with the ability to change inks on-the-fly and create any combination of colours.
The HP Indigo V12 will print
on a wide range of substrates, from 12 micron film to 450
micron (18pt) board. It supports pressure-sensitive, sleeves, flexible packaging, tubes, IMLs.
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