HP Indigo develops combination process featuring digital print and embellishment technology

The HP Indigo Digital Combination Printing concept incorporates HP Indigo print hardware and digital embellishment technology from JetFx, creating a fully digital, one pass system. In-line/off-line converting can then be applied to the printed job. This new digital combination concept is being shown as a technology demonstration at drupa 2016. It is expected to be officially introduced in 2017, and is expected to go under a different name when launched.

It enables streamlined production of digital spot and tactile varnishes, and digital foils, as well as embellishments of virtually unlimited designs made possible using HP SmartStream Mosaic. It can run at full press speeds, and is shown initially with a WS6800 running at 40m/min, but also works with the new HP Indigo 8000 at up to 80m/min.

The combination line is able to produce a wide variety of jobs, opening new opportunities to add value to pressure sensitive labels, sleeves and more, as well as in narrow web packaging, such as light cartons and tubes, according to HP Indigo.

The HP Indigo stand at drupa 2016, occupying the whole of hall 17 and the largest ever presence by a digital press vendor at a drupa event, also presented Pack Ready, the company’s new zero cure lamination process for flexible packaging. A Karlville Pack Ready laminator, as detailed here, was shown connected to a tna solutions vertical FFS machine and converting samples of packaging printed each morning on an HP Indigo 20000 digital press. 20000 and 30000 digital presses were also being demonstrated, as was Tresu’s iCoat 30000 and Comexi’s Nexus L20000 laminator.

A number of sales have also been confirmed by HP Indigo at drupa 2016, including 8000 digital presses for Rako Group and Sweden’s StrongPoint Labels, who are to act as the beta test sites for the line launched earlier this year, and detailed here.