New HP Indigo press pushes at flexo boundaries

The HP Indigo 8000 digital press is constructed from two WS6800 print engines in line, with a common infeed and outfeed. In operation, the web is accelerated into the first engine which prints an entire frame, then leaves a frame blank in a ‘chequerboard’ pattern which the company calls ‘stamp and run’. The second engine, in ‘master-slave’ mode, prints a perfectly registered frame in the gaps, creating a continuous roll of printed labels.

AB Graphic’s Fast Track semi-rotary die (patent applied for GB1509471.7) has a repeat range of 250-508mm, and is built into a Digicon Series 3 converting line. Fast Track can be configured either in- or off-line with the 8000 press. In-line it matches the speed of the 8000, and in off-line mode reaches speeds up to 150m/min.

The 8000 press can be seen in action at drupa, and its commercial launch will be at Labelexpo Americas 2016 in September.

And in an important move for the package printing market, HP has introduced Indigo Pack Ready, which involves working with third parties to deliver complete ecosystems around the digital press, including materials handling and finishing.

The first launch under the Pack Ready banner is a lamination system built to the same format as the 20000 flexible packaging press, for the production of high-performance applications such as retort pouches.

Unique to this system is zero curing time lamination. HP Indigo has developed a resin which allows a laminating film to form an instant and strong bond with the Indigo-printed substrate using nip pressure and heat. Commercialization has been set for 2017.

Other announcements in package printing include an external high volume Premium White ElectroInk dispenser for the HP Indigo 20000 press which accepts 20 kilogram pails, and a fast change sleeve flexo unit for the Tresu i3000 in-line double coating unit on the 30000 press for applying gold and silver inks.

Both presses have now been qualified for a wider range of materials: the 20000 for PE and the 30000 for metallized board, synthetics and dark materials.