Toner technology holds its lead

Despite the rise of inkjet, toner remains the dominant digital label printing technology. It is present in a wide range of OEM print engines from full production to benchtop scale, but the leading proponents by far remain HP Indigo and Xeikon.

HP Indigo has the largest number of digital press installations and continues to develop its ‘third generation’ narrow web WS4600 and WS6600 press technology, with the new WS8600 generation to be launched at Labelexpo Americas (see news starting p10).

At Labelexpo Europe last year the company launched a silver ink and an enhancement package for the WS6600 including version 4.0 of the SmartStream Labels and Packaging Workflow Suite, HP Indigo Print Care 2.0, a new set of consumables and a high-slip white ink for shrink sleeves.

HP Indigo’s fourth generation presses, the 20000 and 30000, are now entering the market after a number of years of development and testing. At the recent Interpack show, the 30in-wide, roll-to-roll 20000 press, designed for producing a diverse range of products including flexible packaging, labels and shrink sleeves on film or paper from 0.4-10pt thickness, was officially launched.