Labelexpo India 2022 - press technology

At Labelexpo India 2022, the show floor was buzzing with the noise of running machines on all four days. Indian press manufacturers dominated the show floor, showcasing the latest technology from servo-driven flexo presses to hybrid digital technology with flexo and  in-line finishing and converting options. Digital print technology manufacturers
also launched new presses with high-speed print capabilities along with in-line finishing options for multiple product applications. Western press manufacturers also had a presence in the region, but not with a press on display. Manufacturers of both flexo and digital presses reported multiple sales during the show.

Academi a. promoted Etirama presses at an exclusive exhibition rate for the first time at Labelexpo India. 

Gujarat-based flexo press manufacturer AKO Flexo participated for the first time at Labelexpo India 2022. The company displayed its 330mm 8-color flexo printing machine with add-on features.

AKO Flexo is a joint venture based across China and India. The presses are designed and manufactured in Shanghai,
China, using European and Japanese ancillary components. A production facility is planned for Ahmedabad, India, which is currently a demo center. Other demo centers are in Hyderabad and in East Africa.
The company says it has over 80 Delta press installations globally, including five in India.

The Delta press is available in widths of 330, 420 and 520mm. It is servo-driven and features horizontal die-cutting units, semi-turret rewinder options, auto pre and
re-registration, dual servos in each print station, temperature-controlled ink chamber, quick load anilox and plate system. Large diameter chill drums increase the substrate range from 12 microns up to 300 microns. Options include rotogravure and screen units.

Arrow Digital unveiled ArrowJet Aqua 330r Hybrid Pro at the show. The ArrowJet Aqua 330r Hybrid Pro uses water-based pigment inks in a single-pass inkjet system. It utilizes Memjet Duraflex technology and prints at 1600 x1600 dpi at speeds of up to 45 m/min on a width of 12.27in with inline
priming, digital printing, and varnishing on the same line.

The water-based pigment inks are Nestle compliant, which is critical for the food and pharma industry. It can print micro text with a sharpness of 2pt size.

Epson relaunched its range of SurePress digital label presses in India after a four-year break. The company promoted its presses at the show.

Konica Minolta demonstrated its AccurioLabel 230 digital press along with the AccurioPro Label Impose workflow tool
for digital label production. The company also showcased label samples produced on the newly launched Accuriolabel 400 press. Important new developments on the Accuriolabel 400 include a white toner, improved print speeds of up to 39.9 m/min and enhanced print quality.

Monotech Systems showcased its Colornovo hybrid and KolorSmart+ 6-color and 7-color UV inkjet label production
presses equipped with inline finishing and converting options, along with a new version of the 4-color ColorAqua, an entry-level digital label production system equipped with inline flexo finishing options.

The company launched and offered live demonstrations of its dSpark UV inkjet digital varnish and cold foiling press. A
Ricoh sheetfed digital label production press was also shown live at the show.

The company sold a Jetsci Global Colornovo Hybrid press to Noida-based Shriram Veritech Solutions, part of Shriram
Group of Companies, on the third day of Labelexpo India 2022. It also sold ColorAqua Hybrid press to Wonderpac.

Monotech also launched a blockchain-based product authentication system that uses hidden images built into label artwork as an ID source. The company’s Tracesci
track-and-trace system is designed to combat counterfeit and product diversion in the supply chain.

The base system uses a digitally printed personalized QR code on the label to identify the individual product. Customized apps are made available to consumers and audit inspectors to verify a product’s authenticity. Alerts can be automatically sent based on Geo Data analysis and consumer interaction with the app to allow brand owners to respond to possible breaches in the supply chain for
their products.

A new development for Tracesci, launched at Labelexpo India 2022, is for labels too small to include a usable QR
code - or where the brand owner does not want a QR code intruding on the label design. In this case a hidden graphic is incorporated into the artwork, triggering the app.

The Tracesci system has two models depending on the scale of the user. The Cloud Solution is targeted at small
brands and companies without their own technical teams. The Enterprise Solution is targeted at large corporations, big brands, government departments and similar-sized organizations.

Multitec displayed its S1 full servo press in an 8-color 450mm configuration. The press is equipped with a combination of LED and UV dryers, multi-layer coupon label kit and new operator friendly features.

The company also showcased the new E4 press with twin servo technology and a full LED UV configuration.

A QSR Slitter rewinder with 100 percent defect detection ran live at the show. Visitors saw live demonstrations of
printing on thin substrates including 12-micron PET, 2-layer labels and features such as auto‑registration. The company
introduced several new features in its presses at the show.

Flexo Image Graphics, Mark Andy’s representative in India, promoted its newest flexo and digital/hybrid technology. It
signed several contracts, mainly with Indian and Chinese companies.

Omet promoted its range of printing presses, their features, advantages and the new technologies developed by the
company. In particular, it promoted the new KFlex flexo press.

The KFlex is a new fully servo-driven model with a web width of 430mm or 530mm and a maximum printing
speed of 200m/min. The Switch system allows the press to be quickly adapted to new production needs using
interchangeable modules.

HP Indigo in collaboration with Technova Imaging Solutions showcased an HP Indigo 6K digital press, with applications shown across labels, shrink sleeves and flexible packaging with live demonstrations. The company announced the sale of the 6K press to Wonderpac on the first day of the show.

Pulisi launched its Aobead digital press using Epson PrecisionCore printheads with LED-UV curing and capable of printing an additional digital varnish in the same pass. The press has a total of eight print stations and incorporates two flexo units. Configured with chill drums the press can handle materials down to 20 microns, opening up applications in flexible packaging and unsupported label materials.

The Aobead press is currently manufactured in China, but an additional production facility will be opened in India in
the near future.

The press will be distributed in the US and Mexico by Ajay Mehta. Mehta is a well-known figure in the Indian label
industry as the founder of self-adhesive laminate manufacturer SMI, which he recently sold to Jindal.

Representing Taiyo Kikai Japan, Standard Printers Providers promoted Taiyo’s UV flexo narrow web label press capable of handling a wide range of substrates including paper, films, light-weight carton and laminates.

Vinsak promoted Lombardi range of flexo presses including the newly launched I2 mid-web press, along with the Iwasaki range of semi-rotary presses including the newly
launched IF 330 intermittent flexo press.

Printing and converting machine supplier S Kumar sold multiple presses at the show. Shri Morya Labels in Mumbai bought a 6-color UV label press and Maurya Labels
in Mumbai purchased a fully loaded 6-color flexo press. S Kumar is also the distributor of Zonten machines in India. The supplier sold multiple Zonten presses at Labelexpo
India 2022 including the three machines on display at its stand.

Press manufacturer Webtech International Machineries launched its latest generation Labeltech X1 Series
flexo press in an 8-color, 410mm wide configuration.

Domino was showcasing its K600i monochrome UV inkjet unit for adding variable data at speeds up to 150m/min. Applications include printing serial barcodes and single-color variable data.

UV Graphics booth launched the Ultraflex Dominator hybrid press. The press consists of four flexo print stations,
a Domino N600i 7-color engine and a retractable Domino K600i module for variable data or variable varnish. The press is equipped with semi-rotary die-cutting units, but converters can add an optional laser die-cutting unit.

Also on the booth was the Ultraflex UFO 450 8-color flexo press configured with full LED-UV, delam and relam, turn bar, peel and seal and cold foil, with the facility for extended content label production. The manufacturer secured five orders during the first two days of the show.

NBG Printographic Machinery demonstrated a 430mm (17in)-wide 8-color Starflex narrow web press, capable
of printing at up to 200m/min. The press was demonstrated with LED-UV curing throughout, printing with Siegwerk inks and including a cold foil station.

The Starflex press at the show was configured with a servo-driven web transport and shaft-driven print units, and achieved speeds up to 200m/min. Optionally the press can be delivered with servo-driven print units.

It comes with a range of options including offset, letterpress, screen, gravure and digital modules. With chill drums it will handle unsupported films down to 12 microns.