Gulf Print and Pack 2024 technology preview

The show floor of Gulf Print & Pack 2024 will be full of diverse range of brand-new technology and software when the show returns on 9 -11 January at Dubai World Trade Center. Over 250 of the world’s leading industry greats will showcase live demonstrations of the latest innovations.

This year, visitors will see latest developments in print production technologies from leading manufacturers and suppliers for applications from labels, flexible packaging to commercial printing. Below is a short technology preview from some of the exhibitors at Gulf Print & Pack 2024.

AFRA International unveils Etirama SPS3 flexo press. The SPS3 is part of Etirama's Global Series press line, which was launched in 2023 to strengthen the company's global presence.

This servo-driven press boasts a 350mm web width and can accommodate up to 10 colors. It offers additional options, including cold foil, delam/relam, lamination, sheeter, and a turn bar for reverse printing. Its electronic pre-register system streamlines the setup process for small and medium-sized jobs, ensuring both speed and cost-effectiveness. The SPS3 is capable of running at speeds of up to 150 m/min.

Furthermore, this press is equipped with Industry 4.0 connectivity, allowing for remote technical assistance and real-time production tracking. The SPS3 can also handle various substrates, including self-adhesive materials, light cardboard, paper, and unsupported films, when equipped with UV LEDs or hot air curing.

Nilpeter promotes its FA-line of flexo press. The press comes with fixed operator panels at each flexo unit, which enables easy operator handling.

With its vertical auto-lock system, the printing sleeve cylinder is locked-in automatically via motors, with more precision, which secures stability throughout the printing process. The FA features web-driven impression rollers, with a special anti-slip surface treatment.

It has a modular unit concept to secure future requirements. It’s temperature-controlled inking system enables printing quality at any speed.

Onyx showcases its flexo press Onyx Go. This CI flexo press is available in two configurations: 8 and 10 colors, both with a maximum printing width of 1320mm and maximum print repeat of 720mm. The press runs at a speed of 400 m/min and its technology enables faster changeover with automatic impression setting and instantaneous register setting in less than 3 minutes. Its Active Start technology reduces the material waste at each startup to less than 20 m and increases production uptime. 

In addition, its Dynamic Doctoring ensures optimized ink flow and constant pressure within the doctoring chamber i.e ink volumes are minimized ensuring savings in consumption. Sprint Wash technology takes less than 3 minutes for a complete wash cycle and saves up to 40 percent in solvent consumption. 

Konica Minolta presents its AccurioLabel 400 digital label press. The AccurioLabel 400 prints at speeds up to 39.9 m/min CMYK and now has the option to add white. The press incorporates Konica Minolta’s Intelligent Quality Optimizer (IQ-520) color management functionality for real-time colour stability and registration control.

Xeikon brings its LION LX3000. With a web width of 330mm, the Xeikon Lion LX3000 is a five-color dry toner press that runs at 42m/min. This equates to a 40 percent speed increase from Xeikon’s current 30m/min capability. LX3000 can print on a broad range of self-adhesive substrates without priming, at 1200dpi. The press runs Xeikon’s new Eco toners, themselves made with more than 60 percent recycled content. Automated, precise quality control is delivered by Xeikon’s new Cruise Control, a system that utilizes advanced vision technology and artificial intelligence to continuously monitor and automatically adjust print production settings. Additionally, it provides quantitative data for monitoring overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).

Epson’s SurePress L-4733AW debuts on-stand, together with the ColorWorks C6500 and C4000 featuring cloud-enabled, on-demand colour label printing.

The SurePress L-4733AW short-run label press uses Epson’s AQ4 ink-set — CMYK with green, orange, and white — to deliver a wider color gamut and precise color matching on a greater variety of substrates.

Epson’s new cloud-enabled ColorWorks label printers connects to the enterprise business systems across multiple locations. Its automated labelling application eliminates human handling and also any potential human labelling errors. Catch a glimpse of the printers at the Epson stand at B2.

Heidelberg showcases digital technology with the new Versafire product range capable of printing banners up to 1,260mm and printing on paper media from 40 to 470g/m2 duplex. Heidelberg offers the fifth color as well for online finishing with a multitude of possible substrates.

Ricoh demonstrates Ricoh Pro C9500, RICOH Pro C7500 and RICOH Auto Color Adjuster. Ricoh Pro C9500 enables commercial specialists to accelerate their analog to digital transition or upgrade their print on demand-oriented digital capabilities. It is supported by RICOH GC OS (graphic communications operating system) engine controller that includes a larger screen with a user interface and is compatible with external diagnostic systems and maintenance programs.

The printer is accessible from a PC or tablet, and settings can be remotely managed. Automation and operational efficiency are powered by the new Auto Color Diagnosis Unit that automates quality, registration, and color fluctuation.  

The RICOH Pro C7500 is compatible with Ricoh's original special color toners that include white, clear, invisible red, gold, and silver. Its built-in new neon color profiles automatically add neon yellow and neon pink. 

The Pro C7500 has an elastic intermediate transfer belt to support rough or uneven textured media. It handles a wide range of grammages from 40gsm to 470gsm (compared to the maximum recommended grammage of 360gsm for the Pro C7200/x series) and is strengthened to support duplex printed long lengths up to 1030mm.

The RICOH Pro C7500 is also equipped with the RICOH GC OS. It also has a powerful DFE (Digital Front End) developed in collaboration with Fiery that drives operational effectiveness.

Ricoh’s Auto Color Adjuster helps commercial printers expand into color critical markets, increase production versatility, streamline production processes and improve the quality and consistency of the jobs they deliver.

GCG Kyocera features Taskalfa Pro 15000c. It is a color sheet-fed inkjet production printer and can print up to 150 ppm and can continuously print 9,000 A4-sized sheets per hour. It is equipped with an intuitive touch panel interface, a printer driver for Windows OS, and can be used as a high-speed multifunction printer in parallel with commercial printing.

It has a feed capacity of up to 14,950 sheets and an output of 15,200 sheets. It can produce standard controllers or optional Fiery print based on different commercial printing needs. LED light provides an indication to empty cassettes and the parts required for troubleshooting.

In addition, Multisystem Technology will be present to showcase its new XpertJet 1462UF A1+ size printer.

Amagic (also known as K Laser group) will be available to present its full array of holographic products.

Guangdong New Era Packaging Materials will bring its main products including BOPP packing tape, printed tape, colored tape, stationery tape, double side tape, masking tape, kraft paper tape, foam tape, electric tape, duct tape, aluminum tape, and adhesives.

Thermal Transfer Solutions will showcase its range of Thermal Transfer Overprinters for printing real-time and variable data, machine-readable codes and barcodes onto flexible packaging film and labels.

Frimpeks will demonstrate its flexible packaging adhesives.

Mondula will present its LED low migration UV adhesive luxbond LM 1200. 

Asia Pacific Paper Board Trading will present its comprehensive range of offset paper and paperboard made with 100 percent renewable fibers from sustainable sources.

YG group will exhibit its comprehensive range of adhesive products.

Cooluv Technology will showcase two of its UV LED curing systems: SuperCure series for narrow-web applications and UltraCure series for sheet-fed applications.