Press technology at Labelexpo Americas 2024

Labelexpo Americas 2024 features an exciting range of flexo and digital press technology, including the first US showing for presses from Mark Andy, Canon, HP, Nilpeter, Durst and Omet.  

Flexo bounces back

Labelexpo Americas sees flexography making a big comeback after an absence at the last show, both as standalone presses and in hybrid inkjet configurations.
 
A key trend at the show is towards mid-web flexography, with both Mark Andy and Nilpeter showing 26in/670mm-wide presses.

We first saw the growing interest in mid-web flexo at Labelexpo Europe last year. The wider web width of these machines allows them to print larger format packaging products including flexible packaging, in-mold labels and shrink sleeves two or more up on the same web.

These products can of course be printed on narrower web machines, but only 1-up, which creates more waste and is less efficient. 

Some converters are even using mid-web presses to print multiple lanes of self-adhesive labels roll-to-roll, then slitting and finishing off-line.

It is interesting that HP demonstrates its mid-web format 200k press for the first time with an add-on slitter precisely to allow label converters to adopt this print-and-slit inline and finish off-line PS label workflow.

Similarly, wraparound labels can be produced more efficiently at higher volumes.
So the mid-web press is a highly versatile tool which allows converters to enter new market segments or to be more efficient in markets where they already operate.

Mark Andy will use Labelexpo Americas 2024 for the global launch of its new P-series S9 press, engineered for both flexible packaging and labels markets. Using sleeve technology, the press will be available in a 22in as well as 26in format.

Nilpeter’s mid-web FA-26 makes its North American market debut following its launch at Labelexpo Europe last year, when the company made multiple sales off the show floor.
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Labelexpo Americas 2024 also has a lot to offer in the more traditional narrow web flexo widths. 

Nilpeter introduces its new FB-14/-17, which sits between the FB workhorse and the more advanced FA-line, offering more automation at an investment level affordable to a broader segment of converters.

Hontec demonstrates its FlexiCon servo-driven press, available in 350/460/570mm (13/17/22in) web widths, supporting up to 12 colors with capabilities including cold foil, delam/relam and lamination. It operates at speeds up to 150m/min with Industry 4.0 connectivity.

Standalone digital 

Labelexpo Americas 2024 sees the North American launch of Canon’s first water-based digital press, the LabelStream LS2000. The LabelStream prints at 40m/min CMYK + White and features a new 2400 x 1200 DPI printhead with ink recirculation and food-safe inks developed specifically for those printheads. 

HP demonstrates an HP Indigo 6k press along with a range of associated software services including PrintOS Spot Master, XR Services, security and brand protection, sustainability (with the CO2 calculator), and an extensive customer application showcase.
 
Domino shows its latest 7-color (CMYKOVW) N730i digital press incorporating 1200 x 1200dpi Bitstar inkjet head technology from parent company Brother Corporation.

Konica Minolta demonstrates its entire labels portfolio, headed up by the AccurioLabel 400, offering CMYK and a new fifth station white dry-toner, the established AccurioLabel 230 digital toner press and the JETvarnish 3D Web 400 web-fed digital embellishment system that integrates spot UV varnish, hot foil stamping and variable data Printing in a single pass. 

Hybrid on a roll

Hybrid flexo-digital presses are another key feature of this Labelexpo Americas 2024.
 
Omet launches into the North American market its new KJet hybrid digital press developed in partnership with Durst and first seen at drupa. The press is built on the modular base of Omet’s K-Flex flexo press and incorporates the latest Durst RSCi digital print engine.
 
Mark Andy shows a range of hybrid solutions. On the Domino stand is a Mark Andy Pro Series flexo press integrated with a Domino K600i dual UV inkjet print bar and K300 high-speed monochrome variable data printing unit. Mark Andy demonstrates the veteran 2200 flexo press integrated with a Domino IQ-R digital engine based around Domino’s established 7-color N610i technology. Mark Andy also shows the latest version of its Digital Series HD hybrid press with a new front end.

Bobst brings its ‘All-in-One’ Digital Master 340 to the show, featuring integrated control of both digital and conventional print and finishing modules from a single interface. Bobst has updated its Accucheck inline inspection and calibration system to include
automatic quality inspection at job set-up and job queue synchronization along with enhanced automatic nozzle compensation.

Heidelberg/Gallus will use Labelexpo Americas 2024 to launch its Gallus One digital press into a fully-fledged hybrid press. Gallus’ ‘System to Compose’ allows any modules of the Labelmaster press to be combined with the Gallus One. Similarly, a Gallus One print engine can be retrofitted to an existing Labelmaster line. The company has announced availability of a 430mm/17in Gallus One to go alongside the existing 340mm/13in frame, bringing the digital press into line with the Labelmaster format range. Gallus has also announced the addition of Orange and Violet inks to the Gallus One CMYK+W ink set. 

Flexo presses and finishing equipment can also gain hybrid capabilities by adding a press-wide print bar, capable of jetting a variable spot varnish, tactile finish, opaque white, spot color or cold foil. At Labelexpo Americas 2024 JetFX demonstrates its print bar both in standalone operation and as part of a laminator adding variable tactile effects to flexible packaging.

Digital Print Inc (DPi) introduces its M7 13in-wide UV inkjet print bar for flexo presses or converting systems. It operates at speeds of 800 fpm with a resolution of 600dpi for printing variable barcodes, text and graphics. 

Fujifilm Integrated Inkjet Solutions presents the 46kUV Printbar System UV printbar for label imprinting. Operating at speeds up to 500 fpm(152 m/min) at 1200x600 DPI, the 46kUV printbar is available in 13-, 17-, and 20-inch print widths. Also shown is the DE1024 digital embellishment system which adds gloss or tactile effects to existing analog or digital print production. It can seamlessly integrate into existing label presses and other narrow-web machines.

In-line digital

While flexo presses have added digital capabilities, digital presses are integrating flexo press equipment.

Dantex, for example, presents its PicoJet 1200 digital inkjet technology which can also be configured as a hybrid press including flexo, die-cut, cold foil, lamination, edge trim, back scoring and rotary or shear slitting.
 
Shenzhen Runtianzhi Digital Equipment Co marks the global launch of the Flora J-350 P8 HD UV inkjet label press which can be configured with inline flexo, cold foil, varnishing and laminating modules.

The press prints at a resolution up to 1200x1200dpi at 100m/min (328ft/min), supporting a CMYK+W+0/V color configuration. Media range is between 0.04-0.35mm on coated paper, synthetic paper or films. The Flora J-350 P8 HD has a maximum roll diameter of 1,000mm. 

Pulisi brings its DPIM-330F digital press which can be configured with flexo, cold foil, digital varnish and laminating stations. Mark Andy demonstrates the Digital Pro MAX integration of Konica Minolta’s ACL400 toner engine with semi-rotary die cutting.

Arrow Systems launches its ArrowJet 330R M Series water-based inkjet press with a modular design which allows customers to integrate a range of in-line technologies such as priming, varnish, lamination and slitting. The press prints at 1600x1600dpi resolution.
 
Anytron showcases its Any-Jet II Plus digital press line, which includes built-in laminating and laser cutting to deliver roll-to-roll labels in a single pass.
 
Systems integrator General Inkjet Technology (GIT), launches in the US its Label Modular 330HD 1200x1200dpi printhead. The 330HD system can be configured with up to 9 color channels and a maximum printing speed up to 229fpm/70m/min. It can be configured with inline modules including coating, printing, varnishing, foil-stamping and cold-stamping.

Systems for in-house or a label converter’s bureau operation are also on show. iSys promotes its Horizon toner-based label press printing at speeds up to 55ft/min for short run production on a variety of die-cut, kiss-cut or roll substrates.  AstroNova and its newly acquired subsidiary, MTEX NS will showcase the TrojanLabel T2-Pro and Atom 3 + Cutmaster technology.

In conclusion, Labelexpo Americas 2024 will be a landmark show to see the key trends in the conversion of labels and flexible packaging. Flexo is differentiating itself with wider and more automated machinery, while narrow web flexo is integrating digital print and decoration technology. Digital is transforming in terms of speed and print resolution and taking full advantage of flexo automation to integrate conventional finishing and imaging technology, both in- and off-line. 

Equipment launches at the show continue to grow, so make sure you continue to check the website.