Xeikon targeting big growth in folding cartons

Xeikon has made a number of developments in its technology in relation its folding carton suite, including the launch of the Alpine fuser drum and the Durable Clear toner, which it said has made its technology better suited to folding carton printing. It has also introduced a five-color variant of its 3000 series featuring orange and CMYK, which is being offered as a standard configuration to folding carton printers.

Filip Weymans, business development manager for labels and packaging at Xeikon, said: ‘Our strategy is to pursue growth in the folding carton market.

‘At the moment, self-adhesive labels account for around 75 percent of our business, with the other quarter attributed to heat transfer, in-mold label and folding carton printing. Our intention is to grow our folding carton market presence, and to make it as big as self-adhesive labels.’

Xeikon’s presence at shows has included a strong focus on the folding carton market for some time already, including partaking in the Package Printing Workshop feature areas at Labelexpo Europe 2011 and 2013, and Labelexpo Americas 2012, and its folding carton suite being on show at Ipex 2014, in partnership with supplier companies from its Aura Partner Network. This included Zünd and its S3 digital cutting machine.

The Xeikon Café, taking place May 20-22 May in Antwerp, Belgium, will take this a step further by focusing on packaging innovation revolving around digital printing.

Xeikon itself will have a fully equipped 3000 series digital press running across the three-day event, while partners and other suppliers with an interest in digital folding carton production will exhibit their technologies to attendees. This is to include: Actega, Argos Solutions, Michelman and Squid Inks from the consumables and tools segment; finishing specialists AB Graphic, Bograma, KAMA and Highcon; print media companies 3M, Iggesund, Stora Enso, Treofan and UPM; software suppliers including CERM, Chili Publish, Hybrid Software and Labeltraxx; as well as RotoMetrics, Meech and ThermoflexX.

The Xeikon Café Packaging Innovations will have three strands, covering both the business and technical aspects of digital package printing, as well as the table-top exhibition. Partners and suppliers will give presentations regarding technical topics, with converters who have already adopted digital to provide a corporate perspective.

‘There is a great opportunity in digital folding carton printing, and the Xeikon Café Packaging Innovations will provide an informal knowledge exchange platform covering the different aspects of digitizing print production,’ said Weymans.