HP Indigo launches Pack Ready Coating

HP Indigo Pack Ready Coating enables HP indigo printed and laminated material to support high-performance flexible packaging applications such as retort pouches. Retort pouches, used to package heat-treated food, are the fastest-growing application in flexible packaging industry, and are now addressable with digital printing technology for the first time with Pack Ready Coating.

Switzerland’s Wipf, an HP Indigo digital press user, has been evaluating HP Indigo Pack Ready Coating for several months, and Othmar Wohlhauser, its chief technology officer, commented that the technology will provide the converter to deliver innovative, high-performance applications, as well as reduce time-to-market for our customers.

‘Our customers are already impressed with the performance of the digitally-printed retort pouches, and we truly believe that the new Pack Ready Coating technology – in combination with our existing HP Indigo 20000 – is a true game-changer for the industry.’

Also now commercially available is the HP Bulk Solvent Ink System, which leverages HP thermal inkjet 2.5 printhead technology for high-volume industrial coding and marking applications for packaging, providing clear, legible small-character printing. The HP Bulk Solvent Ink System features a new easy-to-use print cartridge and a 400ml ink cartridge for a maintenance-free, high-uptime production environment with lower total cost of ownership. OEMs can leverage the system to develop printers for the coding and marking sector. The modular system, proven components, reference documentation and engineering support, enable HP OEM customers to develop printers for the coding and marking sector with increased design flexibility, shorter time to market and a lower investment. HP collaborated with Inc.jet and HSA Systems to develop the new HP Bulk Solvent Ink System.

HP Indigo general manager Alon Bar-Shany said: ‘Steady demand for customized, short-run packaging is driving a paradigm shift in the packaging industry, and converters are seeking solutions to maintain profitability in the face of change. Leading converters worldwide are turning to HP’s proven digital labels and packaging printing portfolio, including the HP Indigo 20000 and end-to-end solutions like Pack Ready Coating and the HP Bulk Solvent Ink System, to not only adapt, but thrive in today’s packaging market.’