HP launches dedicated packaging presses

HP Indigo has announced the launch of dedicated digital carton and flexible packaging presses.
 
The presses are based around the printing engine on the new B2 format 10000 sheet-fed press also announced by HP Indigo today.
 
The Indigo 20000 is dedicated to flexible packaging and labels and the 30000 to folding cartons. Both presses will have in-line priming stations and the seven-color one shot print engine. Finishing partners will be announced later today.
 

The 20000 press (pictured, above) is roll-fed with a 30in (76.2cm) print width. There will be a special opaque white and workflow optimized for variable data and color management, in a system co-developed with EskoArtwork.

The 30000 (pictured, above) is a sheet-fed press with a format of 75 x 53cm, and will handle substrates up to 600 microns/24 points, printing at 4,600 sheets per hour.

HP Indigo worked closely on the development of its new digital packaging presses with Jay Dollries at US converter and digital pioneer Innovative Label Solutions (ILS).

These are big machines, weighing around 11t and are based around fourth generation imaging and media handling systems. The 10000 B2 commercial offset press (pictured, below) will go into beta testing later this year, and the two packaging presses will enter beta round the same time next year.
 

Alon Bar-Shany, vice president and general manager of HP Indigo, said: ‘By 2016 a large part of our business will be based on these presses, and the percentage of HP Indigo’s business in packaging will increase.’

HP has also announced Avery Dennison, Mitsubishi, Sappi and ArjoWiggins as worldwide media partners, bringing its total to 15.