Omet moves into package printing with launch of 850mm-wide offset press

Varyflex V2 Offset 850 combines offset printing units with the company’s patented sleeve system in combination with flexo printing units. Omet said the press suits various sectors, in particular flexible packaging, either for food or non-food, and in-mold labels printed on sheet-fed offset presses. A wide range of substrates, from thin film to carton, can be printed and it can run food-compliant offset UV inks. The BroadBeam electron beam drying system developed by PCT Engineered Systems can be integrated.

Omet first presented the Varyflex V2 Offset platform last year, and has worked with Rossini to develop new sleeve technology to optimize performance in job changeovers by overcoming difficulties due to the large size and weight of sleeves.

Omet sales and marketing director Marco Calcagni said the combination of print processes as a rising trend the company. ‘We've noticed a strong increase in demand for hybrid printed products, which require both high quality performances, provided by offset technology, and high density printing – a characteristic of flexo.

‘The combination of different technologies provides benefits especially with specific jobs. Being able to combine offset and flexo enables the printer to take advantage of the peculiarities of each technology and merge them to confer higher value to the final product.’

For Omet, Varyflex V2 Offset provides it with a competitive printing option in the packaging market, owing to shortening run lengths and the cost of gravure and CI flexo systems

Omet has identified a number of markets for the Varyflex V2 Offset 850, and Calcagni said: ‘There will be flexible packaging converters aiming at widening their market range, as well as potential label printers moving towards this technology and, also sheet fed printers which have generally a lot of experience in offset printing and want to enter the packaging market.’

Read an exclusive Q&A with Marco Calcagni here, addressing the development of the Varyflex V2 Offset 850 and Omet’s move into package printing