NEWS

(09/29/2013 / nho)

Labelexpo: HP Indigo 20000

HP Indigo has shown narrow/mid web and sheetfed digital presses offering a choice of methods to produce primary labels, sleeve-based products and folding cartons at Labelexpo Europe. This years' show saw the introduction of the HP Indigo 20000, a 30-inch wide web platform for flexible packaging, labels and sleeves.

AB Graphic and Edale manufacture the new Digicon 3000, which permits single-pass production for both labels and flexible packaging on the 20000 press.

Underlying this diversity, HP Indigo also launched the 30000 B2 format (750mm), a sheetfed press for folding carton jobs. Both use Esko's dedicated print servers. It ran inline with a dual UV curing or water-based Tresu iCoat coater. Kama units provided automatic stripping and blanking after die-cutting.
 
More familiarly, the WS6600 digital press operated with the new Esko-powered SmartStream Labels and Packaging Print Server, version 4. It is claimed to offer simplified color management and automated job preparation. As an upgrade, it is available for all WS6000 and WS4000 series presses. The company has broken ground with the new HP Indigo Silver Ink, available for the WS6600. Before now laying down a metallic silver was only possible with conventional print processes. Geostick BV in the Netherlands carried out the beta testing. Also new is High Slip White for shrink sleeve production.
 
During his presentation, Alon Bar-Shany, general manager of HP Indigo, said the past decade has seen accelerating growth for its digital products. The three drivers were print quality, versatility, and build quality for around the clock production. He announced that Rako had bought the 500th WS6000. In a more general sense he emphasized that press speed was only part of the business equation: fast set-up functions, including color management, were vital in handling more jobs per shift.