Labelexpo Americas, currently on between 10th and 12th September in Chicago, is the launching pad for several new announcements where inkjet and hybrid flexo/inkjet is concerned.
Hybrid label presses combine the best of conventional Flexo & Converting, with the versatility of inkjet
It's inkjet everywhere at Labelexpo Americas but the main drive is from established Flexo and Converting manufacturers who are incorporating inkjet modules into conventional lines and adding greater vesatility, variable data and short run economy for label manufacturers.
First up is Domino Printing Sciences, UK-based and part of Brother Industries. Domino has long been an innovator for advanced reel-fed digital printing and variable data solutions and have teamed up with Mark Andy, a leading label and print solutions provider. The two companies are demonstrating their joint commitment to innovation in hybrid printing with the launch of the 1200dpi DSiQ-730 hybrid press at Labelexpo Americas. The companies’ ongoing collaboration focuses on developing high-performance printing and finishing lines for converters looking for high quality digital hybrid systems with industry leading automation.
Mark Andy and Domino have been working together for several years, combining their expertise to meet the growing popularity of hybrid printing technology. Hybrid printing systems allow converters to benefit from digital capabilities such as variable data and customisation in label printing, while offering efficiency gains by bringing together flexographic and digital printing and finishing technologies in one process, producing high-quality, digitally printed labels in a single pass.
The new MarkAndy DSiQ730 hybrid with Domino inkjet station
According to Russell Weller, Head of Digital Colour at Domino: “We are pleased to celebrate our ongoing partnership with Mark Andy – and together commit to driving innovation in hybrid printing. By combining our strengths in digital inkjet printing with Mark Andy’s flexographic and finishing expertise, we hope to fast-track innovation in the sector so we can continue to help converters open the door to new label printing opportunities and win more business.”
The companies’ close collaboration has come in response to increasing market demand for more efficiency and greater versatility including customisation and has led to the release of the successful Mark Andy Digital iQ Series (DSiQ) digital hybrid printing range, including the compact DSiQ-R retrofit digital printing module. The DSiQ-730, a 1200dpi digital hybrid printing press based on Domino’s newly launched N730i Integration Module, is the latest addition to the DSIQ product range.
Duane Pekar, CEO of Mark Andy says: “Hybrid is here to stay. The single pass efficiencies offered by hybrid presses are exactly what our customers are asking for and we’re pleased to be expanding our offering with the new DSiQ-730. Partnering with Domino enables us to offer the latest in hybrid printing technology to our customers.”
A Mark Andy Digital iQ Series hybrid printing line featuring the DSiQ-R digital retrofit module is on show at booth #319 at Labelexpo Americas, from 10th -12th September.
Integration of digital workflows and MIS
In another announcement on the opening day of Labelexpo Americas, MIS maestro CERM appointed Screen Graphic Solutions as its Premium Integration Partner. This partnership will improve to delivery of innovative, fully integrated solutions for the label and packaging printing industry. Screen has been highly successful globally with installations of its Truepress L350UV labels presses and the latest L350 SAI models.
Peter Heyse, CERM's Director of Product Management says: “Screen is a perfect fit to become our next Premium Integration Partner. The integration between CERM’s MIS and Screen’s EQUIOS facilitates a fully automated label production process. CERM MIS converts customer orders into Job Definition Format (JDF) files, triggering a seamless workflow into EQUIOS. This setup minimizes operator intervention and can reduce production time by up to 74%."
Heyes adds: CERM selected Screen based on five key criteria: business automation, bi-directional data exchange, successful customer integrations, quality documentation, and exceptional customer support. Screen excels in all these areas, ensuring our clients benefit from the highest standards of reliability and efficiency. Our existing deep integration makes adopting our MIS quick and seamless, enhancing productivity across their entire workflow almost immediately. This integration doesn’t require any onsite research. It is a proven solution that is available out of the box, and that is highly appreciated by multiple customers."
At Labelexpo Americas, Screen is also showing examples of labels printed on a wide variety of substrates, including uncoated papers, by using its new primer inline on the Truepress L350UV. Ink adhesion and scratch resistance are greatly improved with Textured and Matte effects achievable inline, opening up the high end wine label sector to UV inkjet.
(LtoR) Screen's inkjet trifecta, the L350UV Label press, 520P paper packaging press and PAC830F flexibles press
Gallus introduces new MatteJet, upgrades Gallus One
Gallus Group, a subsidiary of Heidelberg, takes hybrid inkjet into uncharted waters with the launch of Gallus MatteJet technology. Announced at Labelexpo Americas, this innovation represents an important advancement in inkjet printing, unlocking a premium matte finish previously unachievable with most digital inkjet, bringing the possibilities of inkjet technology to the wine label market. MatteJet was developed in-house at Gallus’ innovation hub in St. Gallen, Switzerland. 
The allure of a matte finish opens up new markets with Gallus MatteJet
According to Gallus, the glossy finish inherent to many digital inkjet technologies has been one of the foremost barriers to its widespread adoption across labels and packaging – specifically in premium segments such as wine and spirit labels where brands traditionally expect a sophisticated matte finish. Formerly this was only achievable through conventional printing, or the addition of post-processing equipment to utilize matt varnishes, adding time, complexity and cost.
Gallus MatteJet technology delivers fast, cost-effective, and high-quality matte finishing capabilities, integrated directly into the digital inkjet process. This will allow converters to achieve a high-end matte finish at the touch of a button, without changing inks or adding overprint varnish, eliminating the need for external finishing processes or separate conventional machines. 
MatteJet was developed in-house at Gallus’ innovation hub as part of the company’s ongoing R&D.
With a newly-expanded 430mm web width, the latest iteration of the Gallus One label press also made its global tradeshow debut at Labelexpo, unlocking more application possibilities than ever before. The possibilities achievable with its recently-extended colour gamut, with the integration of Orange and Violet Saphira inks developed jointly in-house with Heidelberg, will help converters to achieve shelf standout for brand differentiation.
Stand-alone inkjet digital label presses will continue to be installed as roll-to-roll machines, with finishing offline by such technologies as ABG, Prati, GM, Eclipse, Grafotronic, Rotocontrol, Cartes and so on. Sometimes it makes more sense to separate the printing from the finishing and Flexo units are increasingly found in finishing converting lines. For larger label producers, hybrid all-in-one line presses make a lot of sense too and can offer not just Flexo stations, but Screen process (for high-build varnish eg); hot and cold foiling, extra special colours, lamiation and de-lamination, matrix stripping and rewinding to name but a few of the options. Even a digital label press supplier - Canon - bought a Flexo press manufacturer - Edale - to complete its hybrid offerings.
Labelexpo Americas has it all and inkjet looks set to continue its thrust into both hybrid and stand-alone installations.
