Finishing Equipment
High laydown technologyand the benefits of digital inkjet printing
G
erard Winn, senior product manager, Xaar, discusses how the company’s new High Laydown Technology has made digital
inkjet printing an even more attractive proposition, helping to enhance the appearance of labels, cartons and packaging, and enable them to command a premium price. Digital inkjet printing offers a range of outstanding benefits to users, including cost- effective production with no limit on the run length, rapid turnaround once the design is agreed, and — with the latest UV inks — the assurance that the substrate will remain pristine and without scratches. In addition, Xaar’s newly released High Laydown (HL) Technology is making digital inkjet printing more powerful than before.
HIGH LAYDOWN TECHNOLOGY The latest addition to Xaar’s growing range of products and solutions, HL Technology can be used with the Xaar 1003 and Xaar 2001+ inkjet printheads to print a variety of textured effects onto labels and folding cartons, turning them into high-value product packaging and ensuring they stand out on the shelf. A recent InfoTrends study, CMYK: The Use of Special Effects in Digital Printing, found that print buyers will pay up to 89 per cent more for textured effects than standard CMYK-only work. Besides adding texture as part of the print
process, Xaar’s HL Technology can also be used for producing raised foil effects that create the extra impact of a premium high-end finish to labels and packaging across a spectrum of market categories. In addition to its aesthetic benefits, Xaar’s HL
Technology also offers numerous practical ones. For example, since digital print avoids the need for costly custom rotary screens, HL Technology opens up the possibility of adding texture during short and medium label runs. When compared to other digital solutions, HL technology reduces the upfront investment that label and packaging printers need to make, because textured effects can be achieved with a single print bar running at true production speed. HL Technology can also produce tactile
information effects such as Braille, or warning triangles on hazardous products, without the need for an expensive additional print stage.
THE BENEFITS OF DIGITAL INKJET A key benefit of digital printing is that it enables
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cost- effective production, thanks to the fact that printing on-demand is possible. This means there is no production of unwanted labels, (which often occurs with standard printing with its minimum batch sizes). In addition, stock levels are kept down, and label waste from design changes is minimised. Similarly, the extra costs seen with analogue
print processes of set-up time and material preparation are eliminated. Other benefits of digital printing include fast
order turnaround, meaning that once the design is agreed it can be sent directly to print with minimal set-up requirements. Also, with digital, you can change languages on labels at the touch of a button, so there is no need to print all language variants on one label. This frees up space on labels for maximising brand exposure. UV inkjet inks also have excellent adhesion to a wide range of substrates, including the main ones used in label printing, such as PP and PE films, while pre-treatment of substrates with a primer is not required, saving even more money.
THE XAAR 1003 AND XAAR 2001+ PRINTHEAD FAMILIES The Xaar 1003 and Xaar 2001+ printheads are now the first choice in many single-pass inkjet label presses, often built in-line with other processes such as laser cutting and over- varnishing, and where high quality images, fine text reproduction, and reliable, continuous printing are a necessity. Both printhead families
incorporate Xaar’s patented TF Technology (ink recirculation) so that ink can flow directly past the back of
Xaar 1003
Xaar’s 2001 system and the various substrates it can be used on
the nozzle during drop ejection at very high flow rates. This means that air bubbles and dust particles present in the ink are carried away, which radically improves reliability even in the harshest industrial environments and ensures continuous artefact-free roll label production. The optimised geometry nozzles (1000 in the
Xaar 1003 and 2000 in the Xaar 2001+) deliver precise drop placement accuracy, which ensures fine detail and text on a variety of substrates.
THE AGE OF DIGITAL INKJET Digital inkjet has come of age, and is delivering real value to both product packaging and businesses. Now, with the release of Xaar's High Laydown Technology, the digital inkjet printing process has become more attractive to users than ever before. This is enabling users to enhance the appearance of labels and folding cartons, therefore commanding a premium price for them, too.
www.xaar.com
www.convertermag.co.uk
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