Durst | 59Durst Beyond event envisions the future of digital printA new automated print quality inspection system and UV ink series were key highlights from Durst’s customer event held at the company’s Brixen HQ. Adrian Tippetts reportsurst used its recent open-house and conference event to introduce a radical new automated quality control system called Hawk Eye, which will be offcially launched at DLabelexpo Europe 2023.Durst Hawk Eye uses camera vision systems to automate print quality on-the-fy, resulting in signifcantly reduced waste and overall improved print quality, according to Martin Leitner, product manager, labels and fexible packaging at Durst. The technology will be standard on all new presses and retrofttable on all RSC presses installed since 2018.Comments Leitner: ‘Durst is seeking to drive performance of its Tau RSC presses further with a new technology that automates quality on-the-fy, bringing the possibility of waste and setup reduction and operator time savings.’Held at its headquarters in Brixen, Italy, the three-day Durst Beyond event showcased the company’s latest printing, ink Thomas Macina, global sales manager, speaks at the Durst Beyond eventand software technologies, including both Hawk Eye and a new generation of UV inkjet inks. Additionally, round-table discussions “Without a doubt, we see the and presentations provided insight to help label and packaging printers succeed when faced with rapid technological and proliferation of SKUs, shorter lead demographic change, in an increasingly regulated supply chain where sustainability, speed and quality matter.times and the demand to eliminate Process automation has been a dominant industry topic for perhaps a generation. Generally, the benefts of this have been obsolescence and inventory”framed in terms of waste reduction and repeatable quality, but now digitization is seen as essential for long-term corporate printing platforms comprises two sets: the ‘standard’ Tau RSC UV survival. Demographic changes will mean chronic labor shortages, ink and the Tau RSC LM (low migration) Ink. The standard Tau RSC so label and packaging converters must start planning to reduce UV ink, available in CMYK, and optionally orange, violet, green and human intervention and rely more on computerized technologies. white, is suited for automotive, electronics, industrial, commercial With that in mind, people and planet were the two defning printing, chemicals and personal care. The low migration ink, in issues of the conference. ‘People are critical for our industry, CMYK and optional orange, blue and white, is designed for food, yet human resources are increasingly a challenge,’ says Thomas beverages, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and toiletries. Covering 95 Macina, global sales director, labels and fexible packaging. ‘How percent of the Pantone range with seven colors, both have Swiss do we fnd people, train them, keep them motivated, how to retain Ordnance compliance while the LM inks are also compliant with them? How to ideally depend on fewer stakeholders who can take the Nestlé exclusion list.decisions and train machines to perform.’ The inks are REACH, Toy Standard and Greenguard certifed. Durst has also gained certifcation from the Association of Plastic UV ink developments Recyclers for its inks when used on pressure sensitive labels with The digital press is only one element of a productive, reliable digital HDPE or PET containers, showing that this ink and substrate workfow. Effcient data handling, color matching, ink certifcation combination works in the recycling process. and performance, quality control systems and training are also vital elements of the workfow. Durst manufactures its inks and Software solutions simplify workfowsoftware for its presses, these are the essential cornerstones of a Michael Deforian, business unit manager, software and solutions, high-performance printing system, and the focus of innovation. explained Durst’s heavy investment in developing software Stefan Kappaun, executive vice president of inks and fuids at technology to streamline the process from pixel to output. The Durst Group, highlighted the strong growth prospects for UV Durst software and solutions business unit has more than 70 inks in the label printing market of between 8-10 percent a year, people dedicated to software, developing products in e-commerce, given their versatility, light-fastness, fast curing, chemical and prepress and automation groups. temperature resistance, and compatibility with different substrates ‘At the heart of the Durst offering is the press, the production and analog pre/post-treatments. environment. But automation is the key to feeding it effciently,’ Kappaun announced the latest developments in Durst’s says Deforian. ‘If you digitalize processes and customer touch UV inkjet ink program, with new environmental and safety points, then you get a lot of data. Data is key to understanding how certifcations as well as a dedicated low-migration inks range for to feed the machine in the most effcient way, and how to optimize indirect food contact applications. processes.’Durst’s Tau RSC UV ink portfolio for its RSC label and packaging The range of software includes Durst Smart Shop and Smart Jul - Sep 2023