Labelexpo Europe 2023 – Press technology | 95“LABELEXPO EUROPE DEMONSTRATED THAT TONER TECHNOLOGY AT THE HIGH END IS NOW COMPETING WITH FLEXO IN TERMS OF SPEED AND PRODUCTIVITY”and PX3300 presses. Gallus demonstrated the recently launched GallusOne standalone digital press, built on the Labelmaster fexo press platform, and announced a new confguration that includes integrated semi-rotary die-cutting, fexo unit and inspection. Although Gallus did not have a conventional press on its stand, it did highlight the newly available Digital Print Unit (DPU) which allows the ECS 340 (‘granite’) press to be feld-upgraded to a LabelFire 340 hybrid. Both presses share a common platform. AUTOMATION AND INTEGRATIONDurst unveiled its Hawk Eye real-time nozzle compensation As noted earlier, a key trend at this Labelexo was the technology, enabled by an AI-driven inline vision system. Hawk integration of fexo and hybrid presses into the Cloud-based Eye automatically detects the exact position of a defective nozzle digital world through a suite of ‘Industry 4.0’ technologies, and the color. Neighboring nozzles then print larger drops to to boost automation capabilities, remote monitoring and compensate at full production speed. There is no set-up required diagnostics and integrating these presses into MIS factory and no need to print a special test pattern.management systems.Durst also announced the availability of LED-UV Tau RSC Nilpeter introduced what it called a ‘Digital Shadow’ for its inks, available in CMYK with optional orange, violet, green and fexo presses. This refers to the comprehensive digital footprint white, along with new Tau RSC UV Inks formulated without TPO left by a press as it operates, capturing crucial data on usage, photoinitiators. Durst sold a Tau RSC 340 E LED-UV press at the performance, and maintenance requirements. This allows users show to PrintLounge in New Zealand. to measure performance, improve job design, run simulations The company demonstrated a Tau 510 RSCi press on the stand and utilize this powerful tool to train and educate operators equipped with double white stations, allowing high opacity white and plant managers. ‘It allows you to re-run a complete job ink printing at 80m/min.digitally to see how the process can be improved – like using a Dantex showed the results of a partnership with Ricoh which fight recorder,’ explained Jakob Landberg.boosts the resolution of its Pico UV inkjet digital press to Mark Andy’s sMArt link is a set of on-press production 2400dpi. The jointly developed DRS (Digital Resolution System) monitoring tools that enables operators to make data-driven utilizes Ricoh’s latest printhead technology encased in a stainless decisions based on real-time data collection. sMArt link is steel housing.available on all new Mark Andy presses and can be retroftted Dantex also unveiled a partnership with Actega Metal Print to Mark Andy and other brands of production equipment.which sees the integration of its Ecoleaf digital metalization Mark Andy also premiered its ProWorx Label Suite, an Adobe technology into the Pico press platform. Dantex was producing Creative Cloud extension tailored to the company’s hybrid multi-color metallic labels using the Color-Logic system after presses. This includes an imposition tool that automates job having become a certifed partner last year. setup for both inline printing and embellishment processes.Further developments included the addition of Violet to the Mark Andy also staged a demonstration of a fully Picojet print engine, the inclusion of the Aegis inspection camera automated turret-to-packing workfow. This involved a to monitor the press through Dantex’s proprietary Knight Guard Martin Automatic turret taking rolls from an HD Series hybrid system, along with a new semi-rotary die-cutting module.press, ejecting the rolls to a robot system that automatically Konica Minolta launched in Europe its AccurioLabel 400 assembles the packing case, loads the rolls, labels and seals the toner-based digital press, an addition to the hugely successful box, then palletizes - all with just one operator. AccurioLabel 230. The AL400 prints at up to 39.9m/min and is Omet demonstrated its Sfera digital platform which ftted with automated color and density control and a white toner monitors in real-time all connected Omet machines and station along with a re-registration scanner.analyzes data to assist customers in making better operational The AL230 was also present, confgured with GM’s DC330Mini decisions. Sfera will be further developed with AI and IoT tools fnisher. The setup included an integrated inkjet unit from Industrial to take full advantage of Industry 4.0 workfows.Inkjet (IIJ) demonstrating inline security printing with reactive Bobst demonstrated its Connect system, which is being UV inks. built as a common platform for all the company’s converting The company was also promoting its AccurioPro software suite equipment, including its fexo inline and hybrid platforms. which now includes Flux Label impose and Dashboard, promoting Connect is designed to provide process management and automation of job set-up and VDP implementation and feedback of production data to improve planning and decision-making and real-time machine status.as a tool for continuous optimization. Also shown was the PKG-1300 inkjet press designed for In a similar move, Gallus previewed the Heidelberg short-run digital box printing.Customer Portal (HCP), which again is under development Screen announced the development of an inline inkjet primer with AI tools to offer services including predictive maintenance. station for its fagship Truepress LABEL 350UV SAI, which was The Gallus press portfolio will be included at a later stage. launched at the show to address the issue of poor ink adhesion on A pioneer in fexo press integration, MPS discussed its some substrates. connectivity platform including Virtual Coach operator The Truepress LABEL 350UV SAI A prints at 60m/min training program.CMYK+WOB with chill roller for handling unsupported materials. Oct - Dec 2023