92 | Labelexpo Europe 2023 – Press technologyGLOBAL PRESENCE“THERE WAS A PARTICULARLY STRONG SHOWING Labelexpo 2023 showed how OF INTERMITTENT OFFSET PRESSES FROM press manufacturers from outside Europe and the US are now setting CHINESE PRESS SUPPLIERS, WHO ARE SECURING up European sales and service organizations to better support their NICHE MARKETS IN THE SHORT RUN, HIGH local sales, service and spare parts VALUE-ADDED WINE AND COSMETICS SECTORS”operations. Brazilian fexo press manufacturer Etirama announced it will set up a minutes and keep them consistent during DIGITAL STANDS ALONEEuropean showroom next year. This Stand-alone digital presses with near- or the run – including between presses at follows the setting up of Etirama offine fnishing continue to be the most remote locations.Europe and a sales and service offce popular format for digital printing and Xeikon made a string of announcements in Lisbon, Portugal, last year. At the converting of labels. Labelexpo Europe headed up by the launch of a new show, Etirama launched its SPS3 fexo 2023 demonstrated that toner technology high-volume toner press, the Xeikon press in a 6-color 350mm web width at the high end is now competing with LX3000 ‘Lion’. confguration including cold foil and fexo in terms of speed and productivity, Built for a web width of 330mm and lamination. The press is equipped while the core inkjet printhead providers with 1200dpi resolution, the LX3000 is a with electronic pre-register and runs are enabling a huge spread of new entrants 5-color dry toner press printing at 42 m/at speeds up to 150m/min, featuring to the four- to seven-color inkjet market. min – a 40 percent speed increase from ‘Industry 4.0’ connectivity with remote HP Indigo launched its V12 high-speed Xeikon’s current 30m/min capability. The technical assistance and the ability digital press to the European market press incorporates Xeikon’s Cruise Control to provide information on production following its debut in Chicago last year. The system, which utilizes AI-driven vision parameters in real time. V12 prints at 120m/min in six colors - 60m/ technology to continuously monitor and The machine is part of Etirama’s min in up to 12 colors - using HP Indigo’s automatically adjust print production Global Series press line, which new LEPx technology platform, which settings as well as providing quantitative standardizes its presses on a single uses a rotary rather than intermittent feed production data for later analysis. platform. A fourth machine in the range blanket. HP Indigo was presenting the The Lion press was printing with Xeikon’s – the Etirama SPS4 – will be launched press as a replacement for multiple legacy new Eco toners, formulated with over 60 in the frst quarter of next year. It will fexo presses in terms of productivity, with percent high-grade recycled PET. Free feature a 450mm web width and a chill signifcant reductions in makeready waste from fuorine, Bisphenol A (BPA), TPO and drum for printing unsupported fexible and manpower requirements. mineral oils, as well as being fully vegan, flms with conventional UV drying.As well as the global launch of the Eco toners comply with international Multitec, a well-established 200k (see below), the company also restrictions around food safety.India-based fexo press manufacturer, showed the established HP Indigo 6k On the inkjet side of its business, Xeikon announced a distribution partnership workhorse in a web-to-print ecosystem introduced PantherCure LED-UV inks with for the European market. The company including e-printing software and digital no price premium over conventional inks. demonstrated its new S2 press in an shopfront and fully digital fnishing - digital Combined with Xeikon’s new Dionysus 8-color confguration equipped with embellishment and laser die-cutting – on an screening and bespoke waveforms, ink GEW’s AeroLED air-cooled LED cassette ABG Digicon converter. consumption is reduced by up to 30 percent system, multi-layer label module HP Indigo also continued to develop its and up to 88.7 percent of the Pantone and cold foil. The press had been sold automation and Cloud-based connectivity book can be simulated with four colors to Hungarian label converter MBZ platforms, including the launch of a at DeltaE 2. The Panthercure LED-UV inks Converting, which will now act as Cloud-enabled Spot Master package are available for the entry-level Label Multitec’s main dealer, demo center enabling converters to reach spot colors in Discovery Panther and Xeikon PX2200 and servicing hub in Switzerland, Germany, Hungary and Poland. MBZ is a part of the Swiss-based Qualiprint Group, which has interests in paper converting, label printing, sheet printing and packaging. As more presses are delivered to the group, those sites will also become demo centers for Multitec presses in Europe. Chinese suppliers continue to strengthen their foothold in the European market. Wanjie is a good example with its established Wanjie Europe operation based in Madrid with its own service team for installation, training and after sales service. Bacelona-based ZZE (Zonten Europe) has been the offcial representative of Zonten in both Europe and Latin America since 2019. labelsandlabeling.com