What is a packaging today if it is not attractive and nicely printed? Among the 2,800 exhibitors present at the Interpack Düsseldorf show, there were some key developments among packaging producers, packaging equipment makers, and printing press manufacturers. Dominique Huret from Cape Decision reports for Packaging South Asia
Fujifilm’s Samba piezoelectric printbars were in the spotlight
Press manufacturers have clearly understood the opportunity and continue to expand in the packaging sector as printing adds substantial value to packaging. Fujifilm, for example, was exhibiting its extensive portfolio of analog and digital packaging solutions. “We combine expertise in the latest digital printing technologies with an analog heritage. In addition to our narrow web inks, our analog solutions include Fujifilm’s LED UV curing system, which can be retrofitted. This system combines drying equipment with the new range of UV LED inks, radically reducing energy consumption, eliminating harmful VOCs, requiring less maintenance, and producing less waste. The result is lower costs and higher, more consistent print quality,” explained Manuel Schrutt, Fujifilm Packaging Director EMEA.
For digital printing, Fujifilm’s Samba piezoelectric print bars were in the spotlight, enabling digital inkjet printing to be integrated directly into existing analog production lines. Another star of the stand was the Jet Press FP790 digital press for flexible packaging. Designed to offer a digital alternative to flexo production for current applications and print runs, it meets the needs of companies faced with proliferating print runs and shorter delivery times. “There is already a press at Maruto in Japan, and one will be installed in the US in June and in the UK before the summer,” explained Schrutt.
The Gallus UVF01 inks are ideal for laminated cosmetic tubesAlso well represented was the Gallus Group, a subsidiary of Heidelberg which specializes in conventional and digital narrow web presses for the labelling and packaging industries. At Interpack, Gallus presented its UVF01 ink set for the first time. These inks can be folded without cracking, making them ideal for folding cartons and laminated cosmetic tubes. They have been designed for use on the Gallus Labelfire 340, the company’s main hybrid machine. “Not only do these inks support the growth of converters, they also offer brands the opportunity to explore new packaging designs and tactics to better appeal to consumers and increase sales,” said, Thomas Schweizer, head of Business Management at the Gallus Group.
As Packaging South Asia has reported earlier in detail, the parent company Heidelberg with a discreet presence, presented in a conference room its’ new web-fed Boardmaster press for the high-volume printing of folding cartons. This web-fed flexographic printing system, with a maximum print speed of 600 meters per minute doubles productivity and therefore considerably reduces the total cost of industrial packaging production. Each printing plate has two printing units. While one unit is busy with production, the second is prepared for the next print job. Depending on the configuration, machine availability during production can be as high as 90%. Print speeds of up to 600 meters per minute correspond to approximately 38,000 sheets of format 6 (148 centimeters sheet width) per hour. Media weighing between 70 and 800 grams per square meter can be processed.
“Worldwide demand for packaged products is constantly increasing, and so is the structural growth in packaging and label printing. This has become a key segment for Heidelberg. With Boardmaster, we are responding to the major challenges faced by customers in the packaging market – costs, skills shortages, and the need to optimize productivity and sustainability,” said Matthias Boog Web Carton Converting manager at Heidelberg.
Coesia
Hapa 382 Hybrid printerItalian Coesia consists of a group of companies specializing in innovative industrial and packaging solutions. Coesia’s companies are leaders in the fields of advanced automatic machines, packaging materials, and industrial process solutions for pharmaceuticals, electronics, healthcare, consumer, and luxury goods. On their huge red and white stand – a rather small piece of equipment for inline printing for pharmaceutical pouches was shown. The line integrates a Hapa 382 Hybrid printer and an Enflex PH-11 sachet machine designed to produce fully compliant pharma pouches with an agile process.
Starting from a blank or standard foil reel, hybrid inline printing combines flexo and digital printing technology to ensure consistency of the fixed data and artwork. It also enables the real-time update of variable data such as expiry dates, lot numbers, or product batch IDs, simplifying logistics and erasing the uncertainties tied to the pre-printed foil reel supply chain. The line matches pharmaceutical environments and products, with a new powder dosing system redesigned to meet high hygiene standards. Thanks to its flexibility, the system allows for the management of small batches, resulting in fast delivery to the market and solving the issues encountered with low volumes and multi-market launches.
Karlville
Karlville is known for its long collaboration with HP Indigo. The Pouch Factory was one of their joint projects a few years ago. Progress since then has led to Karlville becoming the first HP Indigo Pack Ready lamination provider. This technology is a set of post-print converting solutions for HP Indigo digital presses that provide zero-cure-time lamination, enabling digital converters to print, laminate, and pack on demand for immediate time-to-market.
The COMPACT Pack Ready is currently in BETA in the USA, and the target market is 6K press users who will be looking to upgrade to the 25K in the future. The machine is designed for surface print applications and ideal solution to jump-start flexible packaging businesses with lower investment. At Interpack, Karlville Packaging focused on brands and copackers as well as its support for converting customers for shrink sleeve and pouch packaging projects.
The company showcased four machines from its pouch filling, shrink sleeve decoration, and tape multi-packing offering. “We are presenting innovation for pouches. On display, there are two fillers – a fill and seal zipper pouch filler as well as a fill through the spout liquid pouch filler. For shrink sleeves, we have an application machine to be configured with either steam or tornado heat technology tunnels. Finally for multi-packaging, the latest compact handle applicator for carry applications,” explained Laurent Corbet Technical sales director of Karville.
Markem-Imaje
Markem-Imaje, the supplier of marking and coding systems unveiled its new cod-ing technology,
Markem-Imaje, the supplier of marking and coding systems unveiled its new coding technology, said to be the first of its kind on the market. It is designed to boost the production of serialized 2D barcodes. The revolutionary Super Piezo Inkjet (SPI) marking technology combines the benefits of CIJ continuous inkjet and drop-on-demand. It responds to the demand from brands for high-quality printing on the product and for the serialization of 2D codes. It is the answer to the 2D barcode revolution that GS1 is preparing to launch on the market. It will enable brands to mark unique brands with unique codes on complex 3D surfaces,” explained Sabri Mourad, director of Markem-Imaje’s CIJ product division.
