Solutions for folding carton, flexible packaging, labels and corrugated packaging applications on show.

A wide range of packaging printing solutions will be shown by HP at interpack 2014, 8th – 14th May, Messe Dusseldorf (Hall 13, stand C77/E94). The aim is to demonstrate the benefits of digital printing for packaging converters.

HP wants brand managers, retailers and packaging converters to visit its stand and learn about the many business opportunities and production benefits provided by its digital printing technology. Some of the advantages HP will demonstrate include the ability to do cost-effective short-runs, versioning, customisation for enhanced customer engagement, and on-demand production to minimise warehousing and waste.

Creative, high-quality packaging applications on display at the show include labels; flexible packaging and folding cartons produced using HP Indigo technology. Examples of large-format, short-run corrugated packaging and display applications produced on HP Scitex Industrial presses will also be displayed to help converters looking to move from analogue to digital production.

“Pressures on packaging converters include increased numbers of SKU’s, resulting in more jobs, shorter runs, shorter lead times and faster turnarounds, but with the same high quality requirements,” said Stephen Nigro, senior vice president, inkjet and graphics businesses, HP. “At interpack 2014, HP will show how digital printing can meet all of these challenges, as well as help converters protect margins and add value through variable data and personalisation.”

The latest HP Indigo solutions for labels, folding cartons and flexible packaging

Among the highlights on the HP stand will be the 762mm (30in) wide, web-fed HP Indigo 20000 Digital Press and the 750mm (29.5in) wide, sheet-fed HP Indigo 30000 Digital Press.

The HP Indigo 20000 Digital Press is a mid-web digital press designed for packaging applications such as labels, sleeves and flexible packaging, and is marketed as capable of gravure-matching print quality printing on films as thin as 10 microns. With up to seven-colour printing, including white ink, HP said it has the ability to offer accurate, repeatable colour matching to enable converters to help meet brands' stringent colour and quality requirements.

The HP Indigo 30000 Digital Press, a sheet-fed press designed for folding cartons, supports any off the shelf paperboard up to 24 points/600 microns and offers HP Indigo offset-matching print quality with up to seven-colour printing. HP pointed out that as a near-zero setup digital solution, the press is designed to try and help converters address the challenges of current short run production as well as open new business pportunities enabled by variable data printing. At the show it will be demonstrated with an inline selective coating unit developed by the TRESU group – the iCoat 30000. Printed output will go through finishing on the KAMA DC 76 with die-cutting, foil stamping and automatic stripping and blanking.

In addition, the HP Indigo WS6600, a seven-colour narrow web digital press will be on display. The press is capable of printing more than 40 linear metres (131 linear feet) per minute in full colour on substrates between 12 and 450 microns. It features an in-line priming unit that enables printing on any off the shelf media: paper or synthetic labels, films and light carton board.

High quality applications from the HP Scitex Presses

Solutions by HP Scitex for printing short-run, high quality corrugated packaging and displays, as well as information and samples printed on the HP Scitex Presses will be also available on the stand. Deemed a digital alternative to litho, the presses are designed to address the demands for high quality, shorter runs and fast turnarounds in the flexo and offset converting market. HP Scitex presses deliver high image quality through the use of HP Scitex High Dynamic Range (HDR) printing technology. HDR technology utilizes combinations of light and dark inks and three drop volumes to achieve the quality required for high-impact graphics.

Also during interpack 2014, HP is hosting two lunch-and-learn sessions for brand owners to learn how HP digital printing solutions for packaging can help them increase creativity, understand supply chain benefits and enhance product placement to unlock new marketing opportunities. The sessions are scheduled for Friday 9th May and Tuesday 13th May, starting at 12:00 p.m. on the HP stand.

Specialist product and application managers will be on hand throughout the show to offer advice and information about these solutions as well as other HP printers and presses for packaging applications.

More information is available at www.youtube.com/hpgraphicarts

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