By now, no doubt, Drupa 2016 seems like a year ago, and it’s easy to forget the new products, ideas, and people. One thought that many won’t forget is that digital printing will be a major force within the packaging industry. According to HP, digital printing is the fastest-growing segment in packaging, with a projected annual growth rate of 17 percent in a market expected to be worth $19 billion by 2019.
Looking back on the show, we’ve identified and explored some of the best single pass, digital press options. Before diving into each of the presses, let’s better understand the nature and benefit of single pass printing.
In single pass printing, a sheet passes once under a bank of print heads and is fully printed when it comes out the other side. The single pass, digital print process eliminates several steps in the traditional process, allowing artwork to flow directly from a computer to the press. This process is different from multi pass printing. With multi pass printing, print heads repeatedly pass over substrates to produce a printed image. This repetition makes multi pass digital printing a very slow and expensive process.
The high level benefits of single pass, digital printing are as follows:
- Shrinks run lengths and turn-around times
- Accommodates customer demands for faster job turnaround, versioning, and variable data
- Takes on just-in-time and on-demand printing
- Lowers inventory costs and waste
- Attains quality and print speeds at competitive costs
BARBERAN JETMASTER SERIES 1890
The Barberan Jetmaster 1680 6-color digital press is the biggest leap forward in super-wide direct-to-corrugate print technology in decades.
Key Features:
- 180 linear ft/min
- 1000 optical dpi
- Maximum print width: 74in
- UV cured inks
- CMYK, CMYK + LCLM, CMYKOV
EFI Nozomi C18000
One digital press that was featured at Drupa 2016 was EFI’s Nozomi C18000. The Nozomi uses EFI’s cool-cure LED technology and takes its name from the Japanese bullet train.
Key Features:
- 246 linear ft/minute
- 360 x 720 dpi
- Maximum print size: 71in x 118in
- 14 point cardstock and F-flute up to BC double wall
- LED cured ink
- CMYK, CMYK + W, CMYKOV, CMYKOV + W
RHO 130 SPC
The Rho 130 SPC is based on the latest generation of single-pass printing systems which Durst is already using in the label printing segment, for instance, with the Tau 330.
Key Features:
- 393 linear ft/minute
- 800 dpi
- Maximum width: 51
- Up to 12 mm thick substrates
- UV cured ink
- Up to 6 colors
Sun Automation CorrStream
SUN Automation’s series of three production speed digital printers for corrugated – CorrStream 66, 40 and 20 – offer corrugated box makers and the converting sector unrivalled speed, reduced costs, efficiency and outstanding print quality, as well as bringing inkjet sophistication to mainstream applications as a real alternative to conventional analogue methods.
Key Features:
- 230 linear ft/min
- Maximum print size: 63in x 118in
- Aqueous inks on coated material
- 4 color printing
About ColorHub:
ColorHub is a B2B digital print sheet feeder for the corrugated packaging, display, and signage markets. In simpler terms, we print high quality graphics onto corrugated (cardboard) sheets that are then sold to corrugated plants to be converted into boxes, displays, and signs for their customers. With state-of-the-art technology, we boast a wickedly efficient print process, allowing artwork to flow directly from a computer to the print press. We eliminate the cost and time associated with print plates and press setup, enabling dramatic speeds and low volumes as well as creative change without changeovers.