The new machine’s top speed of 56m/min in the three-colour Enhanced Productivity Mode presents a step up for digital mid-web technology, according to HP, beating out its predecessor the 25K’s top speed by 33%.

While still significantly slower than conventional gravure and flexo presses, the 200K’s higher productivity will effectively allow fast-turnaround and variable specialists to significantly widen their market and outcompete conventional presses on shorter runs.

The jump in print speed has also allowed HP to push the press’ break-even point in beta tests by 50% compared to the 25K.

Noam Zilbershtain, VP and GM of HP Indigo & Scitex, said: “The HP Indigo 200K is a mid-web digital press especially designed for converters addressing the needs of brands in flexible packaging, but it also serves the growing requirements of the label and shrink sleeve industries for higher productivity and wider format.”

The 200k uses HP Indigo’s Liquid Electrophotography (LEP) technology, and has been designed to print high coverage patterns with white on the majority of industrial substrates, on obverse and reverse sides.

UK packaging converter Sirane was one of the first to beta test the press.

Peter Ralten, the group’s commercial and business development director, said he was looking forward to seeing the results of adding the final version to the company’s print portfolio: “At Sirane, we have been looking into digital print for a while now, realising it is where the future lies. 

“The HP Indigo 200K digital press, with its incredible increase in productivity, opens new business opportunities for us.”

The 200K’s Indigo ElectroInk range is suitable for food packaging on the non-contact side and can be composted in some applications.

Pricing for the press, which is still in beta, has not yet been determined.