Interestingly enough, three manufacturers of narrow-web digital label presses will introduce a digital press version for flexible packaging. Market leader HP Indigo− with over 1,100 presses now sold into the label industry− now offers its WS6000 press for printing shrink sleeves and flexible packaging films down to 0.47 mm.

The press comes complete with an in-line drying system that reduces flexible packaging curing times. There are 17 HP Indigo label presses in India.

Xeikon, a manufacturer of dry toner-based digital narrow-web presses, has recently added a 20" wide models (the 3500) to complement its 13" model 330. Both are LED-array-based digital presses that print at 1,200 dpi image resolution on a wide variety of substrates, including films such as BOPP, PVC and PET. There are two Xeikon presses which have been installed in India.

Also EFI Jetrion has introduced its latest 4830LED UV inkjet system and a newly developed flexible ink set that allows printing on unsupported and heat-sensitive materials, including shrink sleeve, and has opened up new opportunities for label and other converters to move into the flexible packaging market. The company also offers a single-pass digital white targeted at printing on clear film and metallic substrates.

Labelexpo Europe 2011 will transpire from 28 September to 1 October in Brussels.