The 10-pico litre printers caught the attention of the Pixartprinting team at its European debut at Drupa and the first roll-to-roll Rho P10 320R was installed on 10 May, while the international print trade show was still running.
A flatbed Rho P10 200 followed in the consecutive month and both machines were immediately running 18 hours a day, seven days a week at the Quarto D’Altino production department.
Pixartprinting general manager Alessandro Tenderini said: "The roll-to-roll is an amazing machine. We are printing at full capacity on banners and microperforated paper with astonishing results.
"I believe the P10 technology is the change that the digital printing market has been looking for after years of stagnant quality."
The company was so impressed with the first two machines that it placed an order for a further five P10 systems. Two additional roll-to-roll Rho P10 320Rs arrived in June and three more flatbed P10s are being installed this autumn.
Pixartprinting owner Matteo Rigamonti recently sold 75% of his share to Treviso-based private equity firm Alcedo earlier this year, a move that has encouraged the company to expand its offering. He also closed his deal with the UK's Precision Print this year, to regain control over the website www.pixartprinting.co.uk.
The installation of an Epson SurePress L-4033A digital label press and Sei Laser cutting system instigated the launch of a new labelling service specifically targeting the food sector.
And the company plans to capitalise on majority shareholder Alcedo’s portfolio, including a number of Italian wine producers, to expand the labelling arm and move further into the packaging sector.
Tenderini said: "[We are producing] small packaging, counter displays, but also new niche products that can intrigue customers.
"For example, we launched a promotion offering cardboard bottle racks, which has gained a lot of interest."
The expansion has also meant it is set to open a new 12,000sqm facility next to its current plant near Venice at the end of this year.
Rigamonti hinted at his desire to head into high-quality board printing by saying: "Our dreams would come true if Durst could apply P10 technology to the Rho 1000."
