The group has installed the B1 press at its Bradford site, where it is currently in the process of being commissioned.
The 6,500sph S10 is a seven-colour straight printing model with varnishing unit.
A number of other packaging printers have been early adopters of Landa Digital Printing technology, including beta site Graphica Bezalel in Israel and subsequently Edelmann in Germany, but Essentra is the first company in the UK to commit.
Andrew Hopkins, Essentra general manager for the UK and Ireland, said he believed the press would offer customers “the best of both worlds”.
"Offset is the dominant print method for folding cartons and the quality of this technology speaks for itself. However, it has never had the same flexibility and versatility of digital printing.
“The Landa S10 offers the best of both worlds, the adaptability of digital with the performance of offset. We look forward to bringing Essentra customers that dream blend of speed and quality. Simply put us to the test!”
Essentra specialises in secondary packaging for the personal care, beauty and pharmaceutical industries.
Essentra Packaging’s global head of technical Mark King noted that consistent quality was absolutely imperative for the business and its customers, with the Landa S10’s quality control features including automatic registration verification, detection of inkjet nozzle condition and any print quality issues.
“We have to be able to impress on every single print run without exception,” he stated.
“Add in how the technology opens up amazing possibilities in variable printing, serialisation capabilities and all with a wide colour gamut, and we’re talking an enormous breakthrough in quality, service and print performance. We’re challenging our customers and the wider market to see the difference for themselves.”
Steve Donegal, freshly-appointed as Landa sales manager for the UK and Ireland, commented: “Essentra is a very progressive, world-class company with an eye on the future.
“This investment really sets a course for their digital packaging portfolio. Hopefully it’s the first of many in the group!”
Last autumn, £960m-turnover Essentra announced that it planned to focus on its Components offering, and began a strategic review of its Filters and Packaging divisions that is expected to result in the sale of those operations.
In its most recent update Essentra said the process was “progressing in line with expectations” and could potentially conclude in Q2, at the earliest.
The Packaging division had sales of £362.4m last year and has operations in Europe, Asia and America.
The group’s Packaging sites are in the UK are located in Bangor, Bradford, Newmarket and Newport. Essentra also has a tear tapes operation in Nottingham.
