Ranging from entry-level to “top-of-the-line” highly specced production capability, the Israel-headquartered manufacturer said the new products will benefit a range of print businesses.
All three machines are based on Highcon’s core cutting and creasing technology.
The $1.5m (£1m) Highcon Beam enables digital cutting and creasing for mainstream production and has a top speed of 5,000sph. The machine is said to be suitable for mid to large folding carton converters, large trade finishers and B1 commercial printers.
Glossop Cartons has been revealed as the beta test site for the machine, which will be installed at its Stockport premises later this month.
The company already operates a Highcon Euclid, which it uses to finish sheets printed on its Xeikon 3500 for its new promotional packaging service. The firm will also test a new web-to-print package from Highcon called Axis.
The Highcon Pulse offers digital cutting and creasing in a smaller format. The machine, which has a top speed of 2,000sph, is aimed at B2 commercial printers and B2 digital converters.
It is said to deliver improved responsiveness and design flexibility and enable entry into a wide range of applications in numerous markets.
The Highcon Euclid III, which is a successor to the Euclid II and will replace that machine in the manufacturer’s portfolio, is said to address current operational challenges and cater for future growth by opening the door to new opportunities in high-value applications and markets.
The device, which has a top speed of 1,500sph, is aimed at commercial printers, small folding carton converters and trade finishers. Applications include variable data cutting, packaging and 3D modeling.
The 3D optional module with Highcon’s Rapid Layer Manufacturing technology offers a range of capabilities. 3D models are created based on any type of substrate, including recycled board and used makeready sheets.
Highcon vice-president of marketing Eshchar Ben Shitrit said: “We anticipate that Drupa 2016 will be very much around B1 digital. We believe that we complement analogue technology as well as digital technology, so we need to take that into account, but we also understand that the industry and digital are not only B1.
“We are also looking at the emerging trends of more and more digital smaller-format B2 or other format machines; those already exist in the market and there are hundreds of customers that are already utilising digital printing.
“We take into account all of the areas that our partners and potential partners are working on and try to see what the potential implication is for Highcon.”
All three new machines will be running on Highcon’s 1,000sqm stand at Drupa, which will take place in Düsseldorf from 31 May to 10 June.
Beam will be available from Q4 this year, Pulse will be available from Q1 2017 and will cost around $395,000 and Euclid III will be available from Drupa onwards and cost around $800,000.
