The firm showed the MonoPrint 500i system on its own booth. The 20in (508mm) single-colour configuration on an AB Graphics Omega platform was printing 600x1,200dpi resolution at 100m/min.

“It’s a much bigger, higher resolution and faster system,” said IIJ director of technology Paddy O’Hara. “We are printing down to 2pt text. It is ideal for small text and barcodes, or for adding language variations as a spot colour.”

The MP500i was printing black, but it can also be used with specialist security inks. It uses KM1800i printheads. 

O’Hara said the MP500i could be configures as a standalone unit, as demonstrated, or integrated into a flexo press. He said the target price was £100,000 for the print engine.

Separately, IIJ’s German representative Jochen Renfordt has worked with flexible die and rotary tool specialist Spilker on a new variable cold foiling system, also shown at Labelexpo on the Spilker booth.

The foiling line is equipped with IIJ’s 142 Colour Print system, jetting a type of varnish that the foil sticks to, allowing users to produce variable foiled text or designs. The two firms have worked to optimise the amount of varnish, pressure and subsequent curing required.  

O’Hara described the quality of the foiling being produced as “incredible”.

Renfordt added: "It was running at 25m/min and we want to go up to 60 or 70m/min. This is the target. It works perfectly so now we will make a module that can go on any Spilker machine."