A new member of the CI-Flexo product portfolio, the press addresses main markets in flexible packaging, as well as synthetics and fibre-based packaging applications, the manufacturer said.

It is designed for cost-efficient premium print quality on a wide range of printing widths from 1,000-1,400mm and substrate thicknesses, using solvent and water-based inks at speeds of up to 500m/min.

The press can be configured with eight or 10 colour printing decks while additional downstream units can provide coating, laminating, or patterned lacquering. All processes are completed in a single pass.

Typical printing substrates for the press include film, breathable, stretchable, shrinkable, laminates and paper in a variety of print lengths ranging from 330-850mm.

“With the trend towards packaging recyclability gathering speed, the focus is on the design and production of the original package in a more sustainable way with thinner and more easily recyclable materials,” said Christoph Müller, CEO of Koenig & Bauer’s segment Digital & Webfed division.

Oliver Baar, Koenig & Bauer Digital & Webfed director of product management -  commercial, added: “The XD Pro combines almost 50 years of Italian flexo market experience with German engineering.

“It represents the best in class and adds value for money to customers by providing outstanding performance reliability, process consistency and versatility from state-of-the-art technology.

“This is an ideal press conceived to meet just-in-time market requirements for more production agility of short runs, as it features unrivalled ergonomic design with easier accessibility to the print units, plus advanced automation for fast changeover times with minimum waste.

“The modular design of the new generation, fully automatic, flexographic central impression press allows the combination in-line of different product printing and finishing as well as converting modules incorporating special applications and complementary printing techniques such as rotogravure, offset or digital.”