Labelexpo Americas 2024 technology preview webinar - Part 1

Chelsea McDougall , Labels & Labeling editor and Andy Thomas-Emans , strategic director for Labelexpo , discuss the key trends emerging at Labelexpo Americas 2024, which will be held this fall, September 10-12, in Rosemont. This is the first part of the article.

Our team has been diligently putting together a comprehensive preview, which will soon be available online on our website. The excerpt will be printed in the next edition of Labels & Labeling magazine, which will also be available on the Labelexpo show floor to help visitors navigate the latest innovations and equipment.

Flexo returns

While the L&L Labelexpo Americas 2024 preview is still shaping up, it has already formed the basis of the biggest trends and technologies available in Rosemont.

‘Flexo is going to be making a big return,’ says McDougall. Leading companies are showcasing the latest flexo equipment, both as standalone presses and in hybrid inkjet configurations. Labelexpo is transforming into a mid-web show. Previously, 13 and 17in press widths were the sweet spot for label converters, but now that the marker has moved, we are seeing that 23 to 26in are the new name of the game.

‘We first saw growing interest in mid-web flexo at Labelexpo Europe last year. The wider width of these machines allows converters to print larger-format packaging products like flexible packaging, in-mold labels, and shrink sleeves. Some converters even use mid-web presses to print multiple lanes of self-adhesive labels, roll-to-roll and then split and finish off-line.’

Mark Andy Inc. and Nilpeter will be showing 26in wide presses for the first time in the US. Mark Andy is using Labelexpo Americas 2024 as a launchpad to present to its new P Series S9 flexo press for label and flexible packaging markets. The company will also promote four additional printing presses, including its hybrid and standalone digital technologies.

Nilpeter will debut its FA-26 in North America after its successful launch at Labelexpo Europe in Brussels last year. Visitors to the Nilpeter stand will also see its FB line, available in 14 and 17 versions.

Chinese manufacturer, Hontec, is bringing its FlexiCon servo-driven press available in 13, 17, and 22in widths, and can support cold foil, delam/relam and lamination.

Flexible packaging

‘To set the scene, the US flexible packaging market is currently valued at about USD 63.46 billion and is expected to grow 4.1 percent annually through 2030,’ says McDougall. This growth can be attributed to increasing demand for short-run sustainable packaging compared to rigid containers, the rise of challenger brands and startups and consumer preference for attractive packaging.

‘However, short runs are also disrupting the flexible packaging industry like they did with labels. The easiest entry to flexible packaging was through digital printing, and until recently, #HPIndigo, with its mid-web digital presses, really cornered the market. Now, we’re seeing other flexo suppliers getting in on the game with their mid-web flexo, and we’re also seeing a rise in water-based inkjet for food-safe packaging. Labelexpo is responding to this growing trend of wider equipment with the Flexpack area of the show floor.’

For the first time, label converters will be able to see the downstream flexible packaging production equipment at Labelexpo, including thermal lamination machinery from Gonderflex International , Cellcoat Lamination Systems slitting, coating, and pouching from Karlville . There will also be material suppliers and shrink sleeve seaming equipment from ABG - A B Graphic International .

Bonset America Corporation , Novaflex , Nobelus , and S-One Labels & Packaging will showcase materials for label converters interested in diversifying their production into flexible packaging.

Labelexpo attendees will also have a chance to attend a short introduction to flexible, which HP will present three times a day during the show.

Those interested in a deeper dive into the subject can also attend a Label Academy master class on Tuesday, September 10. This class, led by flexible packaging experts, will cover everything a label converter needs to know to enter this lucrative market. A shrink sleeve master class will be held on Thursday, September 12.

Digital and hybrid printing

‘To dive deeper into the key trends in digital technology that we're going to see at Labelexpo Americas, I would like to start with standalone digital presses,’ says Thomas-Emans. So, we are going to see the North American launch of Canon USA 's first water-based digital press, #LabelStreamLS2000.'

The LabelStream prints at 40m/min CMYK + White and features a new 2,400 x 1,200 DPI printhead with ink recirculation and food-safe inks developed specifically for those printheads.

‘This press was interesting as it will have an in-line slitter for the first time. This press is developed for shrink sleeves and flexible packaging, but it also opens up new opportunities for the self-adhesive applications,’ adds Thomas-Emans.

HP will demonstrate its mid-web #HPIndigo200K Digital Press press for the first time with an in-line slitter, allowing converters to print high-productivity PS labels and finish off-line as well as handling flexible packaging, shrink sleeve and wraparound labels. The company will also showcase an #HPIndigo6K Digital Press press and a range of associated software services, including PrintOS Spot Master, XR Services, security and brand protection, sustainability (with the CO2 calculator) and an extensive customer application showcase.

Domino Printing Sciences will show its latest 7-color (CMYKOVW) #N730i digital press incorporating 1,200 x 1,200 DPI Bitstar inkjet head technology from parent company Brother USA .

Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. will showcase its entire label portfolio, headed by the #AccurioLabel400, offering CMYK and a new fifth white station. It will be complemented by the established #AccurioLabel230 digital toner press and the #JETvarnish 3D Web 400 web-fed digital embellishment system, which integrates spot UV varnish, hot foil stamping and variable data printing in a single pass.

‘Another key trend we will see at the show will be hybrid printing, which we have been seeing for some years now,’ notes Thomas-Emans. ‘North American converters will have the first chance to see the OMET Srl and Durst Group AG hybrid press. It was launched at drupa and is based around the Omet K-Flex flexo press with the latest Durst #RSCi digital print engine.’

Labelexpo visitors to the Domino stand will see a Mark Andy Pro Series flexo press integrated with a #DominoK600i dual UV inkjet print bar and K300 high-speed monochrome variable data printing unit. Mark Andy will demonstrate the 2200 flexo press integrated with a Domino IQ-R digital engine based around Domino’s established 7-color N610i technology. Mark Andy will also show the latest version of its Digital Series HD hybrid press with a new front end.

BOBST will bring its ‘All-in-One’ Digital Master 340 to the show. This model features integrated control of digital and conventional print and finishing modules from a single interface. Bobst has also updated its #Accucheck in-line inspection and calibration system to include automatic quality inspection at job set-up, job queue synchronization, and enhanced automatic nozzle compensation.

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG / Gallus Group will use Labelexpo Americas 2024 to launch its Gallus One digital press. Gallus’ ‘System to Compose’ allows any modules of the Labelmaster Gallus press to be combined with the #GallusOne. Similarly, a Gallus One print engine can be retrofitted to an existing Labelmaster line. The company has announced the availability of a 430mm/17in Gallus One to go alongside the existing 340mm/13in frame, bringing the digital press into line with the Labelmaster format range. Gallus has also announced the addition of Orange and Violet inks to the Gallus One CMYK+W ink set.

‘Flexo presses and finishing equipment can also gain hybrid capabilities by adding a press-wide print bar, capable of jetting a variable spot varnish, tactile finish, opaque white, spot color or cold foil,’ says Thomas-Emans. ‘At Labelexpo Americas 2024, JetFx Inc will demonstrate its print bar both in standalone operation and as part of a laminator, adding variable tactile effects to flexible packaging.’

Digital Print, Inc. (#DPi) will introduce its M7 13in-wide UV #inkjet print bar for flexo presses or converting systems. It operates at speeds of 800 fpm with a resolution of 600 DPI for printing variable barcodes, text and graphics.

FUJIFILM Integrated Inkjet Solutions will showcase the for label imprinting, which operates at speeds up to 500 fpm(152 m/min) at 1,200 x 600 DPI. The 46kUV printbar is available in 13-, 17-, and 20-inch print widths. The company also promotes its DE1024 digital embellishment system, which adds gloss or tactile effects to existing analog or digital print production. It can integrate into existing label presses and other narrow-web machines.

‘Finally, if you look at what's happening on the digital presses market, it is quite similar in a way, as many digital presses are gaining in-line capabilities, such as flexo or conventional converter’ comments Thomas-Emans.

Dantex Group , for example, will present its #PicoJet1200 digital inkjet technology, which can also be configured as a hybrid press, including #flexo, die-cutting, cold foil, lamination, edge trim, back scoring and rotary or shear slitting.

Shenzhen Runtianzhi Digital Equipment Co., Ltd. will mark the global launch of the #Flora J-350 P8 HD UV inkjet label press, which can be configured with in-line flexo, cold foil, varnishing and laminating modules. The press prints at a resolution up to 1,200 x 1,200 DPI at 100m/min (328ft/min), supporting a CMYK+W+0/V color configuration. The media range is between 0.04-0.35mm on coated paper, synthetic paper, or films with a maximum roll diameter of 1,000mm.

#Pulisi will bring its DPIM-330F digital press, which can be configured with flexo, cold foil, digital varnish and laminating stations. #MarkAndy will demonstrate the Digital Pro MAX integration of #KonicaMinolta’s ACL400 toner engine with semi-rotary die cutting.

Arrow Systems, Inc. will launch its ArrowJet 330R M Series water-based inkjet press. Its modular design allows customers to integrate a range of in-line technologies, such as priming, varnish, lamination, and slitting. The press prints at 1,600 x 1,600 DPI resolution.

Anytron will showcase its Any-Jet II Plus digital press line, which includes built-in laminating and laser cutting to deliver roll-to-roll labels in a single pass.

Systems integrator General Inkjet Technology (GIT) will launch its Label Modular 330HD 1,200 x 1,200 DPI printhead in the US. The 330HD system can be configured with up to nine color channels and a maximum printing speed of up to 229 fpm (70m/min). It can be configured with in-line modules, including coating, printing, varnishing, foil-stamping and cold-stamping.

Systems for in-house or a label converter’s bureau operation are also available. iSys promotes its Horizon toner-based label press printing at 55 ft/min speeds for short-run production on various die-cut, kiss-cut, or roll substrates. AstroNova? Product Identification and its newly acquired subsidiary, MTEX NS , will showcase the #TrojanLabel T2-Pro and Atom 3 + Cutmaster technology.

‘Labelexpo Americas 2024 will be a landmark show to see the key trends in converting labels and flexible packaging. Flexo differentiates itself with wider and more automated machinery, while narrow web flexo integrates digital print and decoration technology. Digital is transforming in terms of speed and print resolution and taking full advantage of flexo automation to integrate conventional finishing and imaging technology, both in- and off-line,’ notes Thomas-Emans.

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