Both Labelexpo 2018 and PRINT 18 ended on high notes, with a lot of excitement and, more importantly for those who exhibited, sales. In the last article, I looked at some of the new flexo, digital, and hybrid presses. However, I found some of the more interesting hardware developments were around offline and inline digital embellishment and finishing.

Since the introduction by MGI and Scodix of the 3D offline digital varnish embellishment printers at drupa 2012, there has been increasing development in this area to the point where we are now seeing not only more offline but now inline and even bespoke digital embellishment, and not just 3D varnish effects but more elaborate effects, as well. In fact, as the digital printing of labels and use of varnish enhancements in digital print have increased, the desire for inline embellishment and finishing has pushed hardware manufacturers to find new ways to enhance printed products of all types.

Embellishment using hot and cold foil film has been available for years, but enabling this explosion in digital embellishment development are three main components: quick drying varnishes, high-volume printheads, and most recently Nano ink and metal technology that can be mixed with the electrophotographic polymers or ejected through the printheads. Inkjet printheads from Fujifilm Dimatix are being used for direct print to objects, including raised embellishment, and Xaar printheads are at the core of many of the 3D applications as well.