Itasca, IL - Xeikon, legendary for pioneering the first digital color presses, today announced that it has worked closely with UPM Raflatac, one of the world's leading suppliers of self-adhesive label materials, to qualify an extensive range of label substrates on its Xeikon 3300 digital press. The qualified substrates represent some of the most commonly utilized conventional label stocks in narrow web label printing. The ability to use conventional stocks provides a huge advantage in terms of cost savings and effective implementation of digital technology.

Qualified substrates from UPM Raflatac include paper stocks as well as synthetic films, such as clear and white Polypropylene (BOPP), and Polyester (PET) of varying thicknesses. The qualification process, conducted at Xeikon's North American technology centre near Chicago, ensures that all the tested substrates will provide perfect print quality and stable printing behaviour on the Xeikon 3300.

"We are very happy to announce the increased availability of UPM Raflatac label substrates to our current and prospective customers," said Michael V. Ring, president of Xeikon North America. "We're continuously developing our database of media script files and expanding the number of qualified substrates for our label technology. This will enable our users to take full advantage of the substrate flexibility of the Xeikon 3300."

"Xeikon understands that substrate flexibility is one of the critical components for the success of any label printing operation. We are extremely excited about partnering with Xeikon to help label converters grow their business," said Patrick Goss, Prime Business Director, UPM Raflatac. "The recently qualified UPM- Raflatac substrates will provide exceptional imaging quality to the users of the Xeikon 3300."

The Xeikon 3300 represents a quantum leap in label printing quality, offering true 1200 dpi at four bits per spot with a top speed of 63 feet per minute. It can handle an unmatched range of substrates, with weights ranging from 1.6-mil to 13.5-mil. The press includes five color stations: four for the standard process colors and the fifth station for spot colors as well as opaque white and special security toner.

Operating on the QA-I toner, the Xeikon 3300 is FDA- approved for indirect and direct food contact (dry food items), a unique benefit amongst digital printing presses. It can print on scalable widths ranging from 7.9 inches to 13 inches. Offering a duty cycle of 2,300,000 feet per month, the Xeikon 3300 is designed to operate 24 hours a day. It features full rotary printing technology, enabling production at rated engine speeds, for maximum productivity. The positioning of the desired labels can be adjusted to meet finishing equipment requirements. Moreover, labels with variable formats and sizes can be printed in the same run, leading to increased productivity and reduced waste and costs.