HP Indigo innovations expand flexible packaging and folding carton opportunities

PALO ALTO, Calif. - HP today announced the HP Indigo 8000 Digital Press, the industry’s most productive digital narrow web press,(1) offering end-to-end label production at double the speed previously available.(2)

HP also announced upgrades for the HP Indigo 20000 and 30000 Digital Presses as well as new ink and substrate options, offering converters and brands unmatched application possibilities at faster speeds.

“Leading brands are increasingly leveraging HP Indigo labels and packaging solutions to engage with consumers in targeted, meaningful and measurable ways,” said Alon Bar Shany, general manager, Indigo division, HP. “With today’s announcement, converters are uniquely positioned to redefine labels and packaging standards with greater productivity, versatility and turnaround times for a wide range of applications.”

High-value, high-quality label applications now enabled at faster speeds

Setting a new productivity benchmark in digital narrow web printing, the HP Indigo 8000 Digital Press offers high-volume converters end-to-end label production at doubled speeds up to 80 meters per minute or 262 feet per minute.(2) Working in-line or off-line with an ABG FAST Track semi-rotary die cut unit, the press provides an efficient all-digital workflow as well as real-time quality assurance, using AVT inspection technology.

The HP Indigo 8000, WS6800 and 20000 Digital Presses support HP Indigo ElectroInk Premium White, a versatile new ink that helps converters deliver a wider range of opacity levels. Additionally, the HP Indigo 8000, WS6800 and 20000 Digital Presses feature a new color automation package that perfects color accuracy, consistency and repeatability, enabling converters to reach any brand color in minutes.

Next-level flexible packaging options open new business opportunities

The HP Indigo 20000 Digital Press now features an upgrade package that enables:

• Compatibility with new substrates, such as polyethylene and stretchable materials, for a wider range of high-volume flexible packaging, shrink sleeve, and in-mold and pressure-sensitive label applications, including lids and laminated tubes.
• New color capabilities, allowing advanced color matching and color consistency across jobs, presses and sites.
• Faster turnarounds than previously possible with HP Indigo Pack Ready Lamination, which eliminates cure time, enabling immediate time to market.
• Support for the new HP Indigo ElectroInk Premium White in high-concentration 20-kilogram ink pails for industrial-scale productivity.

Additionally, optimized converting solutions from Comexi, AB Graphics, Karville and other partners provide faster near-line and in-line finishing as well as reduced waste and shorter setup times.

Higher productivity and new substrates deliver exceptional folding carton possibilities

The HP Indigo 30000 Digital Press upgrade package increases productivity up to 30 percent and enables dozens of folding carton jobs per day.(3) The press allows new high- margin opportunities with synthetic media as well as metallized boards, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate materials. The HP Indigo 30000 Digital Press also provides new and improved security features, such as micro text and barcodes.

Designed especially for in-line finishing with the HP Indigo 30000 Digital Press, the TRESU iCoat 30000 now offers protective and spot varnish in one pass as well as new embellishment capabilities with gold, silver and other high-viscosity flexo inks. The HP Indigo 30000 Digital Press is also compatible with HP partner converting solutions for inspection, creasing, folding and gluing. Integration with AVT’s inline inspection system ensures error-free production, automatically ejecting defective sheets.

Availability

The HP Indigo 8000 Digital Press and the HP Indigo WS6800, 20000 and 30000 Digital Press upgrades will be commercially available in 2016. All HP Indigo digital presses offer HP PrintOS connectivity, allowing customers to monitor print status remotely as well as track and improve production performance over time. HP PrintOS is expected to be available for customers on May 31, 2016.

HP at drupa 2016

HP will demonstrate the new solutions May 31 – June 10 in Hall 17 at drupa 2016 in Düsseldorf, Germany. HP is also showcasing these solutions at Dscoop Tel Aviv and Dscoop San Antonio in April.

Since drupa 2012, HP customers have more than doubled HP Indigo WS6000 series Digital Press installations to 1,000+ units and have installed more than 80 HP Indigo 20000 and 30000 Digital Presses.