Xeikon 8500’S Fifth Colour Unit Makes The Difference

Eede, Netherlands – ARBURG, one of the world's leading manufacturers of machines for plastics processing, has again opted for a digital printing system from Xeikon. Its latest acquisition, a Xeikon 8500 digital web press with a five-colour configuration, is being used to produce various corporate communications. It is the company's fourth generation of Xeikon printers. In 1997, ARBURG was one of the first industrial companies to enter the world of digital printing with a system from Xeikon – in those days, the press was sold under the IBM OEM product. For ARBURG, a key decision point was the 8500’s fifth colour station which it has reserved solely for the ARBURG corporate colour, a characteristic mint green. Xeikon produces the special colour as part of its custom toner program.

"We print the majority of our marketing and advertising material on demand,” explains Martin Wozny, head of graphics and design at ARBURG. “Other key criteria for digital printing are fast turnaround, flexibility and the use of variable data printing for customised mailings. “We have driven down the number of brochures and other commercial print jobs held in stock to almost zero because we can now print them as needed. That saves significant money, and we are also able to make sure that everything that is printed is up to date. Another reason we use digital printing is to be able to version materials to accommodate the growing number of languages in which we print our marketing communications. The more language versions needed per brochure, the smaller the print runs." A consolidated online ordering system allows the requirements of branches around the world to be efficiently coordinated so that just-in-time production can take place as economically as possible. Another factor influencing ARBURG's decision to continue using Xeikon presses is the deinkability of the printed sheets – an important factor contributing to the company’s environmental sustainability efforts. 

ARBURG opted for its first Xeikon system with IBM branding because all of the company's IT logistics had been set up using IBM solutions and the company had always had very positive experiences with them. "Over the years, we have become very familiar with the Xeikon systems,” add Friedemann Seid and Harald Rieger, the two operators of the Xeikon press. ”We didn’t want to start again from scratch with a different manufacturer. The high uptime and reliability of Xeikon presses also reinforced our decision to stick with them. The Xeikon hotline is always on hand and expertly deals with any issues, which is greatly appreciated.” 

From business cards to posters

ARBURG prints everything from 9 x 9 cm cards to 50 x 300 cm posters on its Xeikon digital press. It also uses the press to produce brochures, mailers, flyers, certificates, decorative materials and up to 50 different calendars, which each branch can tailor to its needs with the relevant public holidays, trade fairs and events. Since the mint green bar of the ARBURG logo appears in every item, access to the custom colour is critical. In the past, the corporate colour was produced using four process colours, but now that it can be digitally printed using a separate special colour, it is even more brilliant than before. ARBURG typically uses digital printing for static print runs is between 1000 and 2000 units. Personalized materials such as invitations are printed on the Xeikon press in runs of up to 16 000. In addition, in-house digital printing is in line with the company's policy of not sharing customer details with third parties for privacy and security purposes. ARBURG is also pleased that it can use the entire range of standard papers with its Xeikon press, and that Xeikon is continually working to add more special papers to its library of certified substrates, both coloured and structured. "In the future, we hope to tap further into the haptic added value of a greater range of substrates to add even more value to the items we print," Wozny says.