Following the successful installation of their first InterioJet press in 2021, décor paper printing company Chiyoda has acquired a second InterioJet water-based inkjet printing press from Agfa to enhance its laminate décor paper print production capabilities.

Mortsel, Belgium – Chiyoda supplies printed décor paper with exclusive designs to flooring, furniture, and car laminate panel makers, catering to their unique requirements. Just like their first InterioJet 3300i, the new InterioJet 2250i will be installed at Chiyoda’s European headquarters in Belgium. The inkjet presses complete Chiyoda’s gravure presses, yet also offer additional functionality, as they are not limited by cylinder length, and therefore able to print any design in any quantity.

The InterioJet presses offer reliable 24/7 digital printing production with consistent color quality. The water-based inks and primer fit perfectly with the traditional melamine impregnation and lamination post-processes of the panel manufacturing industry. The outstanding print quality-price ratio of Chiyoda’s first InterioJet printing press, coupled with its ease of use were decisive factors in the company’s decision to invest in a second press. “The InterioJet has proven to be an invaluable addition to our operations, offering unparalleled print quality and great versatility,” says Peter Coenegrachts, COO of Chiyoda. “Our customers can use the prints in exactly the same way as gravure prints without any modification to their laminate production process. By investing in a second press, we are further expanding our capability to do shorter print runs, allowing us to meet the increasing demand for prints on demand and just-in-time deliveries.”

“We are delighted to extend our partnership with Chiyoda to drive the digital printing revolution in the laminated surface market,” says Mike Horsten, Business Manager InterioJet at Agfa. “Building on Agfa’s expertise in chemistry, inks and software, the InterioJet ensures the highest print quality and color consistency. We are thrilled to witness how our presses cater perfectly to Chiyoda’s needs and enable them to deliver exceptional products to their customers.”

The InterioJet presses are powered by Agfa’s Asanti workflow software, which includes a plug-in for décor image optimization. By working in conjunction with the industry-standard AVA CAD CAM software, Asanti ensures a close match to gravure prints, guaranteeing consistent and high-quality results.

Chiyoda Europe will showcase its latest innovations, including InterioJet samples, at Interzum (Cologne, Germany, 9-12 May 2023), one of the world’s leading trade fairs for furniture production and interior design. Interzum targets manufacturers, designers, architects, and retailers of furniture and interior design products, as well as suppliers of materials, components, and machinery.

More about the InterioJet

Agfa’s InterioJet accelerates the transformation from analog to digital printing in the laminated surface by offering a cost-efficient solution for medium and short print production runs of décor paper. The eco-friendly water-based inkjet press comes in two models: the InterioJet 3300i can print on two rolls of decor paper simultaneously – each with a width of up to 157 cm and a weight of up to 700 kg – at a speed of up to 340 m²/h, whereas the InterioJet 2250i handles a single roll with a width of up to 2250 mm and a weight of up to 1200 kg at a speed up to 336 m²/h. The presses excel through superior contrast, sharpness, and color saturation, matching typical decorative industry color profiles. Agfa developed a unique water-based CRYKlk ink set for the printer that is perfectly tuned to the laminate quality requirements and the existing lamination production process.

About Chiyoda

Chiyoda Europa NV prints premium decor papers on ultra-modern four- and five-color presses. Chiyoda offers its customers more than 2,000 designs for furniture, the building interior completion industry, panels and floor coverings, ranging from natural wood decors and trendy fantasy looks, to authentic stone images. The company employs approximately 175 people in its premises in Genk, Belgium. It is a 100% subsidiary of Chiyoda Gravure Corporation (Tokyo, Japan).