Goss International will exhibit at Labelexpo Americas on 9-11 September, presenting unique offset opportunities on booth #1824 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont, Illinois. Addressing the trend towards shorter run lengths, Goss will illustrate how flexible configurations featuring Sunday Vpakpress technology can deliver a compelling proposition for high-quality label and flexible packaging applications.

“With the rise in SKUs, print runs that are too long for digital, but too short for profitability are putting pressure on printers and converters,” explains Peter Walczak, Goss International director of product management for packaging presses. “Our web offset solution can turn marginal short-run jobs into sustainable, profitable ones, with the advantage of plate and imaging costs that are a fraction of those associated with flexo and gravure. Web offset also ensures far greater flexibility and control, and allows converters to offer their customers later artwork deadlines.”

Other capabilities that reinforce the argument, according to Goss, include: premium print quality, greater color control and the standardized, repeatable web offset process, as well as the ability to handle a wide variety of substrates, including films as low as nine microns, at high speeds.

The Goss commitment to the packaging and label sector was underlined earlier this year with the launch in April of its Packaging Technology Center at the Company headquarters in Durham, NH, USA. Featuring a Sunday Vpak 500 press with seven web offset units, EB and UV curing, and flexo coating, the Center provides demonstrations, testing and educational programs for customers and prospective customers. To date, it has been used in a variety of configurations and sequences printing substrates for in-mold and shrink labels as well as cut-and-stack labels and stand-up pouches.

Precision Press (USA) installed the first Vpak 500 press system for label and flexible packaging applications last year and Goss has since shipped the wider format Vpak 3000 press to an undisclosed customer for board printing.

Goss Vpak 500 and Vpak 3000 web offset press models for folding carton, flexible packaging, pre-print and label applications are available in web widths from 520 mm to 1905 mm (20.5 to 75 inches) and print at speeds of up to 457 meters (1,500 feet) per minute. Key features include quick-change sleeve adapter technology for efficient, cost-effective size changes, and advanced offset inking, tension and control systems.

“With options for integrating flexo, gravure and digital stations into a Vpak press configuration to form a hybrid production line, this technology delivers flexibility without compromise,” continues Walczak. “Any converters or brand owners feeling the pressure on lead times and price for short to medium run lengths should come and see us at Labelexpo Americas to find out more about the game-changing capabilities ofSunday Vpak technology,” he concludes.