Inkjet & Digital Printing

Xeikon unleashes Cheetah at Labelexpo Europe 2015

Tuesday 23. June 2015 - RACE AGAINST A CHEETAH AND SEE HOW XEIKON IS 100% CRAZY ABOUT DIGITAL LABEL PRINTING

Xeikon, an innovator in digital color printing technology, today announced the worldwide commercial availability of its groundbreaking Xeikon CX3 digital label press, based on Xeikon Cheetah digital print technology. The press will be available for order taking as of September 29, the opening day of Labelexpo Europe 2015. The Xeikon Cheetah technology is in pilot operation at five sites around the world, where it has delivered outstanding performance. At the show, Xeikon will unveil the newly designed press and conduct live demonstrations of the Xeikon CX3, the fastest five-color digital label press in its class. Labelexpo Europe takes place in Brussels from 29 September through 2 October, and Xeikon will be located in hall 9, stand B/C 50. Xeikon busses are available to transport show attendees from Brussels airport to Labelexpo.
“Our extensive presence at Labelexpo Europe 2015, the world’s largest event for the label industry, reinforces our dedication to bringing innovation, productivity and profitability to the label printing business, which has grown to represent more than 50% of our revenues,” says Wim Maes, Xeikon’s CEO. “We are very excited to be making the Xeikon CX3 available for all digital label printers and converters worldwide as of the first day of the show. We have been extremely pleased with the feedback received from the Xeikon Cheetah’s pilot sites, and we look forward to seeing those results replicated with many more customers around the globe.”
The five keys to success in digital label printing
In addition to Xeikon Cheetah technology, the company will have a complete range of digital print production solutions on display. Maes adds, “We are also keen for attendees to see that our approach to this market is unique, being the only printer manufacturer with vertically integrated development and manufacturing that addresses all five primary components required for digital label printing success: printing, toner, workflow, converting and services. This end-to-end solutions approach will be evident to visitors to our stand. They will see that we are direct and close to our customer, dedicated to the label market and clearly a leader in digital label printing.”
Digital presses dedicated to labels and folding carton
Next to the Xeikon CX3, Xeikon will have a Xeikon 3300 on the booth, its flagship narrow-web label press with printing widths of 200mm (7.9″) up to 330mm (13″). This press is ideal for printing self-adhesive labels at top speeds, and will be printing wine, health & beauty, food and industrial applications. A Xeikon 3500 press, dedicated to folding carton, will be demonstrated in the Packprint Workshop, where Xeikon will also give presentations. This breadth of capabilities highlights the unique range of labels and packaging applications that can be produced with Xeikon digital printing technologies.
The color of success
At Labelexpo, Xeikon will be unveiling two new toners: MatteSilver and PalladiumSilver. These new luxury-look toners are the first products in the new Xeikon Creative Colors toner group. MatteSilver offers the luxury of a rich metal finish to the print substrate, while Palladium – uniquely available for digital print in the Xeikon portfolio – features a speckled silver sparkle for extra textural interest.
A focus on workflow
“In order to gain the full benefit of digital label printing, it is important to ensure an efficient workflow that keeps manual touches to a minimum,” comments Jeroen Van Bauwel, Director Product Management at Xeikon. “This is especially true when considering the growing demand for shorter run lengths and faster delivery times for all types of labels. Xeikon continues to enhance its X-800 digital front-end (DFE) to ensure that our customers are as productive as possible. Attendees at the show should not miss the opportunity to check out the extended capabilities of the latest version of our DFE, the Xeikon X-800 4.0, which is being released at the end of this month.”
A unique capability included in the Xeikon X-800 4.0 DFE is the next-generation VariLane tool, designed to optimize productivity and profitability by printing labels of different heights, widths and run lengths on the same web in separate lanes. The latest X-800 release also includes full support for the Adobe Mercury RIP Architecture and ColorKey, a new option that takes advantage of the inline spectrophotometer that is an integral part of Xeikon presses. ColorKey enables users to generate reports reflecting the stability of the printing process during a specific job, the accuracy with which specific brand colors are reproduced and the possible occurrence of deviations from a pre-defined printing standard. It gives press operators a clear view into the quality of a specific production batch and allows managers to receive a concise production overview. This functionality also addresses the requirements of a growing number of brand owners who seek a quality report for each job.
Finishing with a flourish
“We are constantly expanding the components of our Label and Packaging Suites, which include defined sets of software, equipment, finishing, consumables and/or substrates to complement our digital presses. This enables our customers to build the best digital production solutions for their specific business needs,” adds Van Bauwel. “At the show, visitors to our stand will see live demonstrations of two leading-edge in-line varnishing solutions that enhance the speed and quality of digital label production.”
The Web Varnishing Module (WVM) is an extremely versatile unit that can apply UV or aqueous varnish on one side of a wide range of substrates. It enables press operators to immediately see the results of the coating and make adjustments if necessary, eliminating the time and cost that occurs when less-than-optimum nearline coating means sending the job back for reprinting. Launched last year at Labelexpo in Chicago, the WVM is ideal for use with self-adhesive label materials, unsupported films and paper board.
Available in in-line and nearline configurations, the Xeikon DCoat post-press unit includes as standard flood UV varnishing, lamination, semi rotary die-cutting, length slitting and a dual spindle rewinder. Optional modules such as spot UV varnishing and alternative rewinders or slitters are also available.
Exceptional Services
Last but not least, Xeikon’s Services offering will be well represented at the booth with Xeikon experts available in designated areas to share advice on quality, productivity and technology – and as such support customers to maximize the added value they can offer their brand owner clients. Xeikon services range from installation, setup and maintenance to a range of Premium Services that include training and education, color services and business development training & advice. “We encourage show attendees to sit together with the Xeikon product experts, and gain the benefit of their insight into business and production issues as well as future strategy development,” Wim Maes concludes, “We love to talk to customers, and the back-and-forth of these discussions benefits both parties.”
Environmental sustainability is key
Xeikon is reinforcing its dedication to delivering environmentally sustainable solutions as the sponsor of the Label Industry Global Award for Sustainability. This award, sponsored by Xeikon since many years, recognizes the most sustainable product or process by a supplier/converter company in the label industry that was introduced in 2014. The winners of this prestigious award will be announced at a ceremony to be held on the first evening of the show.