Inkjet & Digital Printing

HAPA DEBUTS NEXT-GENERATION INLINE PRINTING SYSTEM AT ACHEMA 2015

Thursday 25. June 2015 - The Hapa 862 is a modular, CMYK / spot-color inkjet printing system for the inline packaging printing of foils and labels. With its unprecedented flexibility and scalability, it eases the manufacturer's challenges of SKU and supply-chain complexities, frequent line changeovers and evolving legislative requirements. The Hapa 862 cuts material and process waste while allowing material inventory to be reduced by as much as 80% through the use of blank stock.

Designed with the skill set of a packaging line operator in mind, the Hapa 862 is engineered in compliance with the stringent requirements of the pharmaceutical sector and follows current best practice in machinery and software design. Scalable and modular, the printing system can be integrated with customers’ existing packaging lines in top- or stand-mounted configurations, or alternatively it can operate offline as a roll-to-roll machine.
“redcube plus” printing module
Integrated into the heart of the system is the new, fully digital “redcube plus”. A UV DOD inkjet print module, the “redcube plus” produces high quality 720 dpi print in up to four colors, spot or CMYK, at speeds up to 54 meters/minute, easily keeping pace with the fastest packaging lines. The module boasts fully automated print-head maintenance to eliminate downtime for cleaning, and adjustable UV-LED curing unit to guarantee consistently high print quality. Where color-on-color print is required, an optional additional pinning station ensures complete accuracy.
Future-proofing, modular concept
The Hapa 862 creates a new standard in modular design, allowing customers to control initial capital outlay by configuring the machine to suit current production needs, secure in the knowledge that additional modules can be added to meet future needs. Upgrade modules include unwinder, rewinder, corona treatment station, print-margin detection, label-margin detection, additional pinning station, cameras and reject station. Each module is truly plug-and-play, with just a simple mechanical and electrical connection required. The upgrade philosophy is shared with Hapa’s new Human Machine Interface (HMI), integrated into the Hapa 862 and set to become the standard across Hapa’s new-generation technology. Both printer and HMI integrate with existing workflows and ERP systems for seamless operation.
Design-winning multi-touch HMI
Hapa’s new multi-touch HMI, winner of an iF Design Award 2015, and nominated for a German Design Award 2016, is as simple to operate as a smartphone. It integrates into complex lines and pulls system information about all support functions. The software monitors machine statistics as a form of early detection, improving operation efficiency. The user interface technology is platform independent and offers clear separation from application logic.
Single-pass printing, rising yields, and falling waste
The innovations and ease of operations of the Hapa 862 UV DOD printing system come at a time when the challenges of serialization demand the capability to print both standard artwork and variable data in a single pass with high-resolution, both accurately and repeatedly. Customers’ waste and rework levels drop, packaging-line yields rise, and improved agility and efficiency lead to savings and growth.
James MacKenzie, Sales Director Healthcare at Hapa, says: “The case for inline printing has never been stronger: typical production profiles are much more complex, yet the drive for productivity continues unabated. Add to that the challenge of introducing item-level serialization – one of the most significant legislative changes in pharmaceutical packaging in decades – and the appeal of our new printer is immediately apparent. Promising high performance and ease of use combined with unparalleled flexibility and return on investment, the Hapa 862 truly is a solution that responds to the Zeitgeist in pharmaceutical packaging.”