Packaging
X-JET 420: OMET ENTERS THE FIELD OF DIGITAL PRINTING
Thursday 08. October 2009 - With the spread of the personal computer, people have become accustomed to the concept and the ability to pass straight from digital image to reproduction. On a printing level this means being able to print without stereo or plate. To satisfy this demand, Omet has designed a new digital printing engine for its X-Flex machine, known as X-Jet 420, and will exhibit it at Labelexpo Europe 2009.
According to Omets President, Angelo Bartesaghi: “There were two reasons for driving the research and development of the X-Jet 420, which we see as the print of the future. The first is to meet the requirement for shorter and shorter print runs, which we can personalise and add variable data to inline, and the second is to reduce downtime.”
The modular concept that typifies the Omet philosophy was also applied to the new X-Jet project. The machine can therefore be offered as a single unit of 4 printing heads (stand alone) or in combination with an X-Flex platform that includes flexo or screen printing and laminating units for special applications. The ideal sectors for this model are labels for wine, beverages, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.
The technology of digital printing is used for ink jet printing (drop on demand), or piezoelectric printing. In practice, a diaphragm is moved by electric impulses, provoking an ink jet in the small box on the ink tank. It is an extremely flexible system, and is being rapidly and continuously evolved.
Most interesting of all, in addition to the traditional packaging material converting capabilities of the X-Flex, is the possibility of combining the Mono Twin Cut die cutting unit with the digital printing unit, so that even if the size of the print image changes, there will be no need to change the magnetic cylinder; the simple replacement of the die cutting tool allows you to restart production immediately.
The resolution of the images and the printing speed are such as to place the X-JET at the top of the market.