Digital Finishing Makes a Splash at drupa

In the packaging industry, printing is often only half the battle in creating a visually appealing product. So when digital technology began to take off in printing, it only seemed logical that finishing would eventually follow suit. Back in our May issue, we reached out to some experts in digital finishing to learn more about the advantages of this technology and its growth potential.

At the time, there was plenty of positivity surrounding the upward trajectory digital finishing could take, and at drupa 2016, several suppliers had their latest solutions on display. Here are some highlights from the show:

Finishing Specifically for Packaging

Scodix debuted its E106 Enhancement Press, designed specifically for packaging.

According to a press release from Scodix, the company brought more than 100 new customers on board, with its Scodix Ultra Pro Digital Enhancement Press accounting for most of its sales. However, the newly-released Scodix E106 Enhancement Press, which is designed specifically for packaging applications, turned heads with its fast speeds and wide range of embellishment options, including foil, embossing, metallics, Braille and more.

“One hundred new customers in 11 days is unprecedented for the company,” Scodix CEO Roy Porat said in the press release. “Digital enhancement is becoming increasingly popular, and we see huge potential in the near future. There’s still a lot of untapped opportunity out there, but drupa 2016 has gone some distance in remedying that. It seems we have fulfilled predictions by industry commentators at drupa 2012 that digital enhancement, and Scodix itself, is the one to watch.”

Metal Transfer to Digital Print

The DM-Liner UV Ink from Kurz demonstrated the latest technology in digital transfer of metal to substrate.

As a well-known entity in print embellishment already, Kurz made a major leap forward at drupa 2016 with developments to its Digital Metal technology, which provides a process for transferring metal to a digitally printed substrate. According to the Digital Metal website, a specified design is digitally printed on the substrate and the foil can then be applied to that image, providing personalized embellishments.

Kurz's new DM-Liner UV Ink debuted during drupa, and according to a press release, uses the inkjet method for transferring Kurz Digital Metal. The system can be implemented either upstream or downstream from the printing process. According to Kurz, implementing the system downstream allows for customized metal effects to be added in registration with color printing.

"Both individualization and the finishing of print products are a megatrend in the graphics industry," Stefanie Schmidt, Digital Metal product manager, said in the release. "Using our Digital Metal process, print shops can satisfy both of these trends. And using the new DM-Liner UV Ink, offset printers can also profit from the growing market in individualized print products, while at the same time employing a cost-effective digital technology to implement true metallic effects"

A Push for Paper

Packaging samples finished using Highcon's digital equipment.

While many of the digital finishing specialists at drupa focused on what could be added to paper to make it stand out, Highcon demonstrated that paper on its own can be the focal point of a package. The Highcon Euclid line had already gained a great deal of attention prior to the show as a leader in the digital cutting realm, and with the launch of the Euclid III during drupa, new variable data cutting and 3D modeling was introduced. Additionally, Highcon showcased its Beam and Pulse products. The Beam is a B1 digital cutter and creaser, processing up to 5,000 sph, while the Pulse operates in a B2 format.

The Highcon Shape also generated some unprecedented output using paper. This 3D production system generated massive three-dimensional output including wine stands, chairs and a bookcase. The stunner however, is these fully functional products were produced using paper as the media.

Personalized Packaging Embellishment

Digital finishing samples from MGI on display at drupa.

MGI has also become a leading figure in the digital finishing world, with the ability to provide personalized and variable embellishments on a number of packaging applications. Among the MGI products making its debut at drupa was the JETvarnish 3D Evolution. This latest addition to the JETvarnish line is a B1+ scalable sheet-fed digital enhancement solution. It provides the ability to implement spot varnish, 3D raised varnish and digitally embossed foil in one pass.

The company also made a splash in the label market with the JETvarnish 3DW on display. This digital label finishing solution provides 2D spot coats, 3D textures and custom hot foil.

Another major product launch from MGI was the Meteor Unlimited Colors. This new release goes beyond just digital finishing and is actually a digital press that features inline hot foiling and MGI’s Authentication Hologram Digital Printing (AHDP). According to MGI, the company’s iFOIL technology allows for an expansive color spectrum as it can be printed on with CMYK toner. MGI also states that AHDP provides a boost from a security perspective, due to its ability to digitally produce customized holographic elements.