Xeikon

As a relatively young industry in the context of printing, and a downstream user of a variety of raw materials, there are many things label converters can learn from older, established industries like paper and board, and from new packaging formats like flexible packaging.

This year's Labelexpo Americas will feature three comprehsensive Package Printing Workshops. The sessions are ideal for label converters looking to diversify into other applications, and package printers interested in seeing what digital technology can offer. Label and pack designers, as well as brand-owners looking to understand what digital can provide their business, will also benefit from attending the sessions.

News on suppliers to the packaging printing industry, including items on Blue Dog Bakery and Hornall Anderson; Lebensbaum and Innovia Films; PIA's InterTech Technology Awards; UPM Raflatac; and Michelman.

With more than 400 exhibitors at this year's Labelexpo Americas in Chicago, including Avery Dennison, UPM Raflatac, Gallus, EskoArtwork, Nilpeter, Flint Group, Mark Andy, and Sun Chemical, show visitors will be perfectly positioned to make informed choices from the numerous live demonstrations of the latest machinery and materials. Three new comprehensive workshop sessions for label and package printers will also be offered.

Xeikon NV has received a 2012 InterTech Technology Award from the Printing Industries of America for its X-800 VariLane software add-on to the Xeikon X-800 Digital Front-End. The X-800 VariLane is one of twelve innovative technologies recognized with a 2012 InterTech Technology Award.

Coming out of drupa, I see history repeating itself for digital package printing. In the early 1990s Indigo entered the narrow web labels sector with their Omnius digital press which paved the way for single pass digital printing of labels. Also in those early days Xeikon, offered the DCP/32S a dry toner press and others introduced UV inkjet single pass systems.

Our last day at drupa ended up being full of promising packaging solutions, much more than we expected and we wished we could have extended our stay another few days.

After our third day at drupa we are getting more convinced that drupa 2012 is the “we think we have a digital solution for packaging” show.

ProLabel, a manufacturer of digital labels, has purchased and installed a Xeikon 3030 press to meet its customers' growing demand for high quality digital labels.

Since the last drupa held in 2008 the suppliers of digital solutions have become even more important and reflect the mega-trend of digitization. In six halls, drupa 2012, held at the fairgrounds in Düsseldorf, Germany, will show everything concerning digital printing, workflow, or Web-to-print applications, just to name some important examples.