Digital printing is a printing method that is becoming more prevalent in today’s printing industry. Digital printers are becoming more popular due to their impressive time and production run efficiency. The HP Indigo 20000 Digital Press is one of the newest forms of technology that is a game changer for print companies that deal with flexible packaging.
The HP Indigo 20000 Digital Press is not only efficient in terms of production turnaround, but it is also a more sustainable printing press compared to others. According to earthshiftglobal, HP Indigo 20000 digital printing at economical sizes has significantly lower potential impacts in certain environmental aspects when compared to rotogravure and CI flexo flexible packaging. This press has a 30-inch web width setup that allows for better flexible packaging applications. According to HP, this press is sustainable because of the following reasons:
- Eliminates overall waste
- Saves print film
- Requires minimal use of flexo plates and gravure cylinders
- Prints on biodegradable film
The HP Indigo 20000 Digital Press requires a much shorter setup time, which helps flexible packaging converters get jobs done more quickly due to not having to worry about various issues such as getting plates and cylinders ready beforehand. This press also has an improved ink delivery system, which allows for perfect registration on the first print. Another efficient aspect of the HP Indigo 20000 press is that it allows for a color selection of up to seven inks. Hewlett-Packard (HP) states that, “The 7 on-press ink stations enable converters to meet even the most stringent corporate branding requirements, using HP IndiChrome Pantone-certified on-press 4-,6- and 7- color emulations, opaque white ink, and off-press mixed spot inks to match over 97% of PANTONE colors.” These color options improve print quality and can be used on various paper formats.
Many print companies have already adapted this new technology into their production lines because of the advantages previously mentioned. Mepco Label Systems and ePac are just two companies that have seen the benefits of using these digital presses. The second company, ePac, has seen tremendous growth in their productivity since the beginning of 2020. According to GlobeNewswire, ePac has tripled its volume since January 2019 and plans to acquire 52 more HP Indigo 20000 presses as it expands its locations by the end of 2020. This company is known for their flexible packaging expertise for various products ranging from coffee and pet food to beauty and organic products among many others. This company’s main goal is to help small brands gain more exposure by providing them creative, fast, and good quality packaging that is appealing to consumers. A few various company products that ePac digitally prints packaging for range from socks to granola snacks and nutrition sports drinks. Mepco Label systems is also starting to incorporate the HP Indigo 20000 into their production line for similar reasons to ePac’s.
The HP Indigo 20000 is just one of many digital presses, but the digital printing market in the packaging industry is starting to improve because of presses such as the HP Indigo 20000. This digital press is not only sustainable, but is also versatile in what it can print (i.e. shrink sleeves, pouches, flexible packaging). According to Hewlett-Packard, HP Indigo printing can address SKU diversity and seasonal redesigns, optimize supply chains, and deploy mass customization and personalization for campaigns that boost sales and brand loyalty. This digital press also uses PrintOS, which is a print software system that helps boosts production from start to finish with finishing (lamination) solutions.
The HP Indigo 20000 digital press is the next step of the packaging industry’s future, especially for label converters. This technology has helped packaging companies such as the two previously mentioned improve their productivity, turnaround time, and sustainability motives.
References
https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2020/02/26/1990898/0/en/ePac-Breaks-Record-for-Flexible-Packaging-Production-on-HP-Indigo-Digital-Presses.html
https://www.earthshiftglobal.com/docs/content-docs/low-environmental-impact-printingwith-HP-Indigo-DigitalPresses_WhitePaper.pdf
https://www.labelandnarrowweb.com/contents/view_online-exclusives/2014-05-13/hp-indigo-20000-digital-print-ramps-up-for-flexible-packaging/
http://www.packagingnews.com.au/converting-and-printing/us-pouch-printer-buys-20-hp-indigo-20000s
https://www.labelsandlabeling.com/news/installations/epac-invests-100m-24-additional-hp-indigo-20000-presses
