FOCUS PACKAGING TECHNOLOGIES
Leading the way with innovation As businesses pivot to address a new normal, we take a closer look at some manufacturers’ innovations that help execute on customer demands By Peter Kohn
Bobst Group As one of the world’s leading suppliers of substrate processing, printing and converting equipment and services for the label, flexible packaging, folding carton and corrugated industries, Switzerland’s Bobst Group, is scaling up business in 2021 as the post-pandemic markets beckon with expanded activity and renewed opportunities. A Bobst representative makes the point that unlike many suppliers, Bobst Group can rely on all technologies: flexo, all-inone and digital. “We don’t push one technology versus another – we simply offer solutions to optimise the entire production floor. The recently announced Bobst Master DM5, combining flexo units and the digital Mouvent technology print engine, is probably the best label press on the market, delivering all type of labels from the PDF to final rolls. Prime, print, embellish, cut – all-in-one, all-inline. It shows that technology can co-exist and that customers’ needs will be met using the most appropriate technology,” the spokesperson said. For example, Bobst’s Mouvent Cluster technology comprises four Fuji Samba printheads capable of printing native
The Bobst Master DM5, which combines flexo units and the digital Mouvent technology print engine
1200 x 1200dpi up to 100m/min. A stateof-the-art electronic layer drives one million drops per second, while an ink conditioning layer ensures that each individual printhead’s ink supply is close to the printhead. There is fully automated flow regulation control for each printhead, making certain that consistent print can be maintained at high speeds. Finally, a mechanical layer and individual control of each printhead is implemented to ensure optimal alignment. In addition, with its oneINSPECTION technology, Bobst offers a smart digital visual control system to ensure that all labels are delivered with the highest and most consistent quality, for any jobs and with any operator.
“If you are using four or six colours, or if you are using white or special inks, Mouvent Cluster technology combines high quality with high speed at levels never achieved before,” Bobst said, which is also at the cutting edge in terms of white inks. “For decades, white printing was almost taboo for digital. “There is a perception that white is the flexo premise. “This was partially true – the opacity and the cost in digital were indeed not matching expectations for a while. “It took some time to deliver a solution and now we deliver white ink at 70 per cent opacity at up to 45m/min – a world record in digital printing.”
Durst Oceania Durst’s P5 WT 250 press has been billed as one of the market’s most productive water-based ink multi-pass printers for corrugated packaging. Durst Oceania managing director Matt Ashman said the P5 WT 250 incorporates Durst Water Technology and prints from flexo quality up to premium litho quality with odourless ink. “Durst Water Technology is highly suited for a range of corrugated packaging and display applications. Durst WT inks are completely free of hazardous labelling and comply with the strictest health and safety regulations,” Ashman said. He explained that as a specialist shortrun device, or as a main production machine, the P5 250 WT brings corrugated digital production up-to-date, with better-than-litho quality, direct to media. The ink system developed by Durst is fully food compliant, he noted, and the WT (Water Technology) ink, is suited to odourless, high-quality production. The press has options ranging from manual feed-and-stack, all the way to fully 10 ProPack.pro June 2021
The P5 WT 250 is said to be one of the market’s most productive water-based ink multi-pass printers as it incorporates Durst Water Technology and prints from flexo quality up to premium litho quality with odourless ink
automated stack-to-stack production, up to 2.5m wide. “With the trend moving to print on demand and shorter runs, with multiple SKUs, the set-up time for traditional presses is becoming a cost issue for printers,” Ashman said. “With the Durst WT technology, the set-up time and set-up costs are eliminated, while at the same time,
the press can deliver better than litho quality. Combined with our food-safe ink technology, this is an alternative for current producers or an entry point for businesses needing to enter into the shortrun packaging sector. “Combining this technology with the Durst Smart Shop online design and order software, a business can offer one-off, on demand packaging for B2B or B2C.” www.propack.pro