Xeikon and MOSS Collaborate on Innovative Process for Decorating Plastic Pails and Containers
Xeikon, a division of Punch Graphix, and Italy-based MOSS, a leader in technologies for decorating containers and other articles, today announced the joint development of a patented Digital Decorating System that will enable fast and cost-efficient decoration of round, conical, rectangular and square pails and containers, even in very short runs.
“We have worked closely with MOSS over the past couple of years to develop and test this breakthrough solution,” said Brian Heegaard, Xeikon’s Business development manager of Specialty Printing. “It enables decoration of pails and containers of various shapes in two easy steps. First, one the Xeikon web presses is used to print the exact number of transfers required for the decorating effort.
Then the roll of printed transfers is fed into the MOSS Digital Decorating System to perfectly apply transfers to pails or containers using a heat transfer process. It is as simple as that, and the result is a very high quality digitally printed and applied decoration that passes all of the typical tests, including scratching, tape, water and others. Opacity and image quality is superior to what direct offset printing is capable of producing.
For applications requiring even more durability, an inline varnishing unit can be incorporated in the MOSS transfer machine” Xeikon digital printing presses produce amazingly sharp details and head-turning photorealistic prints as well as graphics for labels that jump off the shelves. The five colour engine provides for the four standard process colours plus a choice of high opacity white or spot colours.
The presses are capable of handling an unrivalled range of substrates including self-adhesive films, co-extruded films, unsupported films, paper, transparent and opaque foils, and paperboard.. The environmentally friendly dry toner electro photography imaging process enables the use of conventional substrates without the need for coating or pre-treatment. Ultimate flexibility The MOSS Digital Decorating System comes in two models for ultimate flexibility.
Both DIGICON (for round and conical pails) and DIGIFLEX (for rectangular and square containers) deliver a perfect application of the pre-printed images on the plastic pails or containers and are cost effective in runs as small as 500. This system eliminates the need to create complicated graphic jobs, or prepare screens or plates, as well as the chemistry associated with these conventional methods. Machine set-up time is fast on the Xeikon presses, eliminating long machine make ready times required by traditional methods and reducing the high fixed costs associated with conventional setups that make short runs unaffordable.
With the Xeikon presses, the cost per image remains at the same affordable level regardless of the quality produced. The Digital Decorating System allows for production of approximately 18 ppm with a round 10 L pail , giving the same output as a traditional direct offset printing press. “We are pleased to be working with Xeikon in the development of this revolutionary product,” said Andrea Fantozzi Export Manager of MOSS.
“The Digital Decorating System using Xeikon printed input offers an alternative solution to in-mold labelling with no compromise in quality but with the flexibility to produce shorter runs, something our customers have been seeking for some time. The combined system can be used for just-in-time production, or Xeikon-printed transfers can be produced in larger quantities and stored for application to pails and containers as needed.” Representatives of Xeikon and MOSS point out that this system, while designed specifically for the decoration of buckets and containers, will also have a broader application within the label industry in general.
Open House November 19th & 24th
In order to showcase the Digital Decorating System, MOSS and Xeikon will be conducting a series of open houses at the Xeikon Demo Centre in Lier on November 19th and 24th. Demonstrations will be conducted showing end-to-end production using the Xeikon 3300 and 5000plus digital presses. Presentations will also be given discussing the technology and comparing the process in-depth with conventional pail and container labelling processes, including the advantages of toner-based printing over screen and offset for these applications.
For further information on Punch Graphix, Xeikon, MOSS or the open house, visit the www.xeikon.com web site.
About MOSS
MOSS manufactures and sells - both in Italy and abroad - silk-screen, offset and hot-stamping machines for the decoration of articles and containers. In addition to its vast range of machines from simple 1-colour semi-automatic machines to fully automatic 8-colour lines with computerized controls, also produces a complete range of complementary equipment, not to mention the sale and installation of labeling machines on its own printing lines, and is in a unique position to be able to offer, not only first class after sales customer service, but also a truly complete service to its customers in terms of art-work, plate and screen manufacturing and technology and inks and varnishes. Thus MOSS is able to offer its customers an all-round service and assistance covering all aspects of the printing process, a service which is unrivalled in today's market. For more information visit www.moss.it
About Xeikon
A pioneer in digital printing, Xeikon designs, develops and delivers high-end digital colour printing systems for the global commercial, document printing and industrial market segments. These systems are composed of advanced web-fed printing engines using LED-array-based, dry toner electrophotography, open workflow software, exclusive toner and other consumables. Xeikon’s production and R&D operations are based in Belgium and its solutions are distributed and supported through a worldwide sales and service network. Xeikon is a division of Punch Graphix. For more information, visit www.xeikon.com.
About Punch Graphix
Punch Graphix provides innovative, competitive and environmentally friendly imaging and printing solutions for the global graphics industry. Under the Xeikon brand name, Punch Graphix designs, develops and delivers high-end digital colour printing systems, software and consumables for the commercial, document printing and industrial markets. Under the basysPrint brand, Punch Graphix designs, develops and delivers mid to high-end imaging systems for the offset prepress commercial markets. With a clear-minded focus on R&D, Punch Graphix is dedicated to customer satisfaction and aims to deliver cost-effective graphic excellence that goes beyond all expectations. For more information, visit www.punchgraphix.com.