HP has announced new end-to-end workflow systems and product enhancements that span the HP Indigo portfolio for labels, folding cartons and flexible packaging to help converters improve efficiency and accommodate high-value applications. The announcements reinforce HP’s leadership in the label industry, which the company says is also validated by rapidly increasing installations of the HP Indigo WS6600 Digital Press at new and existing customer sites over the past year.

HP’s momentum across the labels and packaging industry continues, with more than 50 companies around the world now producing folding carton and flexible packaging on HP Indigo Digital Presses. In addition, HP says, more than 100 customers have agreed to purchase the HP Indigo 20000 and 30000 Digital Presses, including 10 of the largest flexible packaging converters in the world and several multinational folding carton converters. First installations of the presses are planned for the end of 2013.

“Brands of all sizes are increasingly demanding packaging with higher shelf-appeal and are producing more and more packaging using HP Indigo digital printing capabilities, generating demand for our customers,” says Alon Bar-Shany, vice president and general manager, Indigo Division, HP. “Our latest HP Indigo product improvements and workflow solutions help print service providers and converters accommodate production of more jobs with greater efficiency and higher uptime, while supporting a wider range of applications without compromising quality.”

Enhanced quality and flexibility
HP is bringing to market product upgrades that improve automation, workflow and production efficiency while expanding the range of applications. The new HP SmartStream Labels and Packaging Print Server, version 4.0, powered by Esko, is a system for simplified color management and automated job preparation. This new color engine transforms existing processes by automating common procedures that are time-consuming. The result is quick and accurate color management with fewer manual workflow steps required for efficient, high-quality printing. For added flexibility in file preparation, the system also includes new imposition and variable-data tools, including dynamic marks. The transformation of existing workflows and procedures will allow for time savings of up to 70 percent throughout the entire color management process and enable an average of 25% more jobs per shift.

This new product will be available in September at Labelexpo Brussels as an upgrade for all HP Indigo WS6000 and WS4000 series Digital Presses, permitting existing customers the ability to protect their investment in HP Indigo equipment.

Wide web label converting on the HP Indigo 20000
To help HP Indigo users expand their range of applications, HP is working together with AB Graphic, Int. on new end-to-end solutions for label converting on a wide web. AB Graphics’ Digicon 3000, designed specifically to support the HP Indigo 20000 Digital Press specifications, will be integrated in-line with the press, allowing one pass for optimized production of labels and flexible packaging. Its modular design will enable users to produce labels and a variety of flexible packaging laminates. This will be showcased at Labelexpo in Brussels and will be available upon release of the HP Indigo 20000.

Top label producers RAKO-GROUP and Innovative Labeling Solutions (ILS) will install the HP Indigo 20000 Digital Press by the end of the year. RAKO-GROUP is one of the largest and most advanced producers of self-adhesive labels in Europe and ILS is a leading US company in the PS label industry. Both companies are already using HP Indigo presses to produce labels and flexible packaging.