Xeikon is showcasing a host of new digital technologies, including its Enhanced Folding Carton Suite with its recently launched Web Varnishing Module, at Salon de l’Emballage 2014. Along with partners Zünd, CERM and customers Imprimerie Bouley and 5Sept Etiquette, Xeikon will present a wide range of applications specifically developed to address the changing needs of brand owners and packaging converters.

The Salon de l’Emballage is taking place November 17-20 at Paris Nord Villepinte.

“Over the past few years, our portfolio of digital solutions for labels and packaging has significantly increased, and we encourage converters and brand owners alike to come check out what we have on display at Emballage,” says Filip Weymans, Xeikon’s director of segment marketing and business development for labels & packaging. “We will be thrilled to meet up with them and engage in some insightful conversations.”

Enhanced Folding Carton Suite
The Enhanced Folding Carton Suite now offers a basic press configuration where the print stations are equipped with orange toner in combination with CMYK. According to Xeikon, the extended color gamut achieved with this configuration ensures the accurate production of a wider range of brand colors.

Digitally-produced folding cartons can be used for specific seasonal packaging, intensive test marketing, just-in-time delivery contracts and customization of shorter runs and appeals to smaller geographic and demographic market segments.

“Our strategy is to pursue growth in the folding carton market and we are thrilled at being able to demonstrate for the first time the continuous enhancements we have made to the Xeikon Folding Carton Suite at Emballage 2014 in Paris,” adds Weymans. “Eager to provide the best end-to-end digital printing solutions to the market, and address the changing needs of brand owners and packaging converters, our Folding Carton Suite allows them to digitally produce the same high quality packaging but for a whole range of new applications, allowing them to build new revenue streams with higher profit margins.”

Compact inline varnishing module
Earlier this year at Labelexpo Americas, Xeikon expanded the inline finishing options available for its digital presses with the launch of the Web Varnishing Module. This unit can apply UV or aqueous varnish on one side of a wide range of substrates, which is designed for folding cartons that require varnish-free areas for glue strips and production data.

The module is also a compact solution to apply spot varnish on a large variety of substrates, including self-adhesive label materials, coated papers, unsupported films and coated paper board. The new inline module enables the operator to immediately see the results and make any corrections, if required, in order to achieve the desired effect. This eliminates the high expense and job delays when varnishing is done offline and the entire job has to be reprinted if the end result is not acceptable.

Finally, the Web Varnishing Module is an important addition to the Xeikon Suites, enabling further optimization of the processes and workflows used by printers and converters. At Emballage 2014, the Web Varnishing Module will run inline with the Xeikon 3050 Digital Press, fully equipped with unwinder and in a roll-to-sheet configuration.

Partnerships and cooperations
At Emballage, Xeikon will also be printing wet-glue wine and champagne labels in cooperation with its customer, Imprimerie Bouley, a family-run label converter located in the heart of Burgundy that specializes in wine, spirit and beverage labels.

With ever shorter print runs and delivery requirements, Imprimerie Bouley switched from offset to digital beginning 2013 and opted for a Xeikon 3030 Digital Press – upgraded now to a Xeikon 3300 – and the company says it is pleased with the results.

The benefits of wet-glue labels include high quality graphics, high speed applications and volume runs and the ease of label removal on returnable containers.

Clics Boxes from Belgian toy manufacturer Clics will also be on display. These folding carton toy boxes can be customized with photos and text, making an original gift for kids. They will be produced by a folding carton suite powered by a Xeikon Digital Press and finished by digital cutting specialist Zünd.

Lastly, Aura Partner CERM, a solution provider in business management and automation solutions for the labels and printing industry, will also display an offline Xeikon X-800 Digital Front-End and integrated workflow configuration with MIS system while French customer 5Sept Etiquette will showcase samples printed on its Xeikon 3300 Digital Label Press, which was acquired last year.