During Labelexo, it was announced that UK-based CS Labels will be a beta site for the newly launched Xeikon CX500 digital press. Managing director Simon Smith said his company had the CX500 in its sights for the past 12 months. After initially deciding to take on the machine beforehand, the official handshake and announcement took place on September 28. The press will be installed at CS’s Midacre, West Midlands premises in early 2018.

Xeikon used Labelexpo as the international launchpad for the CX500, the latest in its Cheetah series of presses. It is based on a new dry toner platform and can handle reels up to 520mm wide, allowing CS to be “50% more productive” compared with previous machines, according to Smith.

“We have a long-running relationship with Xeikon,” said Smith. “Before making the decision, we had already done a couple of trials with the CX500 and were impressed. We are making a wider package of investments in the near future and this install reflects our position at the forefront of the market, working with new technology.

“We don’t just offer digitally printed labels, we offer complete digital solutions and always explore new opportunities like flexible packaging. As the market continues to evolve, we will stay true to our ethos of letting technology drive our innovation.

“We have an excellent and long-term technology partnership with Xeikon. Deciding for the beta-testing of the Xeikon CX500 was a no-brainer for us. It is basically a next, logical expansion of our machine park and if perfectly fits in the long-term business strategy for our company.”

CS Labels is a technology partner with Xeikon, having also been part of the beta test for its Cheetah CX3 in 2015. The family-run business has a workforce of 50 that generates sales of almost £5m.
Xeikon hoped to make a “big splash” at LabelExpo Europe 2017, announcing a further three new press as well as the CX500. Also introduced was the Xeikon Panther Series of UV inkjet digital label presses, including the Xeikon PX3000 and the newly announced entry-level Xeikon PX2000, both to be made available on a 4-colour and a 5-colour configuration.

The new machines are likely to aim for the mid-range of the market, costing between €300-500,000 according to Xeikon communications manager Danny Mertens. The PX3000 was available for purchase at the event, shipping early 2018. The PX2000 will be available in around six months’ time.

“People will not tend to look for us for things like UV, but we hope to have educated them over Labelexpo,” said Mertens. “We want to be ‘tech agnostic’, meaning we can provide solutions for everything at a very high quality. We will do whatever it takes to be a solution provider our customers can turn to for anything.”