Hybrid presses can be defined as label presses that incorporate two or more printing processes (digital and conventional) inline with finishing units (varnishing, spot color printing, slitting, diecutting and different embellishment techniques). Trends in the market indicate luxury brands benefit from what their print provider offers: shorter runs, more versions and variations, variable text or graphics, and personalization allowing much greater freedom of creativity.

To meet market demand, Xeikon has launched a fully digital hybrid solution based on its digital press (Cheetah or Panther series), the recently developed Xeikon Label Converting Unit (LCU) and its X-800 digital front-end. This solution can be configured to the need of the converter and becomes a powerful production system enabling label converters to step up their productivity while remaining fully flexible for all their customers’ needs.

The main values of our hybrid label solution are:

• From substrate to ready-label: a complete, single-pass production process flow
• Eliminates a number of production steps resulting in higher productivity
• Reduces waste and setup time
• Opens up new business opportunities 

“At Xeikon we take customer input seriously. Our solutions are cloud-connected, providing us with a lot of data on how the equipment is performing. This results in the ability to provide more automation in combining production runs to increase efficiency,” says Filip Weymans, Xeikon’s VP of marketing, ”That is why, along with the presses, we develop fully digital converting and embellishing products such as the Xeikon LCU, which can be configured into hybrid print and converting solutions.”

Xeikon hybrid solutions can hold both Xeikon’s Cheetah (dry-toner),as well as Panther (UV inkjet) technologies, hence all end-user applications can be addressed through this offering.

Dry-toner is the proven technology for all applications requiring adherence to high food safety standards while delivering high, matte-finished quality and achieving high quality on standard natural paper substrates (wine and spirits). Today, the second-generation Cheetah technology is used in Xeikon’s current dry-toner digital presses.

Xeikon’s UV inkjet Panther Technology was introduced in 2017, with a specific focus on labels across industries requiring high durability including the health and beauty markets. These applications make use of the key benefits of the unique features of UV inkjet such as scratch, scuff, and rub resistance.

“Some of our customers call a hybrid solution the best of both worlds,” adds Weymans, ”All developments at Xeikon fit into our mantra of digitizing label manufacturing with the purpose of enabling label converters to develop a profitable and sustainable future-proof business.”