Fujifilm North America Corporation, Graphic Systems Division recently hosted a Prime Label Technology Summit at its Chicago Technology Center, showcasing innovative packaging technology trends to invited attendees. The event, part of an ongoing series, is intended to be a “collaborative information exchange,” allowing senior-level label and packaging professionals to share their challenges and insights, interact with industry experts, and learn more about Fujifilm’s entire graphic systems portfolio, all within Fujifilm’s state-of-the-art Technology Center in Hanover Park, IL, USA.

After a Corporate Overview and Packaging Market snapshot from Fujifilm’s North American Graphic Systems leadership, the attendees gained impactful insights from Chris Lynn of Hillman Technology Partners, who discussed the growing opportunities to add value in the label segment with digital inkjet technology.

Attendees were then able to get up close to the Graphium, a high-speed modular digital UV inkjet press with the option to integrate flexo and finishing stations for hybrid production and conversion in a single pass – greatly expanding the opportunities that can be converted. According to Fujifilm, Graphium represents the next generation UV inkjet press for labels, packaging and specialty print that enables profitable printing of short run jobs while boosting productivity and providing the ability to produce new print options previously unavailable through traditional flexo technologies. Graphium is designed to make converting short to medium print jobs more profitable, as the press streamlines workflow, requires less setup material, reduces waste and eliminates overruns. 

“The hands-on demonstrations of Fujifilm’s impressive line-up of solutions allow attendees to understand how these innovations can be incorporated into their operations to better serve their customers,” said Mike Barry, product marketing manager, Fujifilm North America Corporation, Graphic Systems Division.

Attendees also had the opportunity to learn more about Fujifilm’s innovations in flexographic inks, plates and platemaking. The FLENEX FW water-washable plate system was eye-opening for the attendees due to its ability to form flat-top dots, and reproduce 200lpi with halftone dots from 1% to 99%. 

“Flenex is changing conventional thinking about water-washable plates,” commented Jon Fultz, product marketing manager, Fujifilm North America Corporation, Graphic Systems Division.  “In addition to their outstanding quality, Flenex plates have very good ink transfer and exceptional wear resistance to consistently maintain print quality, even when printing long-run jobs.”
Compared to solvent processing, drying time is greatly reduced, productivity is increased, and there is a reduced impact on the environment. The innovative water wash system eliminates the need for solvents, wicking cloths, and thermal equipment.

While learning more about packaging technology, attendees also experienced a panel discussion of current Graphium and Flenex users providing an open forum to listen, question and learn from their peers who’ve experienced success within their businesses by implementing Fujifilm solutions. 

“Flexibility with the Graphium is a huge advantage,” said Jeff Kerlin, president and CEO, Tailored Label Products, a Menomonee Falls, WI-based engineering-focused label manufacturing company providing high-performance labels since 1984. “The key features and benefits of the Graphium were major influencers for us, including the ability to print UV inkjet variable data, the die cut and the lamination stations, as well as the modular flexo decks before and after the digital print engine, and finally, the in-line finishing capabilities.”