HP has announced the launch of the HP Indigo 8000 Digital Press, what the company is touting as the industry’s most productive digital narrow web press. The press offers end-to-end label production at double the speed previously available. Last week, HP offered a sneak preak of the press at an exclusive event in Israel for trade media and analysts – the press will get its official unveiling at the upcoming Dscoop Israel and Dscoop San Antonio, drupa, and of course at Labelexpo Americas in September.

HP also announced upgrades for the HP Indigo 20000 and 30000 Digital Presses as well as new ink and substrate options, offering converters and brands unmatched application possibilities at faster speeds.

“Leading brands are increasingly leveraging HP Indigo labels and packaging solutions to engage with consumers in targeted, meaningful and measurable ways,” says Alon Bar Shany, general manager, Indigo division, HP. “With today’s announcement, converters are uniquely positioned to redefine labels and packaging standards with greater productivity, versatility and turnaround times for a wide range of applications.”

Label applications now enabled at faster speeds
Setting a new productivity benchmark in digital narrow web printing, the HP Indigo 8000 Digital Press offers high-volume converters end-to-end label production at doubled speeds up to 80 meters per minute or 262 feet per minute. Working inline or offline with an ABG FAST Track semi-rotary diecut unit, the press provides an efficient all-digital workflow as well as real-time quality assurance, using AVT inspection technology.

The HP Indigo 8000, WS6800 and 20000 Digital Presses support HP Indigo ElectroInk Premium White, a versatile new ink that helps converters deliver a wider range of opacity levels. Additionally, the HP Indigo 8000, WS6800 and 20000 Digital Presses feature a new color automation package that perfects color accuracy, consistency and repeatability, enabling converters to reach any brand color in minutes.

Flexible packaging options
The HP Indigo 20000 Digital Press now features an upgrade package that enables:

•     Compatibility with new substrates, such as polyethylene and stretchable materials, for a wider range of high-volume flexible packaging, shrink sleeve, and in-mold and pressure-sensitive label applications, including lids and laminated tubes.
•     New color capabilities, allowing advanced color matching and color consistency across jobs, presses and sites.
•     Faster turnarounds than previously possible with HP Indigo Pack Ready Lamination, which eliminates cure time, enabling immediate time to market.
•     Support for the new HP Indigo ElectroInk Premium White in high-concentration 20-kilogram ink pails for industrial-scale productivity.

Additionally, optimized converting solutions from Comexi, AB Graphics, Karville and other partners provide faster near-line and in-line finishing as well as reduced waste and shorter setup times.

Folding carton possibilities
The HP Indigo 30000 Digital Press upgrade package increases productivity up to 30 percent and enables dozens of folding carton jobs per day. The press allows new high-margin opportunities with synthetic media as well as metallized boards, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate materials. The HP Indigo 30000 Digital Press also provides new and improved security features, such as micro text and barcodes.

Designed especially for in-line finishing with the HP Indigo 30000 Digital Press, the TRESU iCoat 30000 now offers protective and spot varnish in one pass as well as new embellishment capabilities with gold, silver and other high-viscosity flexo inks. The HP Indigo 30000 Digital Press is also compatible with HP partner converting solutions for inspection, creasing, folding and gluing. Integration with AVT’s inline inspection system ensures error-free production, automatically ejecting defective sheets.

Availability
The HP Indigo 8000 Digital Press and the HP Indigo WS6800, 20000 and 30000 Digital Press upgrades will be commercially available in 2016. All HP Indigo digital presses offer HP PrintOS connectivity, allowing customers to monitor print status remotely as well as track and improve production performance over time. HP PrintOS is expected to be available for customers on May 31, 2016.