In anticipation of Dscoop, Ken Brown, HP’s category manager of packaging, Americas, previewed the event in a webinar, placing an emphasis on the company’s HP Indigo 30000 digital press. HP will display its line of Indigo solutions and corresponding applications in Phoenix, AZ, USA, from March 1-4.

The webinar, entitled “Killer Applications for huge profits — HP Indigo 30000 is opening new doors,” explored HP’s capabilities across a range of end uses, from labels and packaging to gift cards and smart technology.

Many of the press’ advanced capabilities are included throughout the Indigo line, which will be present at Dscoop’s Solutions Showcase. Visitors will have the chance to explore how advancements in digital printing technology can help them in their businesses, especially with short runs and customization.

Dscoop North America was founded in 2005 as an independent community of graphic technology business owners and technical professionals who use HP Indigo, Scitex, Latex and HP Inkjet equipment and related solutions. This year’s event, Dscoop Phoenix: Imagine, recently announced its keynote speakers and education sessions. In addition to presentations and networking opportunities, the event will provide a hands-on look at the latest equipment.

The HP Indigo 30000 boasts a number of enhanced features that can be found on many of the Indigo presses, including “One Shot” imaging technology.  One Shot allows for “perfect” registration and no degradation in print quality.

“We have the ability to build multiple layers of ink–up to 16 layers–in a single touch on a substrate,” said Brown, who has spent the last 13 years working with HP.

The 30000 press is equipped to handle a multitude of digital applications, ranging from digital packaging and plastic cards to luggage tags. HP’s digital technology can accommodate a wide array of substrates as well. “The ability to handle a wide range of thicknesses is one of the great new additions that we’ll have on the press at Dscoop this year to show the expanded capabilities,” explained Brown.

Ranging from synthetic substrates to paperboard, the 30000 can run a number of inks in full color. HP’s presses efficiently run water-based and UV durable inks, as well as high opacity whites to exceed what is possible with many offset whites. UV durable inks are only visible under UV lights, which provides brands with a high level of security.

“This is typically a post-print embellishment and these additional security features are applied to add uniqueness and to give applications that ability be tracked and traced downstream…biometric or simply for visual inspection,” said Brown.

Brown added that many of the 30000’s features are available on presses across the Indigo line, capable of handling labels and packaging. The Indigo’s full color capabilities allow for eye-catching qualities on the shelf. In addition, customization is possible with high contrast graphics or graphics with bright colors.

According to Brown, the 30000 “opens doors that have not been open before by offering new applications, new substrates and new products.” The press is designed to drive volume, grow business and increase profit margins.

The press operates in continuous run mode and features electrostatic discharge management in order to prevent jamming. There is also an inline priming unit before going into print engine.

“Our inline priming is quite unique on our sheetfed presses in our family of Indigos,” says Brown.

HP is promoting the press’ ability to print variable data and various smart technologies, which are used for consumer authentication, brand or authority inspection, and capable of being read by a smartphone. Mass versioning was also seen in Coca-Cola’s “Share a Coke” campaign.

Sequenced production is also used to handle multiple SKU’s as demographics change. Versioning and customization can be used to make every label or package unique, and Brown noted how this technology has been successfully used with bilingual labels.

Digital printing has created opportunities to connect on a personalized or hyper-customized level. These solutions will be part of Dscoop’s Solutions Showcase. “At Dscoop, all our new capabilities and applications will be running on the show floor,” concluded Brown.

Upcoming webinar
HP’s webinar featuring the 30000 digital press was the first in a planned series of events. The company will host its second HP Expert Series webinar on March 7, entitled “Why you should be thinking about the label market.”