Xeikon is starting to see considerable interest in its latest innovation, Fusion Technology. The digital printing specialist unveiled its newest capabilities at Labelexpo Europe 2015 in Brussels, Belgium.

Fusion features single pass label production on one digital platform. It combines full color production printing with digital embellishment of labels and packaging in a single pass, thus bringing the industry closer to fully automated digital printing. According to Filip Weymans, Xeikon’s director of segment marketing and business development, Labels and Packaging, the company expects to commercialize Fusion Technology by 2017.

“There has been a very strong confirmation from the market, with a lot of people saying this is what we want,” says Weymans. “We give a technology demonstration, and immediately viewers say, ‘When can I buy it?’ So it’s very encouraging to see that the people that are in the market for more high-end labels, this is something where they see the concept of combining different digital technologies as something they can benefit from. We also had suppliers, people that build different printing technologies, approach us and really want to be a part of our development of Fusion. There are a lot of companies with skills and equipment that can be integrated into there.”

Xeikon’s innovation is capable of producing hot/cold foiling; screen prints; matte, gloss and structured flood and spot varnishes through digital embellishment modules. This technology is designed to meet the need for faster turnaround times of short runs, without setup times and costs. It also has the ability of 100% variable printing.

“It sets us apart because I don’t think anyone else has talked about this kind of a solution in one platform where all the modules creating a part of the image are digital,” says Weymans. “From that standpoint, I think we are certainly ahead of what anybody else has shared in terms of vision into the future. We’re talking about opening up a whole new market and creating new capabilities for label printers that no other digital solution can do.”

This technology has potential benefits in wine labeling, as well as health and beauty. Xeikon’s R&D team has explored ways to apply tactile varnishes and foils to wine labels, something that was traditionally limited to conventional printing. “Those are the two main markets where Fusion has surfaced,” explains Weymans. “There is also certainly interest from companies working with food labels, and interest out of the pharmaceutical market with braille-type printing to a lesser extent. The high-value labels are a smaller niche within those industries that are being served, whereas wine and spirits and health and beauty it is more of a common thing.”

“There are several events throughout the year where we will demonstrate this technology,” adds Weymans. “By the end of the year, we hope to go into test phases with some modules, allowing for commercialization in 2017. That is the timeframe we have in mind.”

In addition to its presence at Labelexpo Europe, Fusion Technology will be on display at drupa, which takes place from May 31 to June 10 in Dusseldorf, Germany. Weymans also envisions a presence at Labelexpo Americas 2016 in Chicago, IL, USA. “The feedback overall has been very, very positive,” says Weymans. ‘That has only encouraged us to try and progress further into the various modules that people found interesting.”

Fusion Technology has the ability to complement Xeikon’s existing Cheetah Technology, which is present in the company’s CX3 digital label press. The CX3 is a 5-color digital label press that runs at speeds up to 98 fpm (30 mpm). “The Cheetah Technology is really addressing the market for common labels,” explains Weymans. “It doesn’t give you the ability to do spot varnish or tactile varnish unless you go to a conventional technology. With Fusion, it will create more value for the Cheetah. We really have a full digital combination press where Cheetah will be the main part of it.”

According to Xeikon, substrates to be printed with Fusion Technology do not require a primer or preconditioning. For example, if a printer runs a substrate through screen white, a primer would still be required. Weymans believes his company has simplified the entire process. “Because of the chemical compatibility of the dry toner with other technologies, not only do we have the vision, we feel that we have the right technology to do these things,” he says.

Xeikon is also exploring the technology’s benefits outside of traditional labels, including heat transfer and IML. The company is also focused on improving digital printing for folding cartons.

Following Fusion’s debut at Labelexpo Europe 2015, Weymans explained the technology to Label & Narrow Web. The video can be found here.