One of several announcements from Xeikon at Labelexpo in Brussels was the new Fusion Technology that promises to fully automate digital labels and packaging production all inline. The concept will consist of a series of embellishment modules that will run inline with the digital press and also integrate with the digital front end.
The first module to be developed is a digital screen white, which was shown as a technology demonstration being overprinted with CMYK plus the new Matte Silver (also launched at the show). The company said that future potential modules could include hot and cold foiling, matte, gloss, tactile and spot varnish, and a digital braille.
‘As part of our mission to be a leader in the analog to digital conversion in the world of labels and packaging, we are excited to be sharing this new concept with the industry,’ said CEO Wim Maes. ‘Our Fusion Technology will offer converters the true flexibility to produce virtually any label or package on demand. It will make instant re-runs of previous jobs easy since all necessary parameters are in a single digital file. More importantly, converters will no longer need to invest in offline embellishment solutions, nor will they incur the time delays and potential for error inherent in both offline and manual processes. We are looking forward to having a dialog with printers and converters moving into the future as we continue to develop Fusion Technology so that we can ensure it hits the mark of what the industry wants and needs: solutions to handle more SKUs, increasingly complex jobs, ever shorter runs and faster turnaround times.’
He continued, ‘Our initial focus will be on self-adhesive labels where we project significant growth in demand for short run, high end labels, especially for luxury goods like cosmetics, wine & spirits, and confectionary or for products like pharmaceuticals where these embellishments can also be used in counterfeit prevention. Building a recognisable brand and protecting it is one thing; trying to win share of mind and wallet in a fiercely competitive and increasingly information-cluttered environment is another. We believe Fusion Technology will be a key driver in the future that will help to accomplish both.’
