(L-R) Hans Gerinckx, Xeikon, Florian Ulrich and Rainer Ulrich, Ulrich Etiketten, and Thomas Bucher, Xeikon
Label printers from across Europe have added Xeikon technology to their armoury after sealing the deals for new machinery at Labelexpo.
Austrian printer Ulrich Etiketten is adding the new Xeikon CX3 to its existing fleet, expanding its digital printing capacity in order to react even more quickly to market requirements. ‘This expansion of capacity shifts our break-even in digital printing to longer print runs,’ said Rainer Ulrich, CEO. ‘Before, the profitability threshold for digital was about 100,000 labels, but now we can cost-effectively produce between 200,000 and 300,000 labels with digital printing, depending on size. This means we can offer our customers the advantages of digital printing – no printing plates, short lead times and faster delivery times – for a much wider range of products.’
With the new press the company is even better positioned to address small print runs of customised and serialised labels. ‘We are seeing customers increasingly demanding short response times and smaller runs,’ Mr Ulrich added. ‘So for us, digital printing is the technology of the future. The overall cost ratio combined with the extremely high printing speed of the Xeikon CX3 encouraged us to invest in the new Xeikon system.’
Among other label printer choosing Xeikon technology is Swedish Jodi Etiketter which ordered a Xeikon CX3 digital label press, while Finish operation Tarratuote Oy, opted for the Xeikon 3030Plus system.
‘It is great to see just how label specialists are benefitting from our broadest portfolio of solutions to date,’ said Filip Weymans, Xeikon’s director segment marketing. ‘It is also indicative of how varied production demands are – from short to long runs – and how operations need to ensure they can meet their customers’ demand cost effectively, efficiently and to a very high quality.’
Swedish label printer Jinnestål has chosen a Xeikon 3300 reel-to-reel solution with near line fully equipped GM Dcoat converting to help it create a seamless, highly flexible workflow.
‘We were looking for a solution that could automate our production as much as possible. The Xeikon 3300 with Label Traxx integration does exactly that,’ stated Jinnestål owner Peter Klingberg. ‘This configuration means less manual operation which results in fewer errors for leaner production. Our management information, order handling and processing have significantly improved, planning is more flexible and also customer communication is smoother.’
‘Using JDF from Label Traxx means the full production chain is automated in the digital production and enables even more efficiency,’ stated Jeroen Van Bauwel, director, product management at Xeikon. ‘The Xeikon X-800 workflow receives selective order data from Label Traxx and job intake is made very efficient. The press can also report production data back to the MIS such as media usage, toner usage and production time. Later this year, a new customer portal will be launched that will allow label buyers to follow orders and execute new jobs via e-com. This will be a valuable next step in Jinnestål’s automation development.’
