The Highcon Euclid II+ won Best sheetfed finishing system
The winners of the ninth European Digital Press Awards have been announced at Fespa in Cologne. With these awards, the EDP honours the best developments in print production tools, software developments, substrates, inks, materials and finishing systems. Out of more than 100 entries for the 2014/2015 judging, 20 products were awarded with a trophy.
In the Label printing category, the Xeikon Cheetah press was the only nominee and hence the winner, while in the HP Indigo 20000 digital press won the Best packaging solution category ahead of the HP Indigo 30000 digital press.
The judges comment on the Cheetah press was ‘The next-generation of Xeikon’s dry toner press is 50% faster than its previous products, making it more competitive with faster inkjet offerings, while retaining all the proven functions and the accreditations offered by the Xeikon technology.’
Wim Maes, CEO of Xeikon, commented, ‘We are convinced the Xeikon Cheetah will have a very tangible impact on customers’ businesses through a number of production gains, all at high quality. We are delighted that the EDP Association recognises this as well.’
About the HP Indigo 20000, the judges said, ‘This web-fed version of HP Indigo’s wider press platform, first seen in the sheetfed 10000, enables a wide range of new applications for the digital printing of packaging on flexible substrates beyond the label markets where it has been predominant to date.’
The Best sheetfed finishing system was the Highcon Euclid II+, and about this, the judges said, ‘A new version of Highcon’s digital interpretation of the die-cut-ter, which eliminates the cost and time required to make the die and uses lasers to cut feature that would be too fine for a conventional cutter. This new version moves the already innovative technology on by increasing the speed, widening the substrate range and adds new features, including precise etching of the sur-face layer of print to enable a range of new effects.
The judging panel was chaired by Herman Hartman, editor in chief of signPro Benelux. He commented, ‘An EDP award is recognition of the most innovative product that came out during the last 12 months. Launching and submitting a product is not enough to win. The innovation needs to outshine other developments in the same category. Determining what counts as meaningful innovation is often hard. Now the market for digital print equipment is more mature it means that in some categories new products, although good products, are evolutionary rather than revolutionary,’ said Herman Hartman chairman of the EDP technical committee.
