The MGI Group (Fresnes, France) is presenting the next phase of its Innovation in Motion strategy for integrated digital printing and embellishment technology at the Paris All4Pack Exhibition November 26 – 29 in Paris, France. The new AlphaJET Industrial Print Factory will be demonstrated with 6 combined B1 inkjet printing and embellishment functions that include:
- White UV Pigment Ink
- Inline Substrate Sheet Priming
- 2D/3D UV Clear Varnish Ink
- Variable Embossed Foil Effects
- Aqueous CMYK Printing Ink
- 3 Curing Methods – LED, IR and UV
The new B1 inkjet printing and embellishment platform will feature digital press advances with CMYK + white + 2D/3D spot-UV effects plus variable embossed foil. The “All-in-One” AlphaJET Industrial Print Factory is also designed with expansion capabilities for the implementation of Printed Electronic (PE) circuitry applications such as chipless RFID/NFC antennas and OLED flexible screen technology. The AlphaJET will also mark the public debut of a new MGI partnership with Memjet, a global leader in the development of digital inkjet printheads, ink formulations and modular technology.
All-in-one unified decorative printing and packaging. The AlphaJET utilizes the new Memjet DuraLink ink, modules and printheads for CMYK colour impressions with 1,600-dpi resolution. The White and Clear varnish inks take advantage of UV inkjet technology for a revolutionary best-of-breed convergence of digital printing methods, said the OEM. This powerful array of high-speed ink deposition processes allows the AlphaJET to both print and embellish corrugated flute board, paper, plastic and synthetic substrates at 1,800 B1 sheets (70.7x100cm/28×40”) per hour. MGI’s product development focus for the AlphaJET is to consolidate the functionality of traditionally separate, disconnected operational workflows – such as primer coating, printing, and embellishment and converting – into a single combined “All-in-One” Industrial Print Factory for complete job management.
A new substrate management model. The AlphaJET also has versatile substrate management capabilities for folding carton materials, corrugated flute board and other specialty stocks and rigid materials such as wood, metal and glass. It features a unique, circular transport carousel with an intelligent tray feeding system for multi-directional ink application to optimize print quality on a wide range of substrates. The motorized electro-magnetic conveyer rails and intelligent AIS Smartscanner software provide accurate and secure print registration with an “unprecedented” precision tolerance of only 5 microns (.005mm) on each piece.
New packaging market opportunities. The significant advancement of uniting CMYK AQ printing and White/Clear UV decorative ink technologies in a single, inline press workflow allows targeting of the entire spectrum of retail consumer packaging applications – including new, rapidly growing food and child-safe product segments that typically require aqueous-based ink solutions. Industry analysts have estimated that approximately 25% of all materials printed worldwide are packaging-related products, said MGI. “The AlphaJET architecture has been specifically designed to allow printers and converters to maximize profitability and capture new opportunities in this high-growth sector,” it added. The print-enhancement functionality can also blend visual images with alphanumeric text to produce attractive security and anti-counterfeiting Variable Data Holograms (VDH) for retail brand distribution.
MGI & Konica Minolta packaging and label solutions. In addition to the AlphaJET, MGI will be exhibiting its award-winning JETvarnish 3D Evolution B1 sheet-fed and JETvarnish 3D Web roll-fed digital enhancement presses. MGI’s Global Partner, Konica Minolta, will be demonstrating its AccurioLabel 190 digital press. MGI’s German engineering and manufacturing subsidiary, KÖRA-PACKMAT, will also be presenting its packaging, transport and finishing solutions. The strength of the MGI and Konica Minolta alliance will be on display throughout the three-day packaging industry event with samples of digitally-enriched folding carton boxes, labels and flexible packaging products – including AlphaJET-generated “Smart Packaging” examples of RFID/NFC/OLED Printed Electronics applications – available for attendees, analysts and the media.
