Xeikon’s Fusion Technology is “a new concept that brings closer to reality, fully automated, unattended label and packaging production from customer order to delivery.” Fusion combines full-colour production printing with digital embellishment of labels and packaging in a single, one-pass and fully digital production process. The OEM added that Fusion will consist of a series of embellishment modules released over time that are not just put inline with the press, but are components of an entirely new modular system – with the digital front-end taking care of pre-press, data processing, colour management and press operation as well as full control and operation of all embellishment modules without manual intervention. Potential digital embellishment modules include hot and cold foiling, screen prints, matte, gloss and structured flood and spot varnish, and a digital braille module.
“As part of our mission to be a leader in the analogue-to-digital conversion in the world of labels and packaging, we’re excited to be sharing this new concept with the industry,” said Wim Maes, Xeikon CEO. “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 errors inherent in both offline and manual processes. We’re looking forward to having a dialogue with printers and converters moving into the future as we continue to develop Fusion Technology so that we can ensure it hits the mark regarding what the industry wants and needs – solutions to handle more SKU’s, increasingly complex jobs, shorter runs and faster turnaround times.”
The concept and how it works
The goal of Fusion Technology, said Xeikon, is seamless, end-to-end production of labels and packaging that requires high quality, fast turnaround, possibly variable data and any enhancements that increase a brand’s shelf appeal – in other words, the high-end label and packaging markets. With Fusion Technology, a print job containing multiple channels defining each aspect of production is dropped into a hot folder and RIP’ed, after which the different channels are sent to the relevant modules including the press – all without manual intervention! Because every embellishment module is digital, every single design element can be made variable or personalized, which opens up enormous opportunities for new applications. Depending on the requirements, these digital embellishment modules can be positioned before and/or after the Xeikon digital five-colour press. The resulting configuration produces a digitally printed and embellished label or package in one single pass.
“We’re developing Fusion Technology to address what we see as a critical, emerging need in the labels and packaging market,” Maes added. “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 such as cosmetics, wine and spirits and confectionary – or for products like pharmaceuticals where these embellishments can also be used in counterfeit prevention. Building a recognizable 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.”
Initial demonstrations of the new technology took place from September 29 to October 2 at Labelexpo Europe in Brussels, Belgium.
