Xeikon has developed a new digital label press market, the Ecolyne, which it is planning to sell purely through a subscription model based on production capacity.
This subscription model is an interesting idea that will link the cost of the press directly to the work it is producing. It’s not unique; Heidelberg introduced a subscription pricing model for its offset presses a few years ago. One of the benefits is that it’s easier for customers to secure financing because the investment is directly linked to ongoing production, and therefore income, rather than an ageing hardware engine.
The Ecolyne press is built at Xeikon’s facility in Belgium. It uses Xeikon’s standard QB toners and runs at 25 mpm with 1200 dpi resolution. As such it’s safe for use with food labelling and packaging. It can handle a broad range of substrates from coated or uncoated paper to PP (white or clear), PET and metallized film. The standard configuration is CMYK + white but customers will be able to opt for CMYK only.
The press has a 330 mm web width, which is the same as the TX300, suggesting that Xeikon may have used the same chassis. That said, Danny Mertens, Xeikon’s head of marketing, insisted to me, “It’s a brand-new digital label press based on dry toner tech designed specifically for the Ecolyne capacity-on-demand offering.”
Mertens continued, “The press is designed to be delivered as a subscription-based capacity service rather than a traditional purchase.” He added, “The Ecolyne is only available on subscription, not on purchase.” Nor does Xeikon appear keen to offer any of its other presses on a subscription basis.
This suggests that Xeikon has trimmed costs from the Ecolyne to keep it competitive against the monthly repayments of a more typical financing model for a typical press. Mertens would only say, “Ecolyne focuses on the essentials for high-quality label production and leverages proven Xeikon engineering, without premium add-ons that aren’t critical for standard label jobs. So there are indeed limitations compared to our other models.”
It appears that those limitations are a big part of reducing the overall cost of the Ecolyne to keep the subscription costs to a manageable level. Xeikon could have cut the costs even further by using inkjet technology instead of dry toner but Mertens points out that dry toner is Xeikon’s main differentiator in the market, noting, “We have mastered the technology for a very long time. We are, therefore, capable of engineering and delivering a high-quality entry-level version, producing at low cost.”
He adds, “We have noticed a demand in the market for an entry level EP press.” This is undoubtedly true, but it does also depend on how we define the entry-level EP market. For now, Konica Minolta is doing very nicely with its AccurioLabel presses, which while relatively cheap, are based on proven production printers and are robust enough to satisfy industrial users. And there are several desktop toner machines, such as the Anytron Any002, which is based on an Oki color laser engine.
The Ecolyne has been designed as a roll-to-roll machine, with the winder and rewinder units also built by Xeikon. It will be possible to add a converting unit though Xeikon is not planning on supplying this, with Mertens saying that “Xeikon will work with finishing partners or local suppliers to provide finishing options under the Ecolyne solution”. This will also help to keep the costs down.
Nonetheless, the cost and the way the subscription model functions will be the main focus for most customers rather than the print engine itself. Mertens explains, “For a monthly fee that a customer pays, he can print a defined number of prints. This includes the use of the press, service and consumables. If the customer prints more, he pays extra clicks on top.”
It’s a flat price, regardless of other factors such as the type of media, with the only variation being whether or not to include a channel for white toner. That said, there are a limited number of options, including adding a pre-printed stock module or an inline registration camera, but no option to unlock a faster speed. Mertens adds, “The subscription covers capacity usage and service; detailed pricing structures, including consumables and support, will be part of customer agreements.”
However, it’s not a hire purchase scheme so there’s no option for customers to purchase the press at the end of the subscription. Nor is Xeikon working with a financing company, with Mertens saying, “Xeikon supports the service model directly, with flexibility to engage financial partners where appropriate.”
The Ecolyne and its subscription model will initially be offered in the Asia-Pacific region, which has prompted some speculation that it has been developed specifically for this market. But Mertens says that Xeikon will offer it to other regions “according to demand and strategic timing.”
Walter Benz, Xeikon’s president, says that the label market is changing rapidly in some parts of Asia, adding: “Small to mid-sized converters also see increasing demand for shorter runs and faster turnaround. They need access to digital label-printing capacity now. That’s why we bring Ecolyne to Asia first, we see a strong need here for simple, reliable digital production without the burden of ownership.”
Xeikon is about to start beta testing the Ecolyne press now in both Europe and Asia. The first installations for early subscribers are planned for Q2 2026. You can find more information on Xeikon’s press range from xeikon.com, but not yet on the Ecolyne.
