Balaji Multiflex has installed an HP Indigo 200K press it had ordered at drupa 2024 in Dusseldorf, Germany, at its Rajkot plant. Balaji Multiflex, a unit of Balaji Wafers, has opted for the digital press, which will start running from the second week of November, to diversify its technological capabilities.
As published earlier, during an interaction with Packaging South Asia, Pranav Bhalara, director of Balaji Multiflex, said, “We have been looking at digital technology for many years. Finally, after years of research, we settled for HP. I feel that HP not only has great technology but also has an ecosystem. This is very important, especially in India.”
The HP Indigo 200K digital press prints at a speed of up to 56 m/min (183 ft/min). According to HP, the HP Indigo 200K digital press has a 30% increase in speed and a 45% boost in productivity compared to the HP Indigo 25K. It features color quality based on the HP Indigo liquid electro photography (LEP) and one-shot color technologies and offers the widest available range of ElectroInks.
Although Balaji Multiflex has multiple gravure presses from Pelican and W&H, the new digital press will help target new customers for small quantities. Bhalara said the press will be used for test marketing and sampling as well.
By the end of November 2024, Balaji Multiflex will also add a Varex-II blown film line from W&H with MDO (machine direction orientation). The MDO will give the film enhanced strength and stiffness, better shrink properties, and increased gloss and transparency, while at the same time saving resources. According to Bhalara, with the MDO line in place, Balaji will try out PE films for food packaging and stand-up pouches.
