At Labelexpo India, Domino Printech India launched its N610i UV digital label press for the first time and showcased its K600i inkjet printer. The N610i UV offers the highest print quality with high productivity with a width up to 333mm. The 7-color press includes opaque white, with 600 dpi ‘native’ print resolution and speeds of up to 75 meters a minute. The company also demonstrated its its K600i single color digital module at the show, installed on a Vinsak USAR slitter rewinder.
Domino and Indian narrow web flexo press manufacturer Multitec announced their joint development of a hybrid UV inkjet-flexo press at Labelexpo India. Ajay RaoRane, assistant vice president, Digital Printing Solutions, Domino said, “We chose to work with Multitec because they have a good technology know-how, a good penetration in the Indian market with excellent relationships with customers, and a hunger to do more. We complement each other.”
Amit Ahuja, director of Multitec, said, “Domino is the perfect partner not only because of its advanced UV inkjet technology, but also because its N610i digital print engine is easy to integrate. In addition, the company has a great roadmap into the future.” Although Ahuja said he did not expect the Indian market to support mass adoption of hybrid press configurations for the next five years, he felt its an idea whose time is coming. “It is important for Multitec to be ahead of the game when this happens,” he said. The presses to be manufactured and integrated at the Multitec plant in Faridabad will be fully customizable in terms of number and positioning of UV flexo, cold foil and converting units.
Domino now has hybrid integration agreements with MPS, Lombardi, CEI US and Spande in China as well as its own N610i press in collaboration with AB Graphic with it sells in both as a stand-alone press and within in-line configurations.
“We are happy to sell any configuration of UV inkjet,” said RoaRane. “If a printer already has a hybrid press we will be selling them a stand-alone to complement it. If they are first-time digital press users they may look at the hybrid solution. Additionally, if there are lots of short run jobs with multiple changes of substrates then stand-alone is the best. Hybrid works best where there are multiple SKUs and no major changes of die and substrate.”
As several other observers also commented at Labelexpo India, RaoRane the Indian label market increasingly moving in the direction of digital production. ‘With the young demographic, gone are the days of brand loyalty. Attractive packaging and multiple SKUs will require short run digitally printed labels to attract young buyers. Another trend that will drive more attractive packaging is the move from smaller general general stores to self-service hypermarkets.”
