Xeikon adds two new entry-level label presses

Xeikon has launched two new digital label presses – the Xeikon CX30 and Xeikon CX50 – describing them as entry level presses to sit between its Rex range and its CX300 and CX500.

Xeikon says it has designed and developed the two new presses to suit any label printer operating on middle capacity, that is between 20,000-40,000sqm or 30,000-55,000sqm MSI in all end-use segments, but especially in the pharmaceutical, food, and wine and spirit label sectors.

Trevor Crowley, sales general manager at Xeikon ANZ said, “The new printers offer either narrow web 330mm or wide web 520mm, and are scalable all the way up to the CX300 and CX500".

“They offer printers of all types the opportunity to enter the digital label market at an entry level investment price, with all the acclaimed Xeikon technology.”

Building on its sixth generation platform, and based on Cheetah 2.0 technology with new generation interfaces and cloud connection, these new presses are designed to offer maximum OEE.

The new machines are available for physical and online demonstrations at Xeikon’s Global Innovation Center in Antwerp, Belgium, and globally commercially available as of Q1 2021.

Filip Weymans, VP Marketing at Xeikon, says, “Part of the Xeikon strategy going forward is to make sure every label printer and converter has the maximum choice to purchase a Xeikon press, which can help them drive business growth. A successful and cost-effective investment in a digital production solution works best when it is based on expected, realistic print volumes.

Xeikon’s Cheetah 2.0 series offers competitive running costs, and printers have the opportunity to successfully expand the capabilities of their press (by upgrading either in speed or width, or both). The Xeikon CX30 and Xeikon CX50 are an appropriate choice for printers and converters looking at digital for the first time with future plans to expand and grow their operation – also for online label printers who are seeing their business explode.”

Both the Xeikon CX30 and Xeikon CX50 are ‘middle capacity’ presses that can be upgraded on site. For higher speeds, both the Xeikon CX30 and Xeikon CX50 can be upgraded from 20mpm to 30mpm, with the Xeikon CX300 or Xeikon CX500.

For greater width, the Xeikon CX30 (330mm) can be upgraded to the Xeikon CX50 (520mm) or the Xeikon CX500.

Cheetah 2.0 technology is based on Xeikon’s scalable press architecture that includes five print stations and a full rotary process with a variable repeat length. Each station utilises Xeikon’s dry toner process and a variety of print widths up to 512mm using an LED imaging head operating at 1200×3600 dpi and delivering offset/gravure image quality.

The two new presses use Xeikon’s QB dry toner based on Cheetah 2.0 technology, which Xeikon says “excels in the digital print landscape by offering superior colour consistency across the web and ensuring the highest volume of output with reduced waste”.

The toner is available in CMYK, red, blue, green, orange, extra magenta (gamut extension colours), super black, plus technical colours such as one-pass opaque white, UV and reflective clear, as well as colours produced at the customer’s request. Xeikon says the QB-I toner achieves top quality results on a broad range of standard flexo substrates. It says the pigments used in the QB toner are of the highest grade and food safe, and also offer the highest levels of light fastness in the market, the labels shine not only after printing but also for a long time afterwards.

The Xeikon CX30 and Xeikon CX50 are both driven by Xeikon’s X-800 digital front end for efficiency and full automation. Xeikon says its Digital Front End (DFE) workflow is a differentiator and enabler, and can be integrated with common ERP and MIS systems.

Accuracy of colour reproduction over time and between presses is guaranteed by an integrated on-press inline spectrometer. Xeikon’s X-800 workflow holds variable data capabilities, which it says are “unseen in the current market”, allowing the label printer and converter to explore a variety of high value applications with a basic press investment.

Filip Weymans concludes, “With Xeikon’s long standing expertise, we have developed the deeper understanding that can help label printers and converters with all aspects of running a successful digital business, from choice of equipment (10 label presses) and choice of technology (dry toner and UV inkjet) to workflow integration and expert colour management services.

“We are recognised as a go-to trusted advisor and solutions provider. Xeikon wants to help the label printer and converter transform his label manufacturing into a digital label manufacturing – not just digitising the printing aspect but also the other aspects of the manufacturing processes inspired by digital printing.

“With the introduction of the Xeikon CX30 and Xeikon CX50, we continue to build and structure our comprehensive portfolio so that our customers can find everything they need with Xeikon.”