Xeikon and Moss unveil new plastic decoration possibilities at K 2010

Xeikon, a division of Punch Graphix, and Italy-based MOSS, a leader in container decorating technologies are showcasing new applications for its jointly developed digital heat transfer Digital Decorating System at K-2010. The exhibition is being staged in Dusseldorf from October 27 to November 3. Xeikon and MOSS can be found at Hall 04 / E21.

New application, new market

The Digital Decorating System enables the digital heat transfer process to be applied to seamless plastic tubes. The solution has been developed to meet increasing demand for wider versioning capabilities from global brand owners. Previously designed for printing on polypropylene, the Digital Decorating System’s ability to print on HDPE has opened up a new sector and a vast array of end uses.

Filip Weymans, Business Development Manager Labels & Packaging, Xeikon, explains:  “Brand owners are continually revising their graphics and product varieties according to customer demand. The Digital Decorating System enables them to do this faster, easier and more cost effectively than ever before. The system also allows them to be more responsive to versioning opportunities. The innovative technology ensures fast and cost-efficient decoration of seamless plastic tubes, even in very short runs. It creates a sharper image for a more refined result, helping products stand out from the competition.”

A cost-effective alternative

The Digital Decorating System is ideal for label printers and injection molders. It is a high-quality, flexible and cost-effective alternative to direct screen or direct offset print for short-to-medium runs. The solution requires no set-up or plate costs. It also delivers much higher quality compared with direct print technology, in terms of both image quality (1200 dpi) and a more opaque white.

The 1200 dpi image quality is crucial for producing such impressive results, according to Franco Venturi, Moss Sales Manager: “Using our equipment we simply transfer these highly defined images onto flexible tubes. A coating of transparent varnish is then applied to increase the seal of the container and protect the decoration from scratches.”

The Digital Decorating System also offers a number of other benefits: “It’s perfectly suitable for smaller lots rather than longer runs associated with direct offset and silkscreen, as there is no need to prepare any plates,” adds Venturi. “The solution is also very affordable, which will make it attractive to print service providers of all sizes.”

Digital two-step

The first stage in the easy two-step process is Xeikon’s web press, which prints the exact number of transfers required for the decoration. Using the Xeikon press enables self-adhesive and heat-transfer labels to be printed. In the next step, the roll of printed transfers is fed into the MOSS Digital Decorating System, which perfectly applies transfers to seamless tubes via the heat transfer process. The result is a high-quality, digitally printed and applied decoration that is scratch and water resistant.

“The Digital Decorating System has huge potential,” concludes Weymans. “Many of our customers print a broad range of products. The solution will help them to cost-effectively bolster their presence and take a greater market share.”
Moss manufactures and sells silk-screen, offset and hot-stamping machines for the decoration of articles and containers. In addition to its vast range of machines from simple 1-colour semi-automatic machines to fully automatic 8-colour lines with computerized controls, also produces a complete range of complementary equipment, not to mention the sale and installation of labeling machines on its own printing lines, and is in a unique position to be able to offer, not only first class after sales customer service, but also a truly complete service to its customers in terms of art-work, plate and screen manufacturing and technology and inks and varnishes.

A pioneer in digital printing, Xeikon designs, develops and delivers high-end digital colour printing systems for the industrial, document and commercial printing market segments.