For more than a decade, label printers have followed the evolution of digital print technologies with some degree of hesitancy. Some have made profitable investments in digital presses while others have found the outlay to be less successful. Many have been waiting for two important “triggers” before considering investments – a stronger market for digitally printed labels, and a viable digital print technology. InkJet will win the race Today, given the industrial trends and the growing demand for shorter runs, there's no doubt that the market for digital print is real and increasing. In terms of technology, the graphical industry is united: The future is liquid!
InkJet will win the race
In the mid-1990s, Nilpeter recognised the demand for digital printing in the label industry – and rapidly became one of the pioneers in the field. An OEM-agreement with Belgium-based printing manufacturer Xeikon led to the commercial introduction in 1997 of one of the world's first truly industrial digital label presses, the DL-3300. Over the next few years, Nilpeter installed at least one DL-3300 every month worldwide. Ten years ago this was a revolutionary achievement in the digital print industry.
Nilpeter shakes up the market with CASLON
Now, ten years on from the introduction of the DL-3300, Nilpeter is once again shaking up the label press market with a groundbreaking digital press introduction. For the first time, customers can combine high-quality digital printing with conventional printing and converting. We are proud to present CASLON! CASLON is a 4-colour-process CMYK InkJet system integrated on a Nilpeter press platform. It uses a standard Nilpeter UV-system with UV-curable inks. The InkJet heads are the newly developed Xaar 1001, the first model designed for single-pass printing applications. The imaging system and imaging software were developed in conjunction with UK-based FFEI, a former business division of Fujifilm. FFEI has a strong background in high-quality imaging technologies. This, combined with Xaar hi-tech heads and Nilpeter's high-quality reliable platform concepts, will set new standards in the industry. CASLON is bringing back digital print to the press room and onto the presses. For years, digital label printing lived a lonely life, isolated from the conventional presses in the printing houses. Today's digital presses have special requirements in terms of temperature and humidity as well as specially skilled operators. CASLON will change all that.
