Change is Good

Xeikon's packaging presses are roll-fed, run at a constant speed of 24 or 48 fpm, and can handle up to 18 pt board material. Bence says the systems produce good results with polyesters, foils, and some oriented polypropylene, but highly heat-sensitive substrates generally pose a problem. A five-color press with an opaque white station is available."Admittedly we're living in a CMYK world, and packaging is a Pantone world," says Bence. "We don't suggest we can replace conventional packaging printing processes; we complement them. Where digital pays off right now is in traditionally unprofitable ‘nuisance' runs—small quantities, prototypes, focus group samples, etc."