Domino will confirm its transition from supplier of part-personalisation technologies to fully-fledged digital press manufacturer at this year's LabelExpo Europe.Exhibiting for the first time in the digital press area (Hall 9 Stand H10) Domino will display two key technologies for offering fast and efficient digital label personalisation and short to medium run printing; the K600i single colour high resolution modular print bar, which can be integrated into an existing press or finishing line or supplied as a standalone roll to roll solution, and the next generation N600i four colour 13" (333mm) web UV ink jet digital label press. Both systems incorporate the smart features of Domino's i-Tech intelligent Technology and are based on UV curable ink jet technology, printing 600dpi at speeds of between 50 and 75 metres per minute.
The K600i is the first product Domino has launched that moves away from remotely mounted individual ink jet print heads to a solution covering the full web with a single digital ink jet module. Delivering quality output that is comparable to pre-print, the K600i operates at double the speed of most comparable digital systems. Key to the appeal of the K600i is the capability to accommodate different print widths that can be easily achieved by stitching print heads together across the web, achieving a print width range from 108mm (4.25") to 780mm (30.8"), with scalability made possible by mounting print modules across a bar.
In addition, the modified print head with circulating ink system delivers an even higher level of performance and reliability, printing at a native resolution of 600dpi with three or four selectable drop sizes and line speeds of 50 to 75 metres per minute with UV curable inks. It also supports variable data printing, barcodes, 2D codes including QR Codes, numbers, graphics, logos and personalised data in a range of different image sizes.
Also on display in conjunction with the K600i will be the WebEx, a web handling extension for an existing re-winder or in some cases printing press, to facilitate variable data in-printing. The WebEx is designed to enable accurate material control essential for the high resolution print capability of the K600i, giving customers the opportunity to combine ink jet personalisation within an existing process. Domino will also be exhibiting its piezo ink jet N600i Digital Label Press, the only colour digital press to combine the productivity of flexo with the flexibility of digital printing. Operating up to 75 metres per minute and offering both a high 600 dpi native print resolution, as well as up to four greyscale levels, the N600i utilises one of the smallest drop sizes to deliver excellent fine print detail. It offer the fast change-over and short run length options traditionally associated with digital technology, but printing up to 1.500 m² per hour also makes long production runs cost-effective. In addition its automated functions such as print head cleaning, capping and alignment helps to maintain the highest levels of Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).
"The designs of both the K600i and N600i reflect a deep and long established understanding of ink jet technology that spans over 30 years," says Philip Easton, Director of Domino's Digital Printing Business. "In addition, Labelexpo will be the first show where we will begin to roll out product deliverables that reflect the company's increased commitment to R&D enabling us to develop leading edge technologies that make valuable contributions to the productivity and profitability of our customer's businesses."
Domino's latest digital label technologies can be seen on stand H10 in Hall 9 at LabelExpo 2011.
