The SurePress L-4033A was given its commercial launch at Ipex 2010 but has only just made it to Australia, with the first machine now up and running at Epson’s HQ in Sydney.

It will go head to head with rival label presses from HP Indigo and Xeikon, but at a lower capital and consumables cost, said Craig Heckenberg, business unit manager at Epson Australia.

“Our customers are label converters, commercial printers and digital production centres that are moving into the short-run label segment for the first time or are looking to make their operations more efficient and profitable,” said Heckenberg (pictured).

The SurePress, which hits speeds of five metres per minute, utilises the proprietary micro-piezo inkjet head technology found in Epson’s proofing range, along with its newly developed SurePress AQ six-colour, water-based pigment ink.

Its use of inkjet technology sets it apart from short-run labels market leader HP, whose label presses use the same ‘Electroink’ found in its production digital devices, while Xeikon machines use toner-based technology.

Heckenberg said in terms of quality, SurePress offered “inkjet that doesn’t look like inkjet”.

According to Epson, the machine’s 15 six-colour inkjet heads produce smooth tonal gradations, remarkable colour quality, and sharp detail.

“People say that the gradation that the press provides is the best they have seen thanks to the variable drop size,” added Heckenberg.

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