Package printing highlighted at Print 05 & Converting 05

According to the show organiser commercial printing equipment manufacturers have seen that some of the needs of package printers can be met by similar quality equipment to that used by commercial printers with some specific alternations or modifications. This cross-over approach is one that commercial printers are using to diversify their own service offerings, differentiate and expand their businesses.

That trend is strongly reflected in the upcoming event, which blends commercial printing equipment and package printing equipment on the same exhibit floor. Show visitors will be able to compare features and specifications of the various presses directly, and see a multitude of options from different manufacturers in the same place.
Manufacturers offering a mixed product line suitable for both high quality commercial work and package printing are located all around the show floor, and include Bobst, Creo, Esko-Graphics, Gallus, Heidelberg, Kampf, KBA, Komori, MAN Roland, Standard Paper Box, and others.

KBA will be displaying its large format sheetfed press, and recently sold such a machine to Trojan Litho of Seattle. “We believe that our new KBA Rapida 142 56-inch press will bring us further efficiencies due to its larger sheet size and its increased automation,” says Wayne Millage, president of Trojan Litho. “Instead of running 100,000 sheets for a box design through our 40-inch presses one-up, we’ll be able to put through 50,000 sheets two-up. It is a press that is equipped with a variety of features that will differentiate us from our competition.”

Press manufacturers aren’t the only suppliers offering equipment or solutions suitable for both commercial and package printing. Under the Kodak banner, Creo will be offering prepress systems, flexographic computer-to-plate imaging systems, and proofing systems, to meet the needs of flexographic printers, converters, package printers and trade shops.

Some vendors have seen the value in creating alliances and partnerships to achieve the wider product offering that takes advantage of the convergence of commercial and package printing. Heidelberg’s Speedmaster press is used to demonstrate the application of Cito’s RSP in-line finishing system. Perforating, punching, creasing and cutting for package printing work can all be performed on the machine in a single pass. The Speedmaster CD 74 perfector, which was officially unveiled at drupa 2004, enables high quality perfecting with the flexibility to run anything from lightweight papers all the way to 32-point board – with no restriction on the maximum running speed. This makes the Speedmaster ideal for industrial printers handling a wide range of printing stocks, as well as companies operating in the demanding world of packaging and label production.

Other companies have adjusted their entire business strategy to take advantage of the opportunities the package production market offers. Prepress hardware and software provider Esko-Graphics now primarily focuses on the global packaging market. Esko-Graphics’ packaging activities currently account for over 60 per cent of revenues. “The packaging market is a healthy and growing business environment, attracting many new customers. We have decided to put more focus and resources towards this booming part of our activities, to grow and expand it even further,” says Rene Delbar, senior vice president marketing, Esko-Graphics.

Vendors exhibiting in the show will be offering the most comprehensive product lines they have shown in North America in recent years. Some items will be in the United States for the first time ever, having been unveiled as prototypes in other European shows earlier in the year. Visitors are in for a truly unique international experience when attending the Chicago event, and will have lots of options for both commercial and package printing to see on the show floor.

The exhibition will encompass over 750,000 square feet of exhibits, and host almost 800 exhibiting companies from around the world with 80,000 registrants.

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