Parent company Punch Graphix has developed its QA (Quadrupled Adapted) toner in two iterations: QA-I for industrial, packaging and label applications, and QA-P for the document and book printing markets.
The QA-I toner is designed for the Xeikon 3000 range of label presses and is safety-approved for food packaging – a key distinction from rival inkjet label technology.
Punch Graphix vice president of consumables, Lode Deprez, said: “The packaging and label market demands a larger colour gamut, better fast lightness, and higher food safety than the document printing market.”
The QA-P toner is aimed at document printing, with an increased colour gamut and speed, and is designed to run on the 1,200dpi Xeikon 8000 press (pictured).
The 8000 has been upgraded from the 230 pages per minute model launched at Drupa 2008 to now offer speeds of 260ppm, or 19 metres per minute – making it the fastest machine in its class.
Importantly, running the new QA-P toner means users can hit top speeds on substrates up to 80gsm.
Danny Mertens, business development manager for document printing, said that the Xeikon 8000’s ease of use meant up to three machines could be operated by one minder, reducing staff costs.
“Document printing operations can now handle high-volume peak productions more easily. With the speed increase, they can even manage one million images per day if they line up three Xeikon 8000 presses supervised by one dedicated operator,” said Mertens.
Punch Graphix used its pre-Ipex event in Belgium to also reveal a host of show launches, including the X-800 integrated, modular front-end for its digital print engines, as well as new capabilities for its IPDS workflow – allowing for a fifth colour.
Punch Graphix pre-press subsidiary BasysPrint announced a new 8-up UV platesetter to be launched at the trade fair.
The BasysPrint 857 UV-Setter is said to be able to handle a vast array of different plate types, with the device currently approved for around 60 different plate types including low-cost plates from smaller manufacturers.
Xeikon and BasysPrint will be at the Punch Graphix booth in hall 11, stand C230 at Ipex.
Steven Kiernan is in Brussels.
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