10.15.13
Canon has installed its first liquid toner-based InfiniStream Technology at packaging printer Joh. Leupold GmbH, based in Schwabach, Germany. Complementing Leupold's existing fleet of high-end offset printing presses, the InfiniStream will provide digital short- to medium-length production runs for Leupold's customers, who consist of global brand owners and local German brands.
Using technology as a competitive advantage, Leupold offers a complete range of services for folding cartons, point of sale displays and presentation boxes. Founded in 1890, the company has developed into an international organization with a turnover of more than €30 million and a workforce of approximately 110 employees.
With innovation a key principle of the business, Leupold is the first customer in the world to install this ground-breaking digital technology as part of Canon's 'Proof-of-concept' commercial printing customer program. Canon is working with forward-thinking packaging printers worldwide to continuously test the InfiniStream platform under real-time conditions in advance of full commercial availability.
The Océ InfiniStream Technology offers productivity at offset level coupled with minimum set-up times and a unique capability to individually modify contents and artwork, thus paving the way for real mass packaging customization with the shortest possible time to market. It combines the advantages of offset printing with the many benefits of digital printing, delivering unrivaled time, cost and value improvements in folding carton production.
Using state-of-the-art technology to meet customer requirements has always been the strategy for Leupold.
"During discussions with brand owners, it became evident that trends such as declining run lengths and increasing use of versioned products will become major challenges in the packaging value chain,” said Bernd Assmann, managing director of Leupold. “Brand owners are requesting shorter turn-around times and faster campaign execution, as well as waste and cost reduction. We have carefully analyzed the market so that we can ideally address these requirements. It was clear that the InfiniStream technology is the way forward as the answer to major trends in the packaging market. That is why we are taking advantage of a completely new press category - the fastest in the industry - in digital folding carton production."
Océ InfiniStream is based on an electro-photographic liquid toner technology that matches offset in relation to productivity, print quality and substrate versatility. With its roll-fed, modular print tower architecture, customers can select from four to seven colors, depending on requirements. Running at up to 120 metres per minute (394 feet per minute), it can produce output of up to 14,400 B2-sized (50 x 70 cm) or 7,200 B1-sized (70 x 100 cm) sheets per hour on a 28 inch-wide web.
"Canon is and has been the world market leader for many years with its dry toner and inkjet continuous feed presses in monochrome and color,” said Christian Unterberger, executive vice president for commercial printing at Océ. “With the unique InfiniStream technology, Canon will extend its leadership into a new market, the digitally printed packaging market."