Xeikon: Develops digital printing solution for pouches

Recently, Xeikon announces its digital printing solution for pouches. This latest innovation has been developed for consumer goods markets – food, beverage, chemical and pharmaceutical industries. The digital process for printing on pouches responds to current trends, i.e. significant numbers of SKU’s, shorter lead times, and the rising popularity of pouches in store.

Filip Weymans, Xeikon’s Vice President Marketing, states: “This is a prime example of what we call “customer driven innovation”. By focusing on this application, we are supporting our customers’ requirements and also responding to the current trends in consumer preference. This development takes our digital production portfolio to the next level. With its technological expertise, Xeikon is ideally positioned to provide innovative digital processes.”

To ensure the flexibility of the high-end packaging line, the production process becomes more complex. The structure of the packaging actually consists of many layers of overlapping layers, each requiring a different stage of production. Xeikon is trying to simplify this process with a fast turnaround solution. First, through the printing of texts and graphics on an insulating sheet, the outer layer of the packaging will be processed separately. For the remaining layers, the partitions will be alternately placed between these layers for the purpose of protecting the structure of the packaging. As a result, printing will become simpler and ensure the largest print surface possible.

Marketers and brand owners see a lot of value in this kind of packaging for a variety of reasons, such as product presentation and functionality for the consumer. Pouches can also be sustainable: a pouch has a so-called “product-to-package” ratio of 35:1, which essentially means that it can carry up to 35 times its own weight. This is the best ratio for both production and transportation. Thanks to the application of a new solution, Xeikon can provide various packaging designs with different designs and sizes while ensuring stable function and ratio. Many major brands in the world are also gradually moving to flexible packaging instead of the fixed form as before.

Besides, digital printing with Xeikon’s dry toner technology has many advantages. It is not only the highest print quality on flexible substrates but there are also reductions in start-up costs and no job changeover costs. Importantly, the printer has the ability to print variable data information in both single and full colour. Xeikon’s digital dry toner technology allows JIT production, versioning and last minute adaptations on the fly. In a big process, it is important to assess what is the optimal process and technology applied to each case, so providing an editing option at the end of the production process is needed.

Weymans concluded: “Xeikon will constantly improve to immerse itself in the rapid change of the world as well as consumerism. With a wide range of multi-functional products, we believe that Xeikon can keep up with market trends and meet any customer requirements.

Productivity and Quality Office