Greg Hrinya, Associate Editor, Label & Narrow Web04.23.19
Xeikon recently hosted a successful Xeikon Café Europe, but the company is not planning to slow down any time soon. The digital print specialist will bring the show to Chicago, welcoming customers and prospects to Xeikon Café North America from May 14-16.
During a recent webinar on April 18, Xeikon detailed its plans for the future, which will include roadshow events and Labelexpo Europe in September. The company hopes to build on a banner Xeikon Café Europe, which featured 30 exhibitors and 1,000 visitors over the three-day event. More than 500 label converters were represented from 55 countries.
“It was a very successful edition,” said Danny Mertens, corporate communications manager at Xeikon. “We keep building on the Xeikon Café platform. Xeikon Café is becoming a key event on the agenda of many packaging and label converters, and it is one of the leading events dedicated to digital packaging production.”
The Xeikon Café platform demonstrates the newest applications available to digital printers, with automation and flexible packaging serving as focal points. The European version featured tech talks, keynote presentations, live printing demonstrations, brand sessions and more. These events are designed to address customers’ pain points and the most applicable solutions.
“There are new applications that are available today, not in two or three years’ time,” Mertens said.
And although Xeikon Café North America will head to Chicago in May, an array of roadshow events will highlight the Xeikon brand in various parts of the world. One such “On Tour” event will take place on the West Coast of the US in September.
During Xeikon Café North America, the company will exhibit the 3500, 9800 and Panther presses, as well as an assortment of finishing equipment. Gina Testa will serve as the event’s emcee, leading panels and industry discussions. Meanwhile, Peter Muir will deliver the keynote presentation. Chris Bondy, RIT professor, will also discuss the power of personalization in labels and packaging in the event’s Labels & Packaging track. Xeikon will also present a Graphic Arts track.
“We’re really happy to focus on brands this year,” said Donna Covannon, director of marketing, Xeikon North America. “We’ll get a view of what the role of a print service provider is today.”
Xeikon Café North America will take place with the help of multiple industry partners, including AB Graphic, acpo, Anderson & Vreeland, Avery Dennison, FLAG, FLEXcon, Label Traxx, Prati, Spinnaker Coating, UPM Raflatac, and more.
As part of its quarterly webinar, Xeikon announced it will be unveiling a new version of the Panther–Panther Series: High capacity version. Xeikon’s goal is to reduce costs on substrates by printing more efficiently. The company will continue to promote its UV inkjet technology, which was released in 2017. Driven by the X-800 DFE, Panther technology utilizes PantherCure UV inks. Panther DuraCure technology is new for the company, as well.
“For us, the print industry is highly commoditized,” said Simon Smith, managing director of CS Labels, which operates five Xeikon presses. “The profit leaders are focusing on differentiating their position from their competitors. We’re looking to drive capacity, and we can’t just differentiate ourselves on service alone. It’s about how can we remain competitive to drive business forward. We’re probably one of the largest Xeikon houses in Europe, and we’ve adopted complementary technology to add to the digital presses. We want to offer solutions other companies might not.”
Using Xeikon technology, CS Labels has found success printing metallic peel and reveal labels for Northern Monk brewery. The customized campaign features over 150 designs.
“The products are flying off the shelves, and we’ve been able to assist with that initiative,” said Adam James, operations director at CS Labels. “About 20% of our business is peel and reveal, so it’s been a huge project for us.”
“We like to be regarded as a disruptor. People said you couldn’t do flexible packaging on a Xeikon press, but you can,” added Smith.
