HP unleashes breakthrough pack ready lamination solution for flexible packaging

At interpack 2017, HP Inc. announced commercial availability of HP Indigo Pack Ready Lamination, allowing immediate time-to-market for flexible packaging. A pioneering technology, Pack Ready lamination creates high-quality, high-performance laminates for HP Indigo digitally printed flexible packaging without the use of adhesives.

HP Indigo Pack Ready Lamination is designed for HP Indigo flexible packaging digital printing on the HP Indigo 20000, 8000 and WS6800 digital presses. It provides strong laminate bond strength with zero curing time for immediate pouch converting, opening new opportunities for digitally printed flexible packaging.

Developed and patented by HP, Pack Ready Lamination was first previewed at drupa 2016 as a proof-of-concept design, and fast-tracked into a fully developed commercial solution based on positive partner feedback and demand. The solution includes the HP Indigo Pack Ready Laminator and Pack Ready Film.

HP Inc. also announced the commercial model of the Pack Ready Laminator, optimized for the HP Indigo 20000 Digital Press. Now commercially designed, it will be manufactured and supplied by Karlville. Customer beta testing of the laminator is scheduled for this summer. First units are to ship by the end of the year.

HP Indigo Pack Ready Coating is another solution in the HP Indigo Pack Ready ecosystem. HP customers in Europe, including Swiss flexible packaging converter O KLEINER AG that recently installed a second HP Indigo 20000 digital press, are using the post-print coating solution for high-performance applications in the marketplace such as retort pouches. Commercially released in November 2016, the solution is now extended to support microwavable clear retort pouches.

Besides, HP announced that the upcoming HP PageWide C500 Press would deliver a mainstream production capacity of up to 25 million square meters of boards annually, powered by proven HP PageWide Thermal Inkjet technology. Announced at drupa 2016, customer beta testing is scheduled to begin at the end of the year, with commercial availability in 2018.