Italian label specialist Artes Etichette has expanded its digital printing capabilities by acquiring the first high-performance hybrid press, the Gallus Five, worldwide. Installed in December 2025, the new system has enabled Artes to migrate a significant portion of its conventional workload over to digital, saving setup time and materials, and simplifying production. The investment reflects broader continued growth across the Italian label market, valued at approximately USD 2 billion in 2024 and forecast to expand steadily over the coming decade, driven by evolving packaging requirements and increasing product variation.
Gallus Five reaches industrial production levels within a short time after installation
Within months of installation, Artes is leveraging the industrial capacity of the Gallus Five to handle a growing share of its production, particularly for food label applications, while also supporting work across chemicals and detergents, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and durable goods. Routine jobs sit at 10,000 linear meters, with regular successful runs up to 60,000 linear meters repeatedly proving the press’s capability to achieve industrial-level productivity. For customers requiring high-volume, precise results, the Gallus Five is increasingly becoming Artes’ preferred platform, addressing the pressing need to deliver greater speed, flexibility and consistent quality as customer demands continue to evolve. “Quality is being taken for granted,” said Luca Airoldi, CEO of Artes. “There isn’t a customer who says, ‘make me less beautiful labels for a lower price.’ Labels must be perfect, and the Gallus Five delivers the precision required to hit that standard every time.”
Developed together with Heidelberg, the Gallus Five was designed to bring hybrid production into mainstream production at scale, addressing volume-driven markets where consistent, industrial-level speed and efficiency are critical. The press incorporates the newly developed Heidelberg Saphira UV05 ink set – with a high-pigmentation formulation that cuts ink consumption and lowers total cost of ownership.
According to Airoldi, the ability to respond quickly to urgent jobs, due to the inherent nature of digital printing, is another key advantage. He said, “The Gallus Five allows us to meet challenging delivery times. When customer demands are urgent, quality and dependability are paramount. With this machine, it is very difficult to make mistakes.” Operating at up to 100 meters per minute, the Gallus Five’s combination of color stability, predictable registration, reduced waste, and shorter make-ready times significantly streamlines operations. Airoldi added, “With conventional technologies, if you have four or five colors, you need to factor in time to start up. With digital, you save time on setup and materials. There are no ink leftovers, no startup waste. This means that a complex job that may have previously required several hours of preparation can now be started in around 30 minutes.”