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.
“Pack Ready is the next step in the HP digital disruption of printing for flexible packaging, the fastest-growing packaging sector,” said Alon Bar-Shany, HP Indigo general manager, HP Inc. “We are proud to make this solution available to HP Indigo customers to help them maximize the value of HP digital print, drive brand engagement, shorten time to market, and cut waste and costs.”
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.
At interpack 2017, the commercial Pack Ready Laminator was demonstrated for the first time for production of digitally printed, laminated, on-demand pouches, using HP Indigo 20000 Digital Press printing, Pack Ready Film and a Bosch Form Fill and Seal (FFS) machine.
HP’s patented Pack Ready Film contains a heat active polymer layer that mechanically interlocks with HP’s Indigo ElectroInk once sufficient heat and pressure are applied, allowing immediate use. HP Indigo Pack Ready Film can comply with key global food packaging safety regulations, under well-defined conditions of use. Pack Ready food contact-grade films are now available from leading global film suppliers, including Polyplex and Polifilm.
HP Indigo Pack Ready Coating enabling high-performance applications
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.