Carlo Sammarco, business development director for packaging solutions at Screen Europe, says this technological collaboration could have a significant impact on the label printing sector. “Combining Screen’s extensive inkjet printing technologies and expertise within both the commercial and label printing sectors, with UPM’s constant innovations developing new and specialised substrates, together, we hope to successfully highlight a practical solution, bringing the same exceptional high-speed, high-quality printing capabilities familiar to commercial printing, with a cost-effective, future-ready solution available to label converters,” Sammarco explains. Screen Europe demonstrated the new advancement at the 2025 edition of Labelexpo, which took place in Barcelona, Spain, in mid-September. Winning With Water-Based Also set to make strides in water-based technologies within label production is Focus Label Machinery, which, headquartered near Nottingham, recently linked up with Simply Inkjet, a specialist in water-based inkjet technology. The aim of the strategic partnership is to deliver cutting-edge and sustainable, yet cost-effective, solutions for the water-based labels and packaging market. Focus has been pioneering hybrid inkjet technology for over ten years, developing a robust transport system integrated with UV inkjet to create a one-pass production press with flexo, UV inkjet, and full finishing capabilities. It will now seek to develop this further through its link-up with Simply Inkjet, incorporating pigmented water-based inkjet technology, which it says will create “the most commercially viable model for digital labels”, achieved through its ability to prime in- or off-line, enabling regular coated and uncoated commercial stocks. This, it adds, will mean customers avoid costs that are two to three times higher. James Thomas, head of sales and business development at Focus, explains: “We’ve worked closely with Simon Cooper [Simply Inkjet co-founder] and his team over the past six months to bring this innovative technology to our markets. This is a transformative moment for both companies. Cooper, who also serves as managing director of Simply Inkjet, adds: “Partnering with Focus Label Machinery, with its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility and deep expertise in narrow web labels and packaging, opens significant growth opportunities for our business. “We are enthusiastic about the potential of this collaboration. With Focus’s UK-based manufacturing capabilities, they are well- positioned to support our expanding operations across various sectors by engineering print engine chassis for our systems.” Life In The Label Lane Like Screen Europe and UPM, Focus Label Machinery used Labelexpo Europe to show off its latest development. The event featured many heavy-hitters from the label printing market, with the likes of HP also among the exhibitors. HP announced a major milestone at the recent event, in that surpassed 3,000 digital press installations worldwide for labels and packaging. Dublin-based convertor Watershed was installation number 3,000, taking delivery of a new HP Indigo 6K+, which, incidentally, HP handed its global debut to at the event in Barcelona. The machine was shown alongside the HP Indigo V12 with LEP technology, and the HP Indigo 200K for flexible packaging and for labels. “HP Indigo is leading the rapidly evolving labels and packaging industry with nonstop digital printing, intelligent automation, and AI-powered solutions,” says Noam Zilbershtain, vice president and general manager of HP Indigo, adding: “Our portfolio of presses, including the HP Indigo V12, HP Indigo 6K+, and HP Indigo 200K, is designed to meet various printing needs and empower customers to handle any demand at any scale.” LABEL PRINTING | ROB FLETCHER Printed labels date back to the late 1500s when those who followed Gutenberg began using woodcuts and engravings for prints Factoid The label printing industry moves at a fast pace, and there is a clear shift towards greater flexibility, security, and smart functionality ▼ The HP Indigo 6K+ had its global debut at Labelexpo Europe 2025 58 email: editor@printmonthly.co.uk Issue 357 - November | December 2025
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