59 www.printmonthly.co.uk Issue 357 - November | December 2025 Focusing on the HP Indigo 6K+, the device features a new SmartControlSystem, which HP says delivers on its vision for “non-stop digital printing with new levels of automation, robustness, and versatility”. The printer supports a wide range of media, has an expansive colour gamut, and runs a number of special inks, while HP says the SmartControlSystem enhances uptime and reliability with advanced hardware and software that drive accurate scaling, diagnostics, and serviceability. Speaking about becoming a beta site for the new HP machine, Kirwan Waters, director at Watershed, comments: “Investing in the HP Indigo 6K+ was a natural step for us as our demand for digital printing continues to grow. The press has strengthened our lead times, improved on-time delivery, and given us the flexibility to shift shorter runs to digital, freeing up capacity across the business. For our customers, that means better service, faster turnaround, and consistently high quality.” Maximum Reliability Concluding with another major manufacturer that had a presence at Labelexpo Europe 2025, is Durst. The company used the recent event as a platform to roll out the Tau G3 Portfolio, its latest offering within the label production sector. The new collection comprises the Tau G3 Core and Tau G3 Peak, both of which can print at a native resolution of 1200 x 1200dpi. The Tau G3 Core has a top speed of 61m/min, while the Tau G3 Peak is the faster of the two machines, with the ability to hit printing speeds of up to 80m/min, with the option to increase this to 100m/ min. Both machines support CMYK plus extended gamut options, including orange, violet, green, and white, and are available with both UV and LED curing. Durst says this, combined with compatibility for substrates from paper to films and aluminium foils raging from 20 to 500µm in thickness range, ensures application diversity across labels and flexible packaging. To further support users, additional features across the new machines include integration with the new Durst Automatic Register Control for real-time colour registration, waste reduction, and quality enhancement, and the new Durst Material Edge Protection, which safeguards printheads with optical edge sensors and protective plates. In addition, both devices can make use of the Durst HAWK AI intelligent monitoring and assistance system, which can be included to automate the colour-to-colour register and to provide closed loop nozzle correction during printing. “With the Tau G3, we have redefined what a digital label press can achieve,” says Martin Leitner, director of product management for labels and flexible packaging at Durst, adding: “By combining high-resolution inkjet, intelligent automation, and flexible ink options, we are giving converters the tools they need to handle both today’s short runs and tomorrow’s high-volume demands – all with maximum reliability, minimal complexity, and exceptional performance.” Clearly, there is lots to be excited about when it comes to label production. With demand for labels only set to increase, those involved with this market have plenty of options to consider if they are on the lookout for new kit that could give them an advantage over the competition. LABEL PRINTING | ROB FLETCHER ▲ Security features such as micro-optic elements, covert inks, and digital authentication technologies are increasingly being integrated into labels ▼ Special inks are becoming a popular feature in printed labels ▼ Durst used Labelexpo Europe to launch its new Tau G3 range
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjM0NDIxOA==