drupa 2012: Revving Up for the Big Show

And, finally, we come to Xeikon. One of the two companies that launched full-color digital printing nearly two decades back, Xeikon has continuously refined every element of its original imaging technology. Right now, you can buy a Xeikon 5000, 6000 or 8000. Come drupa, the product lineup will be the Xeikon 8500, 8600 and 8800, with the 8500 and 8600 field-upgradeable to the flagship 8800.

All of these digital press models feature Xeikon's new Toner Optimization Mode (TOM) which, depending on the application, can reduce toner usage up to 50 percent. This allows users to reduce running costs significantly, letting them compete on cost with other printing solutions—such as inkjet—while providing the throughput and shorter runs of continuous-feed toner presses.

Inside the Box

One of Xeikon's most successful markets has come to be packaging, which is also one of the growth areas for digital printing. Xeikon's 3000 series of label presses has attracted a lot of attention and is seeing real success in the market. At drupa, Xeikon will show its new Folding Carton Suite, which is comprised of five elements: Xeikon print engines, pre- and post-printing equipment, a range of paperboard substrates tuned to the Xeikon, the X-800 DFE and Xeikon's QA-1 toner that's dedicated to the label industry.

And then there's Quantum. No real hints on what it is, or even where it came from. It has supposedly grown out of a technology that Xeikon acquired some time ago and has been developing secretly. All we know is that it's continuous-feed, runs at mid-range inkjet speeds (guesstimates in the 400 to 500 fpm range) and uses some type of toner.

We'll find out the details at drupa on May 3, so stay tuned. PI

About the Author
A well-known industry analyst and a blogger for Printing Impressions, Noel Ward is managing director of Brimstone Hill Productions based in Amherst, NH. He can be contacted via e-mail at noel@brimstonehill.com.