HP Inc. Reinvents Corrugated Packaging Printing in Collaboration with KBA

Würzburg, Germany, Dec. 3, 2015 - HP Inc. today revealed the first HP PageWide Web Press T1100S, co-developed with KBA, which reinvents corrugated packaging printing for high-volume, digital pre-print applications. 

Digital printing is the fastest growing segment in packaging with a projected annual growth rate of 17 percent in a market expected to be worth $19 billion by 2019.⁽¹⁾ Digital packaging solutions enable cost-effective short-runs and unlock the ability to make every box different. 

“Converters and brands alike need to create more targeted, effective packaging while reducing costs,” said Eric Wiesner, general manager, PageWide Web Press (PWP) division, HP Inc. “HP Inc. and KBA have combined forces to bring the world’s most productive press to market, ⁽²⁾ offering more value to high-end converters with the efficiencies of pre-print and digital in one press.”

DS Smith Packaging is the first customer to install the 2.8 meter width (110-inch) press, which can deliver significantly higher productivity and production flexibility than traditional analog technology. 

“We selected the new HP PageWide Web Press T1100S as the next step in our ground-breaking digital PrePrint programme,” said Stefano Rossi, CEO, DS Smith Packaging Division. “Our co-development with HP has resulted in the first digital machine able to print at the speed and width we need for high-volume corrugated production. It will provide our customers with unprecedented short-run flexibility and quality consistency.” 

Reinventing corrugated printing 

While current analog printing technology is limited to printing multiple copies of one box design – all boxes look the same and are the same size – the HP PageWide Web Press T1100S, with Multi-lane Print Architecture (MLPA), creates an immense paradigm shift in the production of corrugated board. 

HP MLPA splits the web into multiple print lanes, so different jobs, with different box sizes and run lengths, can be printed in the individual lanes. Multiple ultra-short or short runs can be queued and printed together, with no make-ready in between jobs, while a long run is printed in another lane. 

HP MLPA, coupled with all the advantages of digital printing, allows cost-effective customization and personalization of corrugated packaging, meeting the demands for shorter print runs without having to create inventory. Corrugated converters can now print only what is needed, when it is needed. 

Meeting brand demands for fast, high-quality production 

As more brands pursue customized and personalized packaging, converters must accommodate faster turnarounds and shorter run lengths, while producing high-quality printed solutions at lower costs. Printing at speeds up to 183 linear meters (600 linear feet) per minute and 30,600 square meters (330,000 square feet) per hour, the HP PageWide Web Press T1100S helps corrugated converters quickly take on new, complex jobs at speed. 

With enhanced priming options, including a combination of HP Bonding Agent, HP Priming Agent and four-color HP A50 aqueous pigmented CMYK inks, customers can print offset-quality on standard uncoated and coated liners from 80-400 grams per square meter (GSM), for greater cost savings, versatility, productivity and quality with high color saturation, dark black optical density and crisp text. In-line and near-line coating solutions for HP Priming Agent and aqueous overprint varnishing also provide outstanding print quality to help meet the highest brand standards. 

Optional configuration features such as auto-splice/turret rewind, primer and over-print varnish coating solutions, as well as the KBA PATRAS “Automated Paper Logistics System,” result in even greater efficiency of the overall solution.