Xeikon, Kurz advance with digital alternative to hot foil

Delivering high-quality labels in a single pass, this breakthrough innovation from Xeikon and Kurz is the perfect solution for printers serving the demanding high-end wine and spirits markets. With no restrictions on run lengths or designs, it provides a sustainable, ultra-flexible, and very cost-efficient way to create high shelf appeal. Presenting the same advantages as digital printing, it also enables new market opportunities, such as variable foiling, which can be used for personalized consumer labels, variable security elements, or paper-based packaging with metallisation.

“Printers are constantly searching for better ways to add value to the labels they produce for their customers. Meanwhile, brand owners are looking to maximize shelf standout with brilliant designs that shine and sparkle. They also want to get to market faster, at a lower cost,” Jeroen Van Bauwel, director of solution design at Xeikon, said. “This new digital metallisation process offers unlimited possibilities for production of high-quality, highly embellished labels with Xeikon’s Titon toner technology. Metal effects are created in one process without needing special adaptations to the print file. And since it’s all done inline, no highly-skilled operator intervention or re-registration are needed. It’s as simple as adding another colour.”

This digital metallisation method excels in its simplicity as it does not require any additional process steps in pre-press or during the converting phase. Unlike in traditional hot and cold foil techniques, there is no need for stamping tools, saving significant cost, time, and waste. The job preparation time is as quick as sending a digital job to the press, meaning printers can offer much faster turnaround and shorter lead times. It also eliminates waste of time and materials related to print registration. The robust and versatile process can be applied to a wide variety of substrates, including challenging uncoated papers (unlike cold foil), and semi-transparent metallisation is also an option. 

The solution is made possible by Xeikon’s new durable Titon toners, which are highly resistant to heat. After printing CMYK, the Xeikon TX500 press applies a special transfer toner to the designated metallisation areas before the web continues to the Kurz module. This method is remarkably precise and efficient, utilizing the print file for metallisation, so there are no additional requirements of the press operator.

With the full freedom of digital printing, including orders of just one label, the new digital metallisation process can be used to add both solid areas and very small details (in positive and negative) in 1200-dpi resolution, anywhere in the design. Each label can be different with variable elements in print and metallisation matching each other.

“Together with Kurz, Xeikon is pushing the boundaries of digital embellishment with this advanced solution which will appeal to the high-end market due to its multiple benefits and exceptional quality,” Filip Weymans, vice-president of Marketing at Xeikon, said. “The continuous advancement of Xeikon toner technology, and the new solutions it enables, are driving even more value for label printers and their brand owner customers, while also supporting sustainability by taking out more waste in the production process. We look forward to unveiling this amazing solution at Labelexpo and encourage visitors to witness for themselves how easy it can be to add metallization the Xeikon way.”