HP at Drupa announced its strategic collaboration agreement with Smurfit Kappa, a world leader in paper-based packaging solutions to further develop the recently announced digital corrugated post-print solution, the HP PageWide C500 Press.
HP Page Wide C500 Press will enable Smurfit Kappa to print direct-to-board with quality to substitute lithography, deliver faster turnarounds with just-in-time production and acquire new customers by leveraging on-demand services and unmatched production flexibility.
The company will work closely with HP to develop the new press, providing unique production insights into the specific requirements for corrugated post-printing, and plans to roll out the new solution in its European plants.
“Smurfit Kappa is dedicated to delivering customer growth through innovation. While our current digital printing solutions enable us to offer our customers fast time to market and shorter runs, we required a more robust and economical solution to scale our digital printing capabilities,” said Roberto Villaquiran, Chief Executive, Smurfit Kappa Europe.
“After a thorough analysis, we determined the HP PageWide C500 Press is the most compelling digital end-to-end solution for corrugated post-print, and HP is the right vendor with the right commitment to innovation in this space to help us reinforce our leadership. This partnership will help us continue innovating and grow together.”
Mike Salfity, General Manager and Global Head, HP Graphics Solutions Business, HP Inc, added, “Smurfit Kappa was looking for a proven technology provider with an economical solution and a long-term vision to address traditional production challenges and limitations,”
“The company placed its confidence in HP, securing an early-adopter advantage and HP has now gained a mentor to perfect the HP PageWide C500 Press and continue the digital transformation in the corrugated packaging market.”
Leveraging 30 years of HP Thermal Inkjet innovation and powered by proven HP PageWide Printing Technology, the HP PageWide C500 Press offers a flexible and robust industrial post-print corrugated solution that delivers high-impact, offset-quality graphics direct-to-board, enabling customers to affordably adopt digital technology and reinvent a segment ripe with opportunity.
The new press is designed to seamlessly integrate into any production environment, from large integrated converters with centralised and distributed printing, to small, independent converters. The press also features the proven HP Corrugated Grip Technology, helping customers expand media versatility and enhance production flexibility with the ability to handle a wider range of media from the lightest micro-flute to the heaviest double wall board.
Additionally, new water-based HP inks are designed for printing on the non-contact surface of paperboard packaging, complying with global food safety regulations and industry guidelines, enabling customers to achieve food-compliant packaging required to support packaging campaigns for leading food brands.
The HP PageWide C500 Press joins HP’s growing portfolio of digital packaging solutions from thin films to cartons and corrugated, all providing converters with new opportunities to increase productivity and profitability while satisfying dynamic brand requirements.
HP is planning to start testing the HP PageWide C500 Press at customer sites in 2017, and the press is expected to be commercially available in 2018.
