Sector: Labels and Packaging

Case study: LuXtreme and CuremaX

Paragon ID

Case study

Paragon ID UK partners with Fujifilm to achieve sustainability and productivity benefits

Paragon ID UK

United Kingdom

LuXtreme LED UV System & CuremaX inks

Reading time: 4 minutes

Highlights

  • The partnership began when Paragon ID UK’s production site in Hull, driven by their own internal sustainability targets, made the decision to switch to Fujifilm’s Flenex water wash plates.
  • Paragon ID also tested Fujifilm’s CuremaX inks and were delighted with their performance, prompting them to initiate the transition to CuremaX inks before the curing system installations began.
  • The solutions were supplied by Fujifilm in conjunction with IST, who have recently partnered with Fujifilm to become the key supplier for the LuXtreme LED UV system for the narrow web market.
  • As as a result of the installations, solvent emissions have been eliminated from magnetic stripes and the transition to LED technology has enabled energy savings.
  • The investments have enabled Paragon ID to realise a range of energy, time and cost savings while achieving unparalleled performance and productivity.
  • Paragon ID are now able to deliver unparalleled value to their customers while maximising their environmental credentials.

 

 

Our investment in Fujifilm’s LuXtreme and CuremaX technologies underscores our commitment to driving sustainability and innovation in print solutions.

Jamie Parker, Head of Operations at Paragon ID’s Hull site | Paragon ID UK

Paragon ID UK is primarily a flexographic label print manufacturer with additional capability in the production of RFID labels & access cards. Paragon ID, as a wider group, designs, develops and delivers secure contactless identification solutions including bank cards, mobile payment technology and train tickets based on smart technologies.

The partnership began when Paragon ID UK’s production site in Hull, driven by their own internal sustainability targets, made the decision to switch to Fujifilm’s Flenex water wash plates, which were supplied by trusted Fujifilm partner, Creation Repro in 2023. The relationship developed further when Paragon ID were introduced to Fujifilm‘s LuXtreme LED UV curing systems just prior to Labelexpo 2023. Paragon ID’s keen interest in the sustainability benefits of this solution in particular, led to the signing of three retrofit installations during the event.

Additionally, prior to the first installation in Hull, Paragon ID tested Fujifilm’s CuremaX inks and was delighted with their performance. This prompted Paragon ID to initiate the transition to CuremaX inks before the curing system installations began.

Despite the complexity of Paragon ID’s product portfolio, the installations of the LuXtreme systems proceeded smoothly, thanks to comprehensive onsite surveys conducted by IST.

Reflecting on the partnership, Jamie Parker, Head of Operations at Paragon ID’s Hull site, commented, “Our investment in Fujifilm’s LuXtreme and CuremaX technologies underscores our commitment to driving sustainability and innovation in print solutions. At our production site in Hull, we have spearheaded efforts to eliminate solvent emissions from magnetic stripes, transitioned to LED technology for energy savings, and embraced water-based solutions in relation to plate supply. By leveraging Fujifilm’s expertise and cutting-edge technologies, we are now able to deliver unparalleled value to our customers while maximising our environmental credentials. The investments have enabled us to realise a range of energy, time and cost savings while achieving unparalleled performance and productivity.”

“We are thrilled to partner with Paragon ID UK in their journey towards sustainability and innovation in print technology,” added Ian Isherwood, Segment Manager EMEA – Analogue Packaging, Fujifilm Europe. “By combining Paragon ID’s industry expertise with Fujifilm’s advanced solutions, we are confident in our ability to deliver comprehensive and sustainable print solutions to customers worldwide.”

Commenting on the partnership, Andreas Bosse, Head of Marketing at IST, stated: “We are excited to have facilitated the integration of Fujifilm’s innovative solutions into Paragon ID’s operations in Hull. This partnership marks the beginning of our collaboration with Fujifilm and underscores our shared commitment to driving technological advancement and sustainability in the print industry.”

Get the eco edge

Huge savings in energy, materials, labour and waste are possible with the LuXtreme LED UV system, thanks to the lower power LED UV lamps.

Discover more

Case study: Jet Press 750S

MR Cartonnage Numerique

Case study

MR confirms Jet Press 750S investment at drupa 2024 to support business growth and reduce environmental impact

MR Cartonnage Numerique

Saint-Ouen-l’Aumône, France

Jet Press 750S

Reading time: 4 minutes

This is our first ever investment with Fujifilm and through the whole decision-making process they’ve been a pleasure to work with.

Jonathan Mihy | MR Cartonnage Numerique

Highlights

  • Founded in 2009, MR has always been a digital-only packaging print business, producing short run packaging and protypes for major luxury brands.
  • At drupa 2024 the company confirmed an investment in Fujifilm’s Jet Press 750S for folding carton packaging.
  • The french packaging company decided the Jet Press was the right machine to support business growth.
  • MR was impressed by Fujifilm’s commitment to understand their particular needs to ensure the press worked exactly as they needed it to.
  • The water-based inks the Jet Press uses, and the recyclability of Jet Press printed products, were very important factors in their decision.
  • The Jet Press 750S investment is an important step in MR Cartonnage Numerique reducing their carbon footprint and environmental impact.

Founded in 2009, and a DIAM company since 2017, MR has been a digital-only packaging print business from the outset, producing short run packaging and protypes for major luxury brands. At drupa 2024 the company confirmed an investment in Fujifilm’s Jet Press 750S for folding carton packaging.

“The folding carton packaging market is growing,” says company founder and CEO Jonathan Mihy. “And within that market, short run work is increasing fastest of all. But achieving the necessary levels of quality, and being able to do so profitably, remains a challenge.

“We’re always on the lookout for new technologies to give us a competitive edge and to help us to grow,” Mr Mihy continues. “Ultimately, we decided the Jet Press was the right machine to help us do that, and there were a lot of reasons behind that decision.”

“We’d been looking into inkjet over a number of years, and became increasingly certain that our next investment needed to be in an inkjet press. We also wanted a B2 format size – so those criteria immediately put the Jet Press on our radar.

“When we started looking at it closely, we were even more impressed. Not just by the machine itself – but the lengths that Fujifilm went to, throughout the process, to ensure that it worked exactly as it needed to. We tested it exhaustively and Fujifilm were hugely supportive right from the very beginning until we were ready to make our decision. They worked with us incredibly closely to understand our challenges and particular needs and to answer every question. This is our first ever investment with Fujifilm and through the whole decision-making process they’ve been a pleasure to work with.”

Mr Mihy also has high praise for the press itself. “The colour consistency is excellent,” he continues. “That is so important for our clients. We can print a short run and then have complete confidence that we can match the colours exactly at a later date.”

“The up-time and reliability are also superb. The press is robust, built an offset-style chassis, and downtime is minimal. Furthermore,” Mr Mihy concludes. “the water based inks the Jet Press uses, and the easy recyclability of Jet Press printed products, were also very important factors in our decision. We’re committed, as a business, to reducing our carbon footprint and our environmental impact. Our Jet Press investment is an important step in that direction.”

Taro Aoki, Head of Digital Press Solutions, Fujifilm Europe adds: “The Jet Press has been setting quality and productivity standards in commercial print for more than a decade. We’re delighted now to see more and more customers recognising its potential for high-end, short to mid-run packaging, based on its wider colour gamut, consistent colour quality, flat tint reproduction and higher machine up-time. We’re honoured that MR Cartonnage Numerique has opted to partner with us to expand their business, and we look forward to a long future working together.”

Jet Press 750S

Find out more about how the quality and speed of the Jet Press 750S make it ideal for folding carton applications

Discover more

The Future of Flexible Packaging is Digital

Introducing the Fujifilm Jet Press FP790

Read the Article

Reading time: 7 minutes

The future of flexible packaging is digital. The future of flexible packaging is inkjet. The future of flexible packaging is the Fujifilm Jet Press FP790.

While there’s no doubt that in the packaging sector, the adoption of digital print technologies has advanced much more slowly than in other print sectors, the direction of travel is unambiguous. A 2021 Allied Market Research (AMR) report estimated the global digital printed packaging market to be worth $20.6 billion (in 2021) and projected substantial CAGR of 9.1% over ten years, to reach $49.9 billion by 2031.[1]

The report singled out flexible packaging as the segment likely to grow the fastest (from the smallest base) and also indicated that inkjet would grow its share of the digital packaging market overall compared with other digital alternatives, thanks to the levels of quality and productivity that can now be achieved with leading inkjet technologies.

There are a number of trends driving these shifts, and Fujifilm has designed the Jet Press FP790 to address all of them head on. In this article we examine three of the most important of these trends and look at how Fujifilm inkjet technology, and the Jet Press FP790 in particular, is uniquely well suited to address them.

Megatrend One: Sustainability

The challenge of developing more sustainable production practices is being driven by a mix of consumer pressure, government regulation and an increasing sense of environmental responsibility on the part of brands and packaging producers.

Reducing waste and boosting recyclability is an increasing concern for packaging companies and this trend is a major driver behind the adoption of digital technology, as it offers a way to significantly reduce waste and the use of consumables associated with analogue print processes.

Going digital has significant environmental benefits here, as far fewer consumables are used before, during and after the production process compared to traditional flexo production, and there is virtually no waste, resulting in a much smaller ecological footprint.

The consumables required for platemaking and the cleaning of processing equipment, the additional packaging required for those consumables, and the additional energy and water use required for those processes are all eliminated.

Additionally, going digital means shorter runs can be printed economically, so you can print just what you need – leading to much less product waste.

Megatrend Two: Time to market  

Time is money, and modern businesses, and modern consumers, expect instant delivery. New product lines often need to be set up at a moment’s notice and the timescales involved in setting up an analogue production line can sometimes be prohibitive – especially for relatively short run jobs.

This is where digital in the form of inkjet really comes into its own. With no set-up time required, the job gets printed straight away and turnaround times are massively reduced.

Megatrend Three: Rapid rise in SKUs and reduced product lifecycles

The proliferation of SKUs is another factor behind the increasing popularity of inkjet. More unique product lines, combined with shorter product lifecycles, mean that companies frequently end up with excess inventory. This leads to logistics and storage challenges, as well as higher levels of waste and higher costs. Short run production, to print the exact quantity you need and no more, offers a way around this, but it is simply not viable using analogue processes.

Related to this, having the ability to quickly and efficiently produce extremely high quality samples is another benefit of inkjet.

Why the Jet Press FP790?

The trends above are driving the interest in digital production – but not all digital solutions are created equal. There are many solutions out there – but only one is a proven mainstream flexo packaging print alternative.

Built on years of Fujifilm inkjet and packaging sector expertise

It’s in the name. Fujifilm’s Jet Press has been synonymous with inkjet excellence in the commercial print and folding carton packaging sector for more than a decade, and Fujifilm’s expertise in printhead and ink development stretches back much further still.

Fujifilm also has a long history in the flexible packaging industry, developing flexo plates, inks, imprinting bars and LED curing solutions.

In the Jet Press FP790, Fujifilm has brought together that combination of inkjet technology and flexo packaging market knowledge to produce a digital flexible packaging press that is not only setting new standards for quality and productivity – but is also designed to fit seamlessly into a typical flexible packaging  production environment with ease.

High quality Fujifilm water based inkjet ink, with a double white option

Fujifilm is one of the world’s leading ink manufacturers and the water based ink in the Jet Press FP790 draws on that rich heritage. The inks also include a unique double white option in the Jet Press FP790, and this, in particular, sets it apart as a machine suitable for tackling everything from the simplest production that just needs to get done fast, through to jobs that require the very highest standards of quality.

Proven solution

It may be new to the market, but the Jet Press FP790 has already proven its value and its potential through the endorsement of some of the industry’s most respected software and finishing companies who have signed up as partners. These partners include Henkel and Nordmeccanica for coating and laminating solutions, and HYBRID Software for our XMF Packaging workflow solution which provides automated pre-press functionality to deliver accelerated turnaround times, maximum productivity and reduced operating costs.

These multiple partnerships with respected and experienced industry names are both a vote of confidence in the capabilities of the press, and a means of ensuring that it can fit easily and seamlessly into existing analogue production environments.

But the endorsements don’t stop there. An early UK beta customer had this to say:

“Sustainable packaging design is not just about material choice. It’s about sustainable production and that’s what the Fujifilm Jet Press 790 achieves for us. With high speed and high quality digital printing, the ability to cost-effectively produce short run lengths, and the elimination of plates and make-ready processes, all mean that the Jet Press 790 brings a host of benefits to our business. It enables us to deliver excellence in print performance, eliminate waste and exceed the needs of today’s flexible packaging market with complete flexibility and agility. We are delighted to be the first installation in Europe and we are confident that the press will provide us with significant advantages in what is a highly competitive market.”

No additional investment required

Most digital flexo packaging solutions require a lot more additional investment beyond the press itself. Special substrates that need special adhesives and laminates and considerable downtime for all the associated changeovers. The Jet Press FP790 is designed to fit seamlessly into existing workflows and existing laminating and other finishing systems.

Overall, it’s clear that digital technologies are set to drive the future of flexible packaging. There are several trends causing this shift, and we will see this continue to grow further. Fujifilm is unique in its ability to combine decades of expertise in inkjet and flexible packaging, along with the support and knowledge of its partners, to provide an innovative solution that is truly future-proofing the flexible packaging market, with the Jet Press FP790.

[1] Digital Printing Packaging Market 2031: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/digital-printing-packaging-market-A08308

Jet Press FP790

Learn more about our revolutionary digital flexible packaging press.

Discover the difference

╳

Jet Press FP790

Digital inkjet press for flexible packaging

Three presses in one

Print mainstream flexo jobs digitally, at rotogravure quality

The Jet Press FP790 has been designed to help printers and converters adapt to changing market dynamics that are driving shorter print runs and product life cycles, faster delivery times and more sustainable production, whilst also adhering to the regulatory requirements of flexible packaging.

Superb

1200 x 1200dpi

Print resolution
Up to

50m/min

Print speed
Up to

790mm

Substrate width

Why Jet Press FP790?

High productivity

Print speed of 50 m/min (164 feet per minute), no matter the number of colours.

Wide colour gamut

Achieve special brand and spot colour matching with no special inks.

Sustainable print process

Able to minimise waste and reduce the number of consumables.

Inline corona
Vibrant colour
Automatic register
Digital print unit (ww) and drying
Unwinder
High resolution
Digital print unit (cmyk) and drying
Image inspection
Rewinder

Get your sample

Fill in the form to request your flexible packaging sample

Suitable for mainstream flexible packaging

The Jet Press FP790 digital press has been designed to be suitable for mainstream flexible packaging applications, thanks to a number of key features. Firstly, the Jet Press FP790 digital press produces ultra-high print quality, wide gamut print similar to the Jet Press 750S, making it possible to convert analogue flexo and rotogravure jobs to digital.

High productivity

The maximum substrate width is 790mm (31 inches) with a productivity of 50 m/min (164 feet per minute), no matter the number of colours. The high machine uptime and ability to change printing jobs and design adjustments within a matter of minutes contribute to the overall improvement of production efficiency of the entire factory.

Critically, the Jet Press FP790 is also able to fit into existing production processes with no other capital investments, along with being a much more sustainable solution than its analogue counterparts.

Fits existing production processes

With the challenging demands of the flexible packaging market, particularly the short turnaround times and regulatory requirements, Fujifilm has carried out extensive testing of printed output from the Jet Press FP790 with various laminating, slitting and finishing processes, to ensure customers of the press are in the best possible position to maximise the production opportunities from day one.

Fujifilm extensively tested Henkel’s renowned portfolio of laminating adhesives to ensure compatibility with the Jet Press FP790 ink as well as verify adhesion properties and lamination performance in post-press production, to guarantee the highest quality output. Given the excellent results and positive outcomes from these rigorous tests, Henkel’s solvent-free laminating adhesives are Fujifilm’s recommended solution for use with the Jet Press FP790.

Fujifilm also successfully tested Nordmeccanica’s Simplex range of two-layer laminating machines for solvent-less adhesives. The environmental benefits of the Jet Press FP790, combined with Henkel’s solvent-free adhesives and Nordmeccanica’s solvent-less lamination technology, delivers a truly sustainable production solution. In addition, it will enable packaging converters to remain compliant with the increasingly stringent environmental regulations that are now commonplace throughout the industry.

By collaborating with renowned and leading manufacturers of pre-press and post-press
technologies, Fujifilm can clearly demonstrate that its new Jet Press FP790 is fully compatible and integrates effortlessly into existing production environments offering a ‘plug and play’ digital solution that delivers the highest quality finished packaging with minimal testing, training or setup.

XMF Packaging – powered by HYBRID Software

Fujifilm’s Jet Press FP790 will feature a unique, smart Digital Front End (DFE) and unified workflow solution developed specifically by HYBRID Software to optimise the productivity and output of Fujifilm’s press.

This new XMF Packaging DFE is the first of its kind to be developed by a software company for use in the packaging market, and is a result of a close working partnership between Fujifilm’s R&D team and HYBRID’s specialist software developers.

Based on proven technology, the web-based,open architecture production workflow offers fully automated pre-press functionality to ensure the Jet Press FP790 press offers accelerated turnaround times, maximum productivity and reduced operating costs. In addition, its modular configuration allows for greater workflow expansion and upstream customisation to cater for specific user requirements.

 

A more sustainable print process

Fujifilm employs environmentally friendly water-based primers and inkjet technologies, which meet or exceed all regulatory requirements for flexible packaging printing. The Jet Press FP790 is also able to minimise waste, reduce the number of consumables associated with traditional analogue production, and totally eliminate all elements of the plate-making process.

Wide colour gamut and ultra-high quality

Using 1200 X 1200 dpi resolutions with CMYK inks, the Jet Press FP790 can achieve more than 90% of the Pantone® colour gamut, while also using two white ink channels for delivering high white opacity, all achieved with unprecedented colour stability. The wide colour gamut allows converters to achieve special brand and spot colour matching with no need for additional special inks.

Comparison of the color gamut of Jet Press FP790

Displayed L*a*b* space in a*b* plane

Want to know more?

Find out more about the Jet Press FP790 in our new Label & Packaging Range guide, available for download here.

Download the range guide

╳

Analogue. Digital. Sustainable.

Fujifilm for packaging: A story in three parts.

Read the Article

World-first: Sustainable cleaning solution

Fujifilm reduces the carbon footprint of its inks with innovative cleaning technology at its Broadstairs ink manufacturing facility

Read the article

Reading time: 6 minutes

  • Fujifilm switched to a more environmentally friendly cleaning technology at its Broadstairs ink manufacturing facility.
  • The company partnered with Terrafend, which develops and supplies sustainable cleaning solutions.
  • Fujifilm becomes the first company in the world to install an Ambimization® Proteus machine.
  • Ambimization® technology provides a revolutionary approach to cleaning by combining chemical and mechanical engineering.
  • The water-based cleaning fluids are non-flammable, non-carcinogenic and non-toxic.
  • Since installing the new technology, Fujifilm has significantly reduced its waste, carbon footprint and VOC emissions.

The FUJIFILM Specialty Ink Systems (FSIS) award-winning factory in Broadstairs, UK, manufactures high performance inks for a range of markets, including Uvijet wide format UV inkjet inks, and Sericol screen and flexo inks. The factory has implemented several sustainability initiatives over the last ten years and in the summer of 2022, it became the first ever company to trial the new-to-market Ambimization® fluids and Proteus pot wash machine from Terrafend.

Terrafend’s patented Ambimization® technology combines chemical and mechanical engineering to provide a revolutionary approach to cleaning. Ambimization® water-based fluids are non-flammable, non-carcinogenic and non-toxic. They work at ambient temperatures and can be used repeatedly before reaching end of life, thus reducing workplace risk, energy consumption, and VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds).

Last year, Fujifilm onboarded Ambimization® technology in its analogue ink department in Broadstairs to clean its UV, water-based and solvent-based ink pots. The use of Ambimization®, in turn enabled Fujifilm to implement the Proteus pot wash machine. These new innovations replaced legacy cleaning equipment that used chemical solvents.

The Proteus machine cleans pots with a water-based Ambimization® fluid in a time-efficient manner, facilitating cost and energy savings, as well as reducing the use of VOCs and creating a safer working environment. It is a sustainable cleaning solution that aligns with Fujifilm’s commitments to promote the use of green technology.

Moving from solvent to water-based cleaning

Fujifilm’s old pot cleaning process involved solvents being sprayed on the walls of the mixing vessels at pressures in excess of 70 bars, thereby removing traces of the ink and decontaminating the surfaces of the pots. This method used around 72,000 litres of chemical-based solvent and generated around 22,000 litres of waste per year.

After the cleaning process, the used solvent, saturated with ink, was pumped into a 24,000 litre storage tank at the Broadstairs site. When full, the tank was drained by a specialist contractor and the solvent waste was removed from the site, via road tanker, to a chemical re-processor. At the re-processor, the waste was separated through distillation, enabling 75% of the solvent to be returned to Fujifilm and used again. A limitation of this method was its inefficiency, with 25% of the material being lost in the recycling process.

In stark contrast, the new Proteus machine and water-based fluids, generate minimal chemical waste and VOCs. With Ambimization®, Fujifilm has managed to reduce solvent waste output at its Broadstairs site. This is not only better for the environment, but safer and more pleasant for the on-site Fujifilm team who handle the ink pots before and after cleaning. Fujifilm has reduced its VOC emissions by 91% since switching to the Proteus and Ambimization® process.

Reduced fire risks & energy consumption

An additional safety benefit of Ambimization® is that it eliminates fire risk – and this is further facilitated by the Proteus machine. With the traditional cleaning method, the solvent formed fine aerosol particles during each cleaning event, because of the high pressure deployed. This created an explosive (ATEX) atmosphere. Although ATEX equipment was installed and steps were taken by staff to reduce this fire risk, the risk still posed a threat.

Moving forward with the more sustainable cleaning solution provided by the Proteus machine, Fujifilm will be able to remove all ATEX rated equipment and save on time that would otherwise have been spent on ATEX health and safety measures within the pot wash area. The Proteus machine is also expected to reduce energy usage by 110,000 kWh per year, making it a hugely worthwhile investment.

Key takeaways

Fujifilm’s ink R&D and manufacturing facility in Broadstairs, Kent, has regularly made the news as a four-time winner of the UK’s Best Process Plant in 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017, but it is for its sustainability initiatives that it is now rapidly creating waves.

Fujifilm has paved the way for more ink and coating manufacturers to implement Ambimization® by being the first company in the world to pioneer the technology. Since Fujifilm onboarded Ambimization® – and the Proteus pot wash machine – Terrafend has introduced the technology to seven additional international major coating and composite manufacturers.

Switching to Ambimization® has delivered the following objectives:

  1. Provided a green / sustainable pot cleaning process
  2. Reduced VOC emissions at the Broadstairs site
  3. Reduced energy consumption by approximately 110,000 kWh per year during the pot cleaning process
  4. Future-proofed the Broadstairs site’s pot cleaning capability
  5. Eliminated the Broadstairs site’s DSEAR risk

Gary Burgess, Manufacturing and CI Manager at FUJIFILM Speciality Ink Systems, comments: “We’re thrilled to be the first company in the world to have trialled an Ambimization® Proteus machine, installed at our Broadstairs ink manufacturing site. Although the digital ink market continues to grow, screen and flexo inks are still used for a number of printing applications. We’ve taken a step to reduce waste and energy when it comes to cleaning our ink pots. During the process, we’ve also reduced VOC emissions and eliminated the site’s largest risk.”

Emily Cassius, Head of Business Development at Terrafend, adds: “This cleaning technology has huge potential to help leading brands – like Fujifilm – to operate more efficiently while reducing risk, waste and carbon footprints. We are pleased to have helped them boost their sustainability credentials and look forward to a continued partnership.”

Learn more about our Label & Packaging solutions

Visit Sector

╳

Case Study: Jet Press 750S HSM & 720S Commercial Printers

Ebro Color

Case Study

Packaging printer Ebro Color benefits from multiple Jet Press installations, thanks to quality and food-safe ink.

Ebro Color

Albstadt, Germany

Jet Press 750S HSM & 720S

Highlights

  • Ebro Color is a cardboard packaging print specialist based in Albstadt, Germany, with a 90-year history.
  • The company invested in Fujifilm’s Jet Press 720S in 2018 to be more cost-efficient and offer greater flexibility to customers.
  • Has now become first adopter in Europe of Fujifilm’s new FS-1 food-safe ink, used in combination with the Jet Press 720S Commercial Printer.
  • Invested in the Jet Press 750S High Speed Model in late 2021, which has resulted in even more business growth.
  • Also use an Acuity B1 for large format packaging products.
  • Values their partnership with Fujifilm and considers their investment a success.

With our Fujifilm investments, we make significant savings on waste, downtime, and consumables, helping us and our customers to contribute to a more circular economy.

German Brodbeck | Ebro Color

Watch the Video

Based in Albstadt, southern Germany, Ebro Color is a modern, cardboard packaging print specialist with more than 90 years of history behind it. Founded in 1925, it has continually invested in new technologies over the years and now produces cardboard packaging and display units for a huge range of customers in a variety of sectors, from cosmetics to food, jewellery, and tourism. The business is run by brothers, and joint CEOs, German and Simon Brodbeck.

Back in 2018, though already something of a short-run specialist, offering run lengths as low as 25 units, the company decided to give itself even more flexibility and lower its costs further by making its first digital press investment. After a careful decision-making process, it chose to invest in the Fujifilm Jet Press 720S Commercial Printer, after being impressed by its quality and reliability.

“The Jet Press 720S gave us the ability to offer ultra-short-run jobs (down to runs of one) both quickly and profitably, enabled us to produce high quality samples and prototypes, and to seriously target the end user market and move our business to an online model for the first time.” Explains German Brodbeck.

More recently, the company has become the first in Europe to use the Jet Press 720S Commercial Printer with Fujifilm’s new FS-1 food-safe ink.

“In the past, we had to produce all food safe packaging for our customers on offset, regardless of run length.” continues Mr. Brodbeck. “Using the Jet Press 720S with Fujifilm’s food-safe ink has given us the option to produce food safe packaging products quicker, at a much lower cost, offering us the flexibility to produce both short and long run lengths. The press is much easier to use with significantly less downtime, and greater environmental benefits, so we could not be more pleased with the investment. One of our main concerns was if the quality of print produced on the press would be affected, but we were delighted that both the quality and reliability has remained the same and the difference to offset is undetectable.”

“We are using it to produce not only food packaging but also toy and cosmetic packaging, due to customer health and safety concerns and regulations surrounding these products. Ultimately, it is helping us to run our business more efficiently and take on a broader range of work.”

Additionally, Ebro Color invested in the Jet Press 750S High Speed Model in October 2021.

“Following the business success we saw after using the Jet Press 720S, we decided to invest in the 750S High Speed Model to keep up with growing customer demand. Our main reason for choosing this press was the output and large print volumes it could produce. It has enabled us to keep downtime to a minimum, especially during our peak season, and alleviated pressure elsewhere in the factory, allowing us to move many jobs from offset to digital.

“Another key reason for this investment was the sustainability benefits it offered. As a packaging business, sustainability is at the forefront of our customers’ minds. With our Fujifilm investments, we make significant savings on waste, downtime, and consumables, helping us and our customers to contribute to a more circular economy.”

Ebro Color also has an Acuity B1, which it is using to print large format packaging products.

“Typically, there are a lot of teething problems when a new press is installed, but with all of our Fujifilm investments, we were able to start using them out of the box, with seamless integration into our existing workflow. Communication with Fujifilm is excellent, and they are always readily available to support us. We’ve worked with Fujifilm for many years, and for both commercial digital and wide format solutions.“ Concludes Mr. Brodbeck.

“The first use of the food-safe ink in Europe represents decades of innovation from Fujifilm and marks an exciting time for the digital print industry.” Comments Taro Aoki, Head of Digital Press Solutions, Fujifilm EMEA. “We are delighted to see how the combination of the Jet Press and our food safe ink have been real game changers for Ebro Color’s business over the years. We are excited to be able to continue this long term partnership with Ebro and look forward to seeing what is next for them.”

Jet Press 750S High Speed Model

Find out more about how the quality and speed of the Jet Press 750S High Speed Model make it ideal for folding carton applications

Discover Jet Press

Analogue. Digital. Sustainable.

Fujifilm for packaging: a story in three parts.

Read the article

Reading time: 6 minutes

The story of Fujifilm, since its founding in 1930s Japan, has been one of continuous innovation – sometimes incremental, sometimes radical, but always ongoing. Print is one of many sectors that has benefited from that innovation, especially over the past couple of decades as digital technology has made real inroads across the industry. That trend towards digitisation is apparent across the whole print market, but the pace of change differs dramatically from sector to sector.

One sector still in the comparatively early stages of that journey is packaging.

At Fujifilm, we understand how print can add value to packaging and are combining expertise in the very latest digital print technologies with an analogue heritage to create a product portfolio that supports the production of both analogue and digitally printed packaging.

We work with packaging producers whatever the stage of their journey; whether it’s helping them to optimise analogue production lines to maximise efficiency or introduce a digital capability. We don’t do one-size-fits-all – we do the right solution, for the right producer, at the right time. And all our solutions, whether analogue, digital or somewhere in-between, are designed to reduce waste and the use of environmentally harmful chemicals, minimise energy consumption and to be as sustainable as possible.

Analogue

With volumes typically far larger than other print sectors, digital is in its comparative infancy in the world of packaging. This means that not all producers are ready for significant digitisation of their printing operations and almost all that are will go hybrid, retaining significant analogue capability.

But continuing with analogue processes doesn’t mean the technology stands still – far from it. Technology and innovation have a huge role to play in the future of analogue package printing. Fujifilm is a key part of that future, with a constantly evolving analogue product portfolio designed to improve the performance and sustainability of analogue printed packaging.

First, there’s our Flenex FW water-washable flexo plates that eliminate environmentally harmful solvents often used in the plate-making process and are more durable than most alternatives, meaning fewer plate changes and less waste. And the sustainable benefits go hand-in-hand with greater press stability and therefore higher, more consistent quality. Then there’s our range of narrow web inks, which we have been supplying for many years, that have a deserved market reputation for both quality and versatility.

In addition, our retrofittable LuXtreme LED UV curing system, uniquely combining both LED UV curing hardware and a brand new range of LED UV inks, radically reduces energy consumption, eliminates harmful VOCs, requires lower maintenance and produces less waste. This results in lower costs, along with higher, more consistent quality, something that is a welcome bi-product of a lower energy system.

Digital

Fujifilm’s heritage and expertise in digital inkjet technology needs little introduction, but the detail of how this is being applied for packaging applications is less well known. Fujifilm has been a pioneer in inkjet technology since the late 1990s, with multiple solutions for wide format, commercial print and labels and packaging.

The Jet Press 750S High Speed Model has set a new standard for the quality that can be achieved with inkjet technologies. Well-known and highly respected in the commercial print sector, it is also designed to print short-run, folding-carton packaging at exceptionally high levels of quality, with many customers using it exclusively for this purpose.

Fujifilm also offers a wide range of scalable imprinting systems that bring the benefits of digital printing to analogue processes by combining Fujifilm’s proprietary technologies across printheads, ink and transport systems with the company’s in depth integration expertise. Based on Fujifilm’s world-leading Samba piezo-electric printbars, the company’s imprinting solutions allow digital inkjet printing to be integrated directly into existing analogue production lines for a broad range of industrial applications.

The Jet Press FP790 digital flexible packaging press features water-based inkjet technology, making it suitable for food packaging production. Built on decades of Fujifilm inkjet expertise, the Jet Press FP790 is designed to offer a digital alternative to flexo production for mainstream applications and print runs, and meets the strategic needs of businesses faced with the challenge of dealing with a widening variety of products – resulting in a proliferation of SKUs – and shorter delivery times.

Sustainable

As well as looking for a solution that’s the right fit for their business, modern packaging producers and the brands they serve are also looking for a solution that’s right for the planet. That’s why sustainability is one of the threads that links all of our packaging solutions, from analogue to digital and everything in-between.

Our Flenex plates reduce waste and eliminate the use of environmentally harmful solvents altogether, and when combined with our PRC1 filtration unit, water use is also minimised. Our LuXtreme LED UV curing system slashes energy use, and our narrow web Inks are solvent-free and manufactured in the UK at our award-winning Broadstairs factory, where extreme care is taken to ensure all manufacturing and operational processes are as environmentally responsible as possible.

Similarly, our imprinting solutions can breathe new life into an analogue production line, bringing additional functionality without the investment in a new line. Where a new investment is necessary to meet market needs, the Jet Press 750S and Jet Press FP790 digital presses eliminate many of the processes and consumables associated with traditional analogue production. Much has also been written about how the Jet Press 750S can contribute to a more circular economy.

Packaging producers, particularly multi-site global producers, are also looking for lasting partnerships with strong, innovative and highly capable suppliers with ambitions that match their own. Here Fujifilm’s legacy, technology portfolio, size and diversity gives the company a powerful platform to develop leading analogue and digital systems long into the future. With an ambition to support producers with their analogue production today, while leading the transition to digital over the long term, we are excited about our future in packaging and the partnerships we hope to develop.

We’re Fujifilm – we’re analogue, we’re digital and we’re always working to help packaging producers be more sustainable.

Learn more about our Label & Packaging solutions

Visit Sector

╳

Imprinting Systems

Scalable solutions for a diverse range of applications

Add digital to your analogue process

Scalable set of imprinting solutions based on industry-leading Samba printbars

Fujifilm’s imprinting solutions allow digital inkjet printing to be integrated directly onto existing analogue production lines for a broad range of printing and industrial applications.

Industry-leading

Samba

printbar technology
Versatile

ink

configurations
Robust and

ultra-reliable

technologies

Why Fujifilm Imprinting Solutions?

Samba delivers ultra-high quality & reliable performance, with minimal waste

Fujifilm technologies designed to work together for optimum system performance

We engineer a bespoke solution designed to fit your production process

Integration into your production process
Global Fujifilm support
Industry-leading Samba printheads
Versatile ink capability
Fujifilm technologies integrated into your process
Scalable architecture

Compared with our legacy system, the Fujifilm imprinting system gives us more up-time, shorter set-up times and results in far less waste.

Bernd Wein | Paragon Germany

Read case study

Request a demo

See for yourself how our imprinting systems can add value to your business

A secure investment in proven imprinting technologies

Fujifilm is unique in that it integrates core inkjet technologies that it has developed in-house, rather than being an integrator accessing third-party technologies. This means that Fujifilm’s printhead designers, ink technologists and integration specialists work together to ensure optimum system performance and reliability for the required application, and once built, are able to take ownership of the complete solution.

What sets Fujifilm apart?

What sets Fujifilm apart are the industry leading printheads and ink at the heart of the company’s imprinting solutions. Samba printheads are found in many of the industry’s leading digital printing systems, as they combine the very highest quality, productivity and reliability, with the flexibility to be used with a variety of different inks and fluids. Fujifilm has now built these printheads into a number of scalable printbar configurations which, when combined with Fujifilm’s own UV or aqueous ink technologies, result in best-in-class imprinting solutions.

Fujifilm can therefore provide all components necessary to successfully integrate a digital solution into an existing production line:

  • Printhead & printbar design
  • Inks & substrates
  • Electronics & software
  • Print systems
  • Transport systems

 

A bespoke solution for your production process

Fujifilm’s approach is critical to ensure that any imprinting system can be configured to meet specific application requirements. This is achieved by a dedicated team of multi-discipline engineers working together to understand the print performance demands and production process. This then results in a specification for a system configuration that delivers exactly what is needed, including attributes like print width, print quality, colour channels, pre- and post-treatment, printed product performance and regulation compliance.

Fujifilm’s engineers consider all aspects of imprinting performance:

  • Ink and printhead selection
  • Ink performance optimisation
  • Ink in head on paper testing (developing robust image modes)
  • System design & integration
  • Highly skilled trouble shooting & integration expertise with direct access to the people who designed the relevant component
  • Accessory technology selections (pre-treat, post-treat, curing, drying etc.)
  • Full technical ownership of the solution – as Fujifilm supplies all component parts
  • Engineering capability

Samba – the heart of Fujifilm imprinting systems

The jetting of ink onto paper is a well established process in consumer printers, but scaling up the technology to meet the quality and productivity needs of industrial printing is not easy. Fujifilm’s answer is Samba – a ‘printhead on a chip’. This printhead is fabricated on silicon wafers, in much the same way large scale integrated circuits found in computers are made. Due to its scalable design, Samba enables individual printheads to be placed close to each other to form single, tightly integrated printbars.

Samba is a quantum leap forward and is redefining how inkjet technology is designed, manufactured and applied. It is the first piezo drop-on-demand inkjet platform that truly delivers wide-width, high resolution, single pass inkjet printing without the typical trade offs in quality, redundancy or print width.

High uptime and reliability for excellent total cost of ownership
The silicon MEMS design of a Samba printhead is rated for trillions of actuations to ensure reliable and profitable operation. This is coupled with a patented REDIJET® ink recirculation system. This system ensures that ink is constantly recirculating in a closed loop that will not disrupt printing, resulting in uninterrupted production. When coupled with a Fujifilm ink in an imprinting system designed to leverage this capability, it results in fast startup times, simplified printhead cleaning procedures, and consistent print quality.

Samba printhead life is measured in years, not hours, and in Fujifilm printbar systems, is not considered a consumables part. Ultimately, the design of Samba printbars means there is less production waste, lower ink consumption, and lower operating costs.

Benefits of Samba

  • Ultra-high resolution ink deposition
  • Rated for trillions of actuations for ultra-high reliability
  • Closed loop ink recirculation for uninterrupted production
  • Fast start-up times and minimal printhead cleaning and refurbishment
  • Suitable for multiple fluid types

Scalable architecture design

Fujifilm’s Samba technology platform is based on a scalable architecture design, so the print width can be configured to meet the needs of a particular application. And due to the trapezoidal design of Samba printheads, scaling the printbar width is achieved with no compromise to quality, which results in an efficient system design. In addition, the scalable system architecture means integrated components, electronic systems and software can all be scaled to create a system for the print width and colour channels required.

From single printhead to complex multichannel configuration
Printbar configurations can be scaled from a single printhead, single colour system for coding, language changes or simple promotional versioning, to a printbar system with multiple printheads for the printing of full colour images over wider print areas.

Wide ranging Samba printbar portfolio for any print width in 40mm increments

  • Monochrome, spot colour, process colours
  • Imprinting lanes or full digital print
  • Digitise existing analogue assets

Mini 4300 Series: versatile printbar system

The Mini 4300 has speed, performance and consistency in a compact form. This enables the incorporation of digital printing into an ever-expanding number of new applications and challenging conditions for equipment integration.

Key features

  • Single pass inkjet imprinting system
  • Each printbar contains a single 1.6” width printhead (40 mm)
  • Up to 4 printbars per system
  • 1200 dpi native resolution
  • Speeds up to 1000 feet per minute
  • Monochrome, Spot colour or 4-Colour
  • Aqueous & UV

Flexibility for a broad range of markets
The Mini 4300 is configurable with up to four individually controlled printbars. The system provides single pass printing in monochrome or process colour for a wide variety of production applications, including:

  • Addressing
  • Coding & marking
  • Serialisation & package tracking
  • Narrow width direct mail imprinting
  • Consumer facing coding
  • Variable data images
  • Demonstrations
  • Tickets and cards
  • Short notice changes in art/imagery
  • Printed electronics
  • Deposition of high-value fluids
  • Labels

X-BAR: drop-in imprinting solution

The X-BAR system’s drop on demand inkjet printing is reliable, cost effective, and provides excellent image quality in font sizes as small as 2 point and 1D barcodes as small as 6.7 mils. It is compatible with legacy systems and is backed by Fujifilm’s world-class technical support, to provide a smooth transition to modern inkjet technology for direct mail, transactional print, promotional materials and more.

Key features

  • Lane printing with 4.5” and 9” print width offerings
  • Controller capable of running X-BAR and some existing legacy printers
  • Workflow based on IJPDS page description language
  • No refurbishment needed
  • Familiar user interface to support transition from legacy technology
  • Modular fluid management for future expansion

12K Printbar: compact printbar system

The 12K Printbar System puts 4 colour inkjet printing technology into an all-new
condensed form. It supports use where space is limited, such as integrating into
existing production equipment.

The 12K Printbar System is a turnkey digital inkjet printing system for installation onto your analogue printing press or other production line equipment. It is most commonly used for adding variable data to analogue pre-printed shells (imprinting) or can be
used to add a digital print capability when changing printing plates is not practical for short runs. It has a print width of 127 mm, and provides 1200 dpi, 4-colour inkjet print. The printbars occupy only 53.3 cm in the print process direction, with their small size meaning digital inkjet printing can be added to many types of production lines where it was previously impractical.

Key applications
The 12K Printbar System can be used in a wide variety of applications, including:
• Commercial printing
• Direct Mail
• Transactional
• Folding Cartons
• Corrugated

42K Printbar: scalable printbar system

The 42K Printbar System is designed to add variable data printing to your conventional press in any print width needed, and is able to span the media from edge to edge. It uses Fujifilm’s renowned Samba printhead in a highly configurable form. With 1200 dpi ink deposition, the 42K Printbar system is designed to meet print requirements from single page to multiple pages in any print width needed, and with print speeds over 300 metres per minute.

Flexibility
Since the 42K System can be integrated in line with your system, you can maximise your productivity and return on investment while supporting existing, legacy or proprietary workflows. These will be integrated into our print controller and fluid management technologies to deliver a compact and capable system designed to meet your needs for monochrome, colour, or speciality printing.

Key features

  • Modular design to meet typical press widths
  • Pre aligned to eliminate stitching
  • Options for monochrome, spot and process colour printing
  • Configurable software with Fujifilm supplied workflow or connect to an existing customer workflow
  • No refurbishment needed
  • Imprint or full digital print capability

Applications

Use digital inkjet to enhance your production

There are opportunities for Fujifilm’s range of imprinting printbars to be integrated on many different types of production equipment, and whatever the format. This makes it possible for many different applications to be enhanced by digital inkjet, from direct mail and transactional applications in commercial printing, to label, packaging and industrial production processes.

Commercial print

Direct mail

Transactional print

Packaging

Industrial

Discover more…

Learn more about Imprinting Systems by downloading our product brochure.

Download the brochure

╳

Digital print technology for a circular economy

This white paper has been published by Fujifilm as part of its commitment to deliver technically advanced and sustainable printing solutions for the print industry

Read the white paper

Reading time: 3 minutes

Where does print fit in the circular economy?

From books, newspapers, magazines and brochures to folders, annual reports and packaging, print remains a vital and highly effective branding, marketing and communications tool. But in an age of heightened environmental concern and ‘net zero’ carbon reduction targets, how can print be used in the most efficient and responsible way? In this white paper, we take a look at how the latest digital printing technology is dramatically cutting waste and making recycling much easier.

Download white paper

Fill out the form to download the full 12 page White Paper

Download the full 12 page White Paper here

╳

We must do more

As part of the “European Green Deal” project, there is an action plan for the EU to boost the efficient use of resources by moving to a clean, circular economy, restore biodiversity and cut pollution, and be climate neutral by 2050. To achieve this goal, action must be taken at all levels. Switching to renewable energy will, on its own, reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by only 55%. The remaining 45% of emissions come from the way we make and use products, which means working smarter and wasting less.

Fujifilm is committed to fully integrating print into the circular economy. Net zero doesn’t have to mean online only – print will always have a vital role to play, and we’re committed to making sure it can always play that role efficiently, effectively and sustainably.

The way we print is changing

The graphics industry has many analogue techniques which, especially when used for bespoke or short run work, have an enormous impact on the environment.

Now, thanks to the latest developments in digital print technology, there are machines which can print while also:

• Massively reducing raw material use
• Using fewer and more sustainable consumables
• Needing far fewer parts replacing
• Producing less waste
• Consuming less water
• Producing 100% recyclable printed products

This technology is moving print from the linear to the circular economy in which everyone has a role to play in keeping our planet liveable and our prosperity intact.

Case study: Jet Press B2 Inkjet Press for Packaging

Packaging4Professionals

Case Study

Belgian start-up, Packaging for Professionals, aims to revolutionise the European packaging sector with a business model built entirely around Fujifilm’s groundbreaking Jet Press B2 inkjet press.

Packaging4Professionals

Fleurus, Belgium

Jet Press 720S

“The Jet Press is now the benchmark platform in this sector”

Mohamed Toual | Packaging4Professionals

Highlights

  • P4P was established to fill a gap in the European packaging market for high quality, low volume packaging, produced on demand
  • The quality, flexibility and efficiency of the Jet Press has overcome existing challenges
  • Been able to produce samples and prototypes which precisely match the media and the print quality of the finished product
  • Investment has allowed P4P to profitably and efficiently provide high quality packaging within extremely tight deadlines
  • The business was built around the capability of the Jet Press B2 Inkjet Press to produce high quality, short run packaging, combined with ‘Kanban’ ordering and manufacturing principles

Founded in the summer of 2015 by a small team with decades of experience in lean manufacturing systems and the packaging industry, Packaging for Professionals (P4P), based in Fleurus, just outside Brussels, was established to fill a gap in the European packaging market for high quality, low volume packaging, produced on demand. Having discovered Fujifilm and its industry-leading products while working in the automotive sector, company co-founder &CEO, Mohamed Toual, believed the company’s leading inkjet technologies would be the ideal solution for his new venture in the packaging sector. So much so, that the Jet Press 720S was the first investment he made when he founded P4P, with the business built entirely around the capability of the press to produce high quality, short run packaging based on “Kanban” ordering and manufacturing principles.

“Traditional printing in the packaging sector has always been problematic in two important areas” says Mohamed. “Prototypes were always inferior to the finished product – offering at best an indication of what the customer could expect – and there was also, inevitably, a time lag for the production run due to the amount of manual labour involved in the production process. The Jet Press 720S – which I believe is now the benchmark platform in this sector – has changed all this. Its quality, flexibility and efficiency mean that these challenges have been overcome.”

“Traditionally, clients in the packaging industry have doubted the ability of a digital press to match the quality of litho or flexo printing. However, our customers have been hugely impressed with the quality of what we have produced for them using the Jet Press, which is the most important thing.”

Mohamed Toual, CEO | Packaging4Professionals

“In our business, there are some requirements from marketing, for example, who need a quantity of fifty packaging prototypes, and there are other requirements for one million. Both are possible with the Jet Press 720S, as even with the big quantity you can split the quantity per month, per week or per day. The main point is the quality. With the right quality, it is not a problem to split long runs into smaller runs according to the demands of the customer.”

Already a popular press throughout Europe for commercial print applications, the Jet Press 720S can be configured to take folding carton board by using a modified vacuum jacket and higher vacuum pressure around the drum. This allows the press to accommodate a more diverse range of heavier carton boards commonly used in packaging applications.

The investment has allowed P4P to profitably and efficiently provide the company’s clients with packaging of the highest quality within extremely tight deadlines, as well as producing samples and prototypes which exactly match the finished product as they are printed on the same press on the same media. Mohamed has already built up an array of satisfied customers right across Europe – including well-known brands in food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals – and is confident the Jet Press 720S will continue to help carve out a profitable new market in the packaging sector and ensure his business continues to grow.

Jet Press 750S High Speed Model

Find out more about how the quality and speed of the Jet Press 750S High Speed Model make it ideal for folding carton applications

Discover the Jet Press 750S High Speed Model
thThai
en_GBEnglish fr_FRFrench de_DEGerman it_ITItalian pl_PLPolish pt_PTPortuguese es_ESSpanish cs_CZCzech nl_NLDutch jaJapanese zh_CNChinese viVietnamese ko_KRKorean thThai