Features Digital Printing Printing
Xeikon Introduces CX500 Label Press

At Labelexpo Europe, Xeikon introduced the new Xeikon CX500 digital label press, which the company describes as its first press based on a new generation dry toner platform. It is scheduled to be commercially available as of 2018.

The Xeikon CX500, with a web width of up to 520 mm (20.47 inches), is designed for larger sized labels, labels requiring an opaque white or an extended colour gamut. It also features full rotary printing technology and speeds of up to 30 metres per minute (98 feet per minute).

The wider web of Xeikon CX500 is part of the company’s dry toner Cheetah Series aimed at the high-end self-adhesive label market. Xeikon explains it also complements the narrow-web CX3 press introduced in 2015. “[The CX500] is the most productive digital label press in the high-quality class thanks to its combination of high speed and wider web. The ability to produce larger labels is particularly important with end-use applications such as labels for household products, pet food, decoration, etcetera,” said Filip Weymans, VP Global Marketing, Xeikon. “At the same time, we continue to support the entry-level Xeikon 3000 Series dry toner label presses, which are complementary to our high-end Cheetah Series.”

Like the Xeikon CX3, the CX500 runs on Cheetah toner, which is based on Xeikon’s ICE technology and is designed specifically to cope with the higher speed. The company explains its dry toner process is based on a proven printing process operating at 1,200 dpi that meets FDA regulations for food contact and allows to print on standard label materials without the need pre-treatment, including direct thermal papers, BoPP, PE and Co-Extruded films. The CX500 is also driven by the Xeikon X-800 digital front-end.

“This introduction extends the Xeikon dry toner digital label production portfolio from the entry-level Xeikon 3000 Series presses through to the high-end Xeikon Cheetah Series which includes the Xeikon CX3 and the Xeikon CX500,” said Weymans. “This places digital label printing within reach of label converters of all sizes.”