The HP PageWide C500 Press
As it moves closer to full commercialisation, the first HP PageWide C500 Press will be installed at Carmel Frenkel in Israel.
The printing company will serve as the customer-testing site for the corrugated post-print press, which was first announced at drupa 2016.
Established in 1950, Carmel Frenkel supplies packaging solutions for leading brands, including in the food and beverage industry. ‘The installation marks a significant milestone in the launch of the HP PageWide C500 Press,’ said Eric Wiesner, general manager, HP PageWide Industrial Division. ‘This ground-breaking technology can address the broadest range of digitally post-printed corrugated packaging applications, including the growing segment of food packaging.’
The HP PageWide C500 is intended to provide a digital alternative to offset lamination and flexo printing. HP says that it delivers “offset quality” direct-to-board with “mainstream productivity” on both coated and uncoated papers, using water-based inks.
‘Unlike some other digital printing alternatives, HP PageWide water-based inks are 100% free of UV-reactive chemistries. Thus, these inks enable robust and trusted food-safe printing for both primary and secondary corrugated packaging,’ added Mr Wiesner.
Printing on 1.3 x 2.5m boards at speeds up to 75m/min, the press uses HP’s Virtual Belt and Corrugated Grip technologies to support a wide range of media, including industrial grade corrugated boards, from micro-flute to the double-walled board.
