HP introduces PageWide C550 Press

HP has launched its newest high-speed, post-print digital corrugated press, the HP PageWide C550 Press. This single-pass platform is designed to help converters optimise manufacturing costs and improve operational efficiency for the production of corrugated packaging.

Based on the C500 press, the C550 offers enhanced productivity and value to the industrial packaging industry. It uses HP’s Thermal Inkjet technology and true water-based inks to deliver consistent offset print quality at fast production speeds, while also supporting packaging converters’ circular economy goals.

With a speed of 90m per min (295 ft per min), the C550 press is capable of producing high-quality boxes at a constant speed, without slowing. It will also help converters to optimise inventories, reduce obsolescence, and accelerate turnaround times through digital printing technology.

David Tomer, General Manager, HP Post-print corrugated solutions, said, “HP is continuing its investment in the packaging market to create new opportunities for packaging converters and brands to benefit from the analog to digital transformation.  We are excited to deliver the C550 press to the corrugated industry. It is built on the field-proven success of the C500 press and allows converters to economically produce printed boxes at high speeds without slowing down the press. We are constantly working on innovative solutions that not only improve post-print stability and productivity for converters, but also meet the quality and flexibility demands of brands for packaging.”

Saica Group has ordered the C550 for their plant in Viana, Spain. The company is committed to digital transformation and using innovative technologies to respond to the growing demand for shorter and customised runs. The press is set to be installed later this year and will support increased plant capacity for corrugated packaging production.

HP has recently collaborated with HYBRID Software on pre-press workflow for packaging to easily transition artwork from litho and flexo formats. HYBRID PackZ provides a blend of automated actions and dedicated pre-press tools. The PDF editor makes designs ready for any print process, by enriching them with priming and finishing separation, handling ink sets and object-based screening, as well as applying trapping and generating dynamic marks and panels. HYBRID PackZ will enable C550 converters to prepare files efficiently and reduce errors, making pre-press easier and more productive.

HP will unveil the new PageWide C550 at CCE International in Munich in March.

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