It showed Fusion as a technical concept on its booth at Labelexpo, featuring a ‘screen white’ equivalent printed using an inkjet module prior to a Xeikon print engine.

“Fusion is one platform, but with everything digital,” explained marketing director Filip Weymans. “Is hybrid really a match for what the market requires? We think not.”

Xeikon is targeting high-end markets such as wine and spirits and beauty packaging. It will work with third parties on some of the options.

“Dry toner is one of the technologies that is most compatible with others. We expect there to be different modules, such as inkjet white, hot foiling and tactile varnish,” Weymans explained.

“We have been working on digital foiling for some time, but it’s not the case that all the modules will come from Xeikon.”

It will use Labelexpo as a sounding board and will then prioritise Fusion developments following the show. Weymans said the first modules would be available in the course of the next year.

The Belgian manufacturer reported strong growth in its installed base of toner-based label presses, which has risen from 205 in 2012 to an expected 392 this year. 

It now has five sites using the new CX3 label press (formerly the Cheetah), with CS Labels signing up for a second at Labelexpo.

Xeikon expects to sell 20 CX3 machines this year.

Also shown at Labelexpo were the recently introduced Matt Silver and Palladium Silver options, and Varilane 4.0 software, which minimises substrate waste with claimed savings of up to 30% in production costs.