Swiss firm Model revealed as Fujifilm packaging ink beta site

Swiss-based corrugated and carton board packaging group Model has been revealed as the beta site for Fujifilm's Uvijet OC inks for digitally printed corrugated packaging applications.

The firm made its first investment in industrial digital print with an Inca Onset S40i last year, and agreed to be the guinea pig for the inks that Fujifilm announced earlier this year as part of a push into packaging.

On the back of its new digital printing capability the firm has launched a web-to-print platform called Model Pack Shop, which makes use of QR codes for submitting repeat orders.

The Onset S40i is installed at the firm’s headquarters in Weinfelden, Switzerland at its digital Innovation and Competence Centre (ICC). "Fujifilm’s reputation in R&D, and its research of high performance inks was pivotal to our decision," said Model head of ICC Edoardo Finotti.

"We are pleased to be on the front line with Fujifilm to help in the formulation of inks for the packaging and display market. Uvijet OC inks deliver excellent performance in POP but also represent a breakthrough in the packaging sector."

The ICC also houses a Zund digital cutting and creasing table, to enable the firm to reach its goal of a fully automated end-to-end digital workflow.

Model specialises in laminated litho and flexo production of packaging and POP. It has more than 3,000 staff across 12 production sites in Western and Central Europe and had sales of £467m (ChF660m) in 2011.

With the completion of the beta test at Model the Uvijet OC inks are now commercially available, including to existing Inca customers in the corrugated market.The inks are designed for POP and packaging applications and are optimised for paper and the corrugated substrates, offering a wide colour gamut and controlled gloss levels, albeit without the ability to adhere to plastics.

"The Inca has been used in corrugated applications since the outset, although it was limited to proofing and very short runs until we launched the Onset," said Fujifilm wide format marketing manager Tudor Morgan. "Having done our testing of the OC inks under the radar at Model, now we can offer a turnkey system to all our customers."