ILS Adds Newest HP Digital Press

Published: June 01, 2009, By By Yolanda Simonsis, Associate Publisher/Editor

HAMILTON, OH

Innovative Label Solutions (ILS) and Atlanta, GA-based Hewlett-Packard staged an ILS open house on April 23 following in the robust tradition of most HP events where attendees could learn first hand that “seeing is believing.”

ILS opened its doors to 70 people from about 50 companies, some of whom shared similar interests in establishing a digital production platform. Guests came to the ILS plant from as far away as the East and West Coasts, Texas, and New Jersey.

The day kicked off with a keynote presentation from Chris Lyons of Package Design on ”Packaging & Innovation Trends for 2009.” Diane Ewanko and Cindy Collins of Avery Dennison's Fasson Roll Div. offered material options, and Aaron Mallory of HP explored the benefits of color profiling and HP's partnership with EskoArtwork.

Procter & Gamble associate director of R&D Global Packaging Mike Ferrari related the battle of the store shelf, and Matthew Gindele of HP encouraged audience participation with a Digital Printing Myth busting session.

Lyons then moderated a revealing Q&A session, including panelists ILS president Jay Dollries, P&G's Ferrari, HP's Vince Pentella, and Avery Dennison's Ewanko.

A walking tour of ILS's 10,000 sq-ft digital department included up-close looks of the company's equipment capabilities, including two HP Indigo ws4500s (purchased in 2005); two AB Graphic Diglilams and the first US installation of a new AB Graphic Digicon; and a Karlville Shrink Sleeve Finishing system for seaming, inspection, and cutting along with a steam shrink tunnel.

The highlight of the tour, of course, was the newly installed HP Indigo WS6000, capable of printing seven colors at speeds to 98 fpm in four colors (faster with fewer colors) on nearly any media at print resolutions up to 1,219 dpi. Suitable for production of 38.6-in. wide (maximum) folding cartons, pouches, sachets, and labels, the press is expected to be a key component in the company's expansion into shrink sleeve labels. Dollries said, “The quality is better than flexo and comparable to offset and gravure with no registration issues.“ He enjoys the ILS-HP “open relationship where the goal is for both of us to succeed.”

For a full account of this event attended by PFFC, visit www.pffc-online.com/news/ils-hp-digital-press-0601.

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