Xeikon is working in tandem with its parent company, Flint Group, to develop prepress and digital printing products to help meet current demand while also accommodating potential challenges in the future.

During a recent news conference, Xeikon executives detailed how their products can help companies throughout all stages of printing. Flint Group has made key additions to the Catena product family while Xeikon has unveiled its latest digital printing technology.

The Catena-W and Catena-DL (washer and dryer light finisher) have been joined by the Catena-DLS. All the modules can be combined, and they are linked by Catena Cockpit software. These new tools have been designed to improve the total cost of operation with proactive support and serviceability, as well as real-time maintenance.

“These are groundbreaking technologies, and it was a joint effort with Flint Group,” said Uwe Stebani, GM of Xeikon Prepress. “As a result, we can offer a zero-touch Catena flexo plate processing line, in combination with Woodpecker software, which is a solution to produce flexo plates for every application at the lowest total cost. We allow our customers to rival any existing unit in the market.”

Xeikon’s new products, which include the CX300 digital press, are designed to further boost the label and packaging market. The company’s latest digital press is based on Cheetah 2.0 technology and will further complement what Filip Weymans terms “a very resilient (label) market.”

“Digital printing has been bringing a lot of value, with faster turn times and low start-up costs,” said Weymans, Xeikon’s VP of marketing. “We need to educate people on the new values digital can bring. A cloud-connected system allows you to make data-based decisions and optimize data flow. Not only can the operator access data, but an owner or production manager can see what the press is doing from a distance.”

During the conference, Xeikon’s executives welcomed Carl Parkander, president of Interket. The Swedish company, which boasts five different sites in Europe, recently invested in a CX300. The press is designed to help Interket with security and traceability while allowing the company to adapt to new and changing markets. The total cost of operation of the unit was attractive, as well as its ability to support food applications.

“I would say were in continuous dialog with our customers, focusing on service, availability and innovation,” said Parkander. “This platform is crucial to support our customers. The Xeikon is very complementary to our existing production equipment. The Xeikon Cheetah stands out, and the modularity of the machine has really been key, where you can upgrade the machine as you go along.”

Xeikon is also entering a new market while recommitting to another one. Xeikon is moving into the digital corrugated market and reinvesting in the graphic arts industry.

“We’re getting prepared for what lies ahead of us,” said Sebastian Stabel, market segment manager, Carton Packaging, Xeikon. “We’re winning with new models in packaging and anticipating the changes coming in the industry. We require a new way of thinking for packaging strategy and the supply chain. E-commerce will put more pressure on the supply chain, leading to the death of the traditional way of thinking.”

Xeikon has engineered equipment that can evolve with the needs of the customer. This will better be able to assist brands in the future – especially with uncertainty, such as the one recently seen with the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The brand is not going to disappear, and in fact, it’s even more important in the time of crisis,” said Benoit Chatelard, president of Flint Group Digital Solutions and Xeikon CEO. “The brand carries many attributes of product performance, of safety and the supply chain. The label business will continue to grow in the future in line with consumer growth.”

The pandemic has not affected Xeikon’s product schedule, either. “A significant part of our business is to serve essential industries, so we have been working nonstop during the COVID-19 crisis, thanks to our Xeikon employees,” Weymans said. “New investment in printing has probably been delayed, but we see signs of catchup. Of course, there are still levels of uncertainty, which we will have to live with for several months. We have not changed any plans from a product launch point of view. We have to adapt, but the innovations are the same.”