48 email: editor@printmonthly.co.uk January / February 2025 - Issue 352 companies such as Bottled Goose in the UK, who are using our direct-to-object digital cylinder printing technology on everything from gin and rum bottles, to cosmetics packaging.” “Even cosmetics brand Lush has added both an Inkcups X5 flatbed printer and Inkcups Helix One benchtop printer to its line-up to enable direct-to-shape printing.” Digital Dreaming Another manufacturer in this sector is Gallus, which is present within the narrow-web print landscape. Chief executive officer Dario Urbinati says 2024 saw the labels market continue on a promising trajectory, presenting a number of exciting growth opportunities. “In recent years, market transformation has largely been driven by the rapid advancement and integration of emerging technologies,” Urbinati says, continuing: “The rising adoption of digital printing has transformed the industry, enhancing the profitability of short- and mid-runs while unlocking new possibilities for personalised and on-demand printing. Novel innovations in the digital space are further driving this transformation, bringing the benefits of digital to entirely new market segments. “Announced at this year’s Labelexpo, this is exactly what our breakthrough Gallus MatteJet finishing technology was designed to achieve, bringing the possibilities of inkjet technology to the wine label market for the very first time.” However, Urbinati goes on to say that the real key to long-term growth and success in the label printing market is not necessarily about choosing between the type of technology – conventional or digital – but rather creating a smart, connected print environment that can accommodate the shifts we see in the world today. “By building a seamlessly interconnected system, with modularity and flexibility by design, businesses can respond quickly to market demands, and in doing so, open up new opportunities of business growth and profitability even in the face of market challenges.” With this, he draws attention to Gallus and its ‘System to Compose’. This concept combines the conventional Gallus Labelmaster with the Gallus One digital printing unit, allowing these printing technologies to be integrated into a single platform. Urbinati says dissolving product lines to harmonise the technology within a single system enables customers to mix and match printing modules based on current needs – while making sure they ket. As packaging becomes leaner and more agile, there is a growing appeal in being able to label packaging on demand and thus adapt immediately to product changes or updates, as well as to quickly respond to meeting trends with seasonal or limited-edition labels.” So, how can Inkcups help? The company introduced its Helix range of direct-to-object digital cylinder printers in 2016, with the aim of opening up more opportunities for small and mediumsized packaging producers eager to look beyond the capabilities of previous labelling technologies. This, Macfarlane says, has proved successful in the years since. “Our Helix range, which is ideal for run lengths of between one and 10,000 items, has been embraced enthusiastically by ▲ Inkcups sees “tremendous” growth opportunities in direct-to-object or direct-to-shape label printing whether you are walking through a liquor store or reading a round-up of packaging trends. “One reason for this is some of the fun special effects that are possible with direct-to-object digital bottle decoration, as well as its suitability for the minimalism that we’re seeing in packaging design throughout the world of glass packaging in particular,” he explains, adding: “Special effects aside, the feel of a label that has been directly printed onto a glass bottle can convey a real sense of luxury, so there’s a strong attraction in that regard too. “The increasing interest in direct-to-object digital print technology for labelling is also down to the agility it enables with regard to responding to shifts in the marSpecial effects aside, the feel of a label that has been directly printed onto a glass bottle can convey a real sense of luxury, so there’s a strong attraction in that regard too LABEL PRINTING
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