Fujifilm debuts in flexible packaging market with digital inkjet water-based press

28 Jun 2021 --- Fujifilm North America’s Graphic Systems Division is expanding into the flexible packaging market by launching the J Press FP790 digital inkjet water-based press. 

The FP790 will be available in North America from mid-2022, followed by a phased global rollout.

“Fujifilm has made a strategic decision to leverage its core technology and knowledge of inkjet heads, inks, material sciences and digital workflows and move into what’s projected to be a very stable and growing market,” Matt Bennett, global vice president for business strategy, packaging at Fujifilm North America, tells PackagingInsights.

He says digital printing within the flexible packaging segment is projected for double-digit growth for the foreseeable future. Currently, the technology makes up less than one percent of the total market output.

Digital printing for flexible packaging is becoming increasingly necessary as the demand for shorter and more strategic runs, faster delivery times, more SKUs, and a more efficient print process grows.

According to Fujifilm, this increased demand can only be met with a high-end digital production asset like the FP790.

Environmental and cost savings
Fujifilm employs environmentally sustainable water-based primers and water-based inkjet technologies, which meet or exceed all regulatory requirements for flexible packaging printing. 

Laminating, slitting, and bag-making can be processed in the same way as existing analog printing, meaning no additional capital investments are required.

“The world markets are moving in the direction of all new technology having an environmental and sustainable dynamic to reduce and eliminate adverse environmental effects,” notes Bennett.

The FP790 also boasts high productivity for short, medium and strategic runs. The maximum substrate width is 31 inches (790 mm), and the printing line speed is 164 feet per minute (50 m), no matter the number of colors.

Moreover, changeover of unique printing jobs and design adjustments can be implemented within minutes, contributing to the overall improvement of production efficiency by using the printer in combination with existing analog assets.The J Press FP790 digital inkjet water-based press.

The “amazonification” of consumer buying
Bennett explains that modern consumer demands for quickly produced yet attractive and environmentally sustainable packaging are the main requirements for brands and converters.

“I call it the ‘amazonification’ of consumer buying habits,” he says. “Essentially, consumers want products fast, they want it to look high-end, luxurious and cool, they want it to be earth-friendly, and they want many choices.”

“Once they get bored with those, they want new ones, fast. The brands must deliver because if they don’t the consumer has many choices to go elsewhere.” 

Converters have to continually adjust their operations and supply chains as these trends impact them, adds Bennett.

“They must identify and determine new capital expenditures to remain competitive and stay relevant to the changing markets.”

“Our new high-end digital production press Jet Press 790 can meet all of these rapidly changing market trends more economically than other existing digital technologies and present analog assets.”

High image reproduction quality
The FP790 offers a wide color gamut and high-quality reproduction. Using 1200 X 1200 DPI resolutions with CMYK colored inks, the printer can achieve more than 90 percent of the Pantone color gamut while also using two white inkjet channels for delivering high white opacity.

This wide color gamut capability allows converters to achieve special brand and spot color matching with no need for additional special inks. 

“We have been able to provide to the commercial print markets the highest image reproduction quality and productivity that surpasses even the best offset printing presses, allowing the J Press brand to achieve high market share around the world,” explains Bennett.

“To date, we have installed more than 200 J Press digital machines in the commercial and folding carton markets, continuing our market leadership worldwide.”

“We’re excited about the added capabilities and increased efficiencies the FP790 will bring to the flexible packaging industry.”

By Joshua Poole