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HP Indigo aims to improve the digital production of labels and packaging and open up new business opportunities for converters with the HP Indigo ws4500 press (pictured) and a new distribution agreement with Esko.

Paul Randall, HP Indigo’s UK and Ireland marketing manager, said while it would be difficult to tell the press apart from the ws4050 on face value, it differed in key respects. First, substrate handling has been improved, to reduce web changeover times to about five minutes and allow 12-micron materials to be printed. This means the press can print flexible packaging and shrink sleeves.

Second, productivity has been boosted through a fast ink replacement unit for the optional fifth, sixth and seventh spot colour stations.

“The message is that the ws4500 is a product evolution, not a revolution. But these features put it into new business areas,” said Randall.

Under the agreement with Esko, HP Indigo will sell Esko’s Optimize Pack and Scope Pack digital front-ends, available as of this month. Both enhance productivity by decreasing print preparation and colour management time.