EFI has developed an entry level inkjet printer for packaging applications, specifically corrugated boards. The MCorr 130 is built combing the experience gained from Nozomi high speed single-pass inkjet press for corrugated with its experience of scanning head printing from the Vutek range.
The new machine, which enters beta over the summer ahead of a Q3 launch, also uses the same inks as Nozomi with orange, green, violet, white and clear ink options.
While there is automated handling of sheets both for loading and offloading it is still only capable of 25% of the output, though this remains highly competitive against other suppliers. The scanning head is controlled though twin maglev drives which zip across only the print area addressed, rather the width of the potential print area on each sweep across the material.
The MCorr is aimed at transforming more corrugated production to digital printing as a partner to the higher volume Nozomi. it will also print on 120gsm papers and folding box boards sharing some of the architecture of the Vutek XT machine, though with corrugated specific changes.
The the strength of the vacuum, critical to holding the sometimes uneven sheets tight against the bed, is applied only under the sheet to prevent the power of the vacuum creating air turbulence to affect the ink droplets in flight.
Registration front to back is 1mm, sheet to sheet 1.5 mm tolerances. There is no need to pre or post coat the sheet, the LED UV inks having been tested for abrasion and scuffing. The ink is moved continuously through the heads, helping avoid nozzle failures or pigment settlement. It is also a match for the Nozomi ink with the same colour choice.
It results in very tight colour consistency sheet to sheet and job to job. With the growth in ecommerce and brands wanting to use their logos and corporate colours on the inside of these packages, what used to be a deltaE3 is now deltaE2 or less, says product manager Sean Roberts.
