Xeikon will roll out a new brand identity and a subscription pricing model for the first time at its innovation in Belgium next month.
The rebranding emphasises the company’s position within the Flint Group as part of the wider group’s new visual identity change to Flint Group Packaging Solutions. Xeikon becomes Flint Group Digital Xeikon within this. This will be visible at the event in Lier on 9-10 June and then a week later at its Chicago premises. This is in some ways a revival of the Xeikon cafe events which pulled together user stories, keynote and technology presentations and suppliers around the Xeikon toner and inkjet technology. This was discontinued with Covid and is being revived, though on a smaller scale.
The demonstrations, application showcases and hands on experiences return under the theme Print Smarter Together. “It is a statement of intent says president Flint Group Digital Xeikon Walter Benz. “We see this as a reboot in the best sense of the word: a renewed Xeikon with sharper focus, stronger backing and a broader solutions story.”
This will be underlined by the global introduction of Ecolyne, a subscription pay to use model which enables customers to access the digital print technology without having to make a capital investment.
Ecolyne was introduced in the Asia pacific market last year and heartened by the take up it has expanded to include Europe and North America. The manufacturer takes care of installation, service and up time while users pay a flat rate monthly subscription. It is aimed at smaller converters and printers looking to move into digital label printing, inplant operations included.
Senior product manager Frank Jacobs says: ““Ecolyne was developed to answer a very practical market need. Many printers want to enter or expand digital label production, but they do not want to tie up capital in ownership from day one. With Ecolyne, they gain access to industrial digital label capacity through a fixed monthly fee, with Xeikon taking responsibility for installation, service and uptime.”
Typical among the target users is Swedish company FG Larsson which needed to bring food label printing in-house, but could not justify the capital outlay on a new press. It also wanted to remain with toner technology.
Owner Marcus Lamke says: “For us, the key advantage was that we could bring food label printing in-house without tying up capital from the start. The monthly fee gives us predictability and peace of mind, while the press gives us the flexibility and quality we need to serve local customers faster.”
