HP notes ‘strong demand’ for digital in Italy

Rob Fletcher speaks to HP who have revealed an upturn demand for its digital print solutions in the Italian market, with corrugated producer Industria Cartone Ondulato (ICO) among the latest companies in the country to invest in its technology.

ICO has recently purchased a HP PageWide C500 Press to support its business transformation to digital post-print production. Installation of the device is due to begin this month at ICO’s facility in Pianella on the southeast coast of the country.
 
The HP PageWide C500 press will be running alongside a new Agnati Quantum2 corrugator, which has also recently been installed at the Pianella, enabling ICO to deliver high standard corrugated boards optimised for digital printing.
 
HP’s PageWide C500 has a top speed of 75 liner m/min and can print on material up to 1.32m wide and 2.5m long. In terms of board thickness, the HP device can handle F flute to BC double-wall flutes.
 
Speaking about the investment, Manlio Cocchini, chief executive of ICO, said in a statement that digital printing will provide greater customisation and flexibility for ICO’s customers throughout Italy, including both major and small brands that require smaller quantities and short delivery times. 
 
“High-volume digital printing is set to disrupt the corrugated packaging industry,” Cocchini said. “ICO is taking corrugated printing to the next level by launching on-demand, digital services with the offset-matching HP PageWide C500 and delivering this innovation to our customers.”
 
Cocchini also highlighted how the company’s new HP PageWide press will run using true water-based inks, which he said will allow ICO to deliver food-safe packaging and help to minimise the impact of printing in paper recycling.
 
Water-based inks from HP are odourless and free of UV-reactive chemistries, which, according to the manufacturer, make them suitable for a wide range of packaging applications, including primary and secondary packaging for food and personal care.
 
Speaking to FESPA.com about HP’s ongoing growth plans in Italy, Niv Ishay, WW marketing manager for PageWide and packaging at HP, said that demand for its solutions is on the rise and the manufacturer is actively looking to expand its customer network in the country.
 
Ishay told FESPA.com: “The Italian market is a very important market for us and is showing very strong demand to our portfolio of digital printing solutions and its value proposition.
 
“We see very high interest across the industry with some customers still in exploration phase to understand how digital technology can help them take a more action position in the market.”