Canon is showcasing its Canon LabelStream LS2000 water-based inkjet label press for industrial-scale label printing at Canon Expo in Yokohama and drupa 2024 in Düsseldorf.
Operating at 40/m min, it is said to print CMYK and white on a range of self-adhesive substrates including synthetic and coated paper and film. It offers a maximum printing width of 340mm and features a new 2400 x 1200 dpi printhead with an ink circulation mechanism designed to minimize nozzle clogging and extend the life of the printhead.
Its ink set is designed to meet food safety standards and claims to be the ‘ideal solution’ for label converters seeking a digital press to meet demand for shorter runs of diverse, self-adhesive labels against tight deadlines in industries such as household and personal care. The high-density, water-based polymer inks have been developed especially for the printer and contain highly saturated pigments for a wide colour gamut.
The inks form a thin layer on the substrate to reduce the scattering of light and optimise colour accuracy. These are described as ‘almost imperceptible to the touch’ and hope to maintain the look and feel of the material it is printing on. High-opacity white can be used as an undercoat for other inks, thus making the printer compatible with such media as transparent film.
Printhead maintenance, quality control, colour measurement, and adjustment are all automated processes for the LS2000. Its digital front end aims to offer tight workflow integration, ease of use, and efficient operations.
Jennifer Kolloczek, EMEA Planning, Marketing & Innovation senior director, Production Print at Canon Europe, says: “While demand for labels continues to grow, converters are facing challenges, such as the increasing trend of shorter runs and the production of high-quality labels on demand, which continue to drive the adoption of digital printing technology. As our first water-based inkjet label press, the LabelStream LS2000 will offer converters the reliable productivity and speed needed to meet their customers’ demands and, thanks to its versatility and expected food safety compliance, will allow them to diversify their offering.”
With the LabelStream LS2000 scheduled for availability in the EMEA region in early 2025, Canon emphasizes that additional product details will be revealed in the future.
In other news, Canon has also released a high-speed, web-feed inkjet press series and a full-colour, large-format desktop printer over the course of this year.
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