Xeikon introduces new PantherCure UV LED inks

Xeikon will showcase its competitive advantage in inkjet innovation with the new PantherCure UV LED inks at Labelexpo Europe 2023 next week. The new family of inks, accompanied by enhanced screening technology, new waveforms and updated software, will offer a raft of advantages in terms of cost of print, sustainability benefits and quality improvements. These advancements will greatly help printers tackle acute price pressures and continued demands for more eco-friendly solutions in label and packaging production, while also improving image quality.

‘After spending almost three years developing these innovative inks and completing successful beta testing at a customer site, we are now unveiling the full extent of what is truly the most sustainable UV inkjet solution on the market,’ said Johan Van de Velde, Xeikon product manager inkjet. ‘Following our announcement of the new ink family last year, we have listened to the feedback and worked hard to quantify the benefits. We are now able to share the results.’

With PantherCure UV LED inks, Xeikon is elevating Panther series of UV inkjet presses. The new UV LED inks are said to offer lower energy and ink consumption, longer lamp life, and an expanded color gamut with an improved OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness).

Panther press fitted with LED include an increase in lamp life by 10 times. LED lamps can last up to five years (or around 20,000 hours) compared to mercury (Hg) bulbs, which need changing on average every 2,000 hours. Furthermore, LEDs require no warm-up or cool-down , eliminating waiting and standby time, coupled with 21 percent less energy needed during the active printing phase. In total, energy use will go down by on average 59 kWh per day, which translates to less environmental impact, reduced CO2 emissions, and much lower costs (equal to a saving of EUR 6,900/6447.30 USD annually assuming a cost of EUR 0.32/0.34 USD pr kWh).

In terms of image quality, printers will be able to leverage an expanded color gamut to reach up to 88.7 percent of the Pantone book with just CMYK (within a Delta E of 2, rising to 94 percent with Delta E ≤ 3). The new Dionysus screening, together with the new waveforms and software will also help to lower ink consumption by 30 percent.

Netherlands-based Blana, a member of Asteria Group, served as a testing partner of Xeikon and implemented these new UV LED inks. It has already achieved 35 percent energy savings during the testing phase.

‘Our commitment to bringing to market solutions that push the boundaries continues and we are grateful to Blana for working closely with us to refine the breakthrough PantherCure LED technology,’ said Filip Weymans, vice president marketing at Xeikon. ‘It would be fair to say that Xeikon was a bit late to the inkjet party, but we have accelerated our technology significantly over the past couple of years. Now with UV LED inks and curing in our Panther presses, we are taking the lead in the market and establishing ourselves as pioneers in inkjet innovation.’

The PantherCure LED inks (CMYK and white) are immediately available on the Label Discovery Panther (Xeikon’s entry-level inkjet press), the Xeikon PX2200 and the Xeikon PX3300. Existing customers will be able to upgrade their Panther presses to the new ink set.

Visitors can see the Panther press with UV LED inks at Xeikon booth 5C29.