At DG press, we’re constantly innovating to meet the challenges of tomorrow. That’s why we’re thrilled to share our insights on the future of printing in Labels & Labeling’s 2025 Predictions. Explore how advancements in web offset technology are driving sustainable, efficient solutions for the label and packaging industry:
Adelbert Schoonman, innovation and development
For 2025, themes like improving the sustainability of products and processes and reducing carbon footprint will remain key aspects within DG press’ development program. Although achieving sustainability targets remains challenging, continuous improvement is essential, even when the goals are highly ambitious.
In 2024, DG press, together with its partners, realized some successful projects in which multiple-material packaging was replaced by a mono-material in combination with barrier coatings. A combination of in-line printing and coating in one pass on hybrid web offset presses with integrated flexo and roto functionality provides the highest efficiency and flexibility, which has become a necessity in today’s rapidly changing labels and packaging landscape.
Energy curing of inks will continue to grow as an energy-efficient alternative technology in comparison to solvent-based and water-based printing technologies.
Although the long-term use of Mercury lamps is uncertain, the continued efforts in the development of LED-UV systems are paying off through improved efficiency and higher radiation output of the latest generation of lamps.
EB curing is expected to grow in the high-speed and high-volume segments of labels and packaging printing, as its low energy consumption contributes to a lower carbon footprint. EB curing offers unmatched robust performance for drying thicker layers of inks and coatings, with hardly any temperature impact and providing low migration. This is not an unimportant aspect for labels applied to food packaging.
Equipment automation will continue to play an important role in improving the efficiency and quality of the systems and their output. Here, the DG press engineering efforts emphasize continuous optimization of equipment and process efficiency, as demonstrated by our latest DG-AUXO web offset press series. We are also upgrading the electronics and automation of our older press series, extending the lifetime of the equipment for its owners.
For 2025 and beyond DG press will stay focused on developing even better sustainable print production systems.
