With more companies than ever adding digital printing to their label facilities, converters should begin the process with several considerations in mind. Not all digital presses are created equal, and reliability, service, and uptime are all critical factors that will lead to a greater ROI.

To learn more about the process of getting started with digital label printing, L&NW recently sat down with Mike Pruitt, Senior Product Manager, Epson America.

L&NW: What are the features of a reliable digital press, and how is this evident with SurePress?
MP: The most important feature of any digital press is its ability to perform specifications given by the manufacturer or established in pre-sales testing. In particular, color accuracy and consistency are key. Spot colors should fall within a specific range and color does not shift from beginning to end of the job or from a reprint six months later.

With the Epson SurePress® digital label presses, press operation is simple and consistent. Most maintenance is automatically done and verified by the press itself, and manual maintenance is minimized. Uptime is also a priority for Epson. When the press is down, service can be pre-diagnosed remotely and service response occurs in a timely manner.

The web transport system helps ensure that registration is accurate, and changes of substrate can be handled by software and without recalibrations. Printheads, ink and LED lamps are a matched system, which disperses ink precisely and runs cool and does not require a chiller.

Offered at a price driven value, the SurePress can produce a large color gamut, achieves up to 92% of the full PANTONE range (with the L-6534VW UV press), and is capable of printing two million square feet per month.

L&NW: What will operators need to know about running the press and maintenance?
MP: Operators should be knowledgeable about print quality and perform any required manual maintenance properly, diligently and on schedule. Any issues with the press should be reported to the servicer immediately.

L&NW: How has Epson prioritized service and support with its wide range of products?
MP: Epson has its own employees as service technicians, who are based regionally to service press and printers. The service technicians are trained by Epson trainers and engineers, who have designed and developed the label press. The training takes place in a dedicated Epson facility on equipment only used for training purposes.

L&NW: What should converters know about the printhead technology utilized by Epson?
MP: The printhead technology, referred to as PrecisionCore®, is designed, developed, and manufactured by Epson. PrecisionCore® is a heat-free piezo-electrical system, which produces exceedingly round and accurate drops. PrecisionCore® printheads use a variety of Epson inks including UV, AQ resin, eco-solvent, and sublimation inks.

L&NW: What other questions should converters ask when getting into digital for the first time?
MP: Converters’ main concern is productivity and return on investment. Productivity is print speed x print quality x ease of use x uptime. Once that productivity is known, ROI is calculated providing all the costs are disclosed accurately. It is not all about specifications; it is important to know the manufacturer and how the press will be supported in the future.