After the launch of the C500 in 2018, the American manufacturer presents the next generation of its corrugated press with a faster model, the HP PageWide C550.
Like its smaller sibling, this inkjet press operates with water-based inks and allows direct printing on corrugated board in one pass, eliminating the need for lamination. This new press operates at a constant speed of 90 linear meters per minute (compared to 75 ml/min for the C500 model press).
The HP PageWide C550 handles corrugated boards with coated and uncoated topliner from 0.8 to 8 mm thick, from F-flute to BC double wall flute. The cardboard sheets can be up to 2.5 meters long.
It has 91 print heads, divided into seven groups. The first set of 13 heads is reserved for HP's water-based binder. The others are used for the CMYK printing, with an integrated redundancy in order to carry out in monopass a quality equivalent to six passes, specifies HP.
With its digital technology, the press will help converters optimize the cost of manufacturing boxes previously produced in flexo and litho, as well as gain operational efficiencies for corrugated packaging production. Converters will also be able to optimize inventory, reduce obsolescence and accelerate turnaround times with this printing technology, HP says.
The manufacturer has already booked its first order. Corrugated packaging manufacturer Saica Group will receive the HP PageWide C550 at its site in Viana, Spain, later this year.
