Interestingly, Bencis also has a stake in another printing technology manufacturing company Stork Prints. However, Maer clarified that there are no plans for merger between Stork and Xeikon since both operate in different segments. “Our plan is to grow in digital, pre-press as well as flexo and letterpress technologies,” Maer said. “We are very internationally focused. We want to recover growth with Trillium technology which is a liquid toner product that would be a game changing innovation from us,” he added.

Xeikon also utilised the platform to launch Thermoflexx 80, which it claims to be the fastest imager for flexo plates with auto plate loading, a resolution of 2400 to up to 5080dpi in the format of 1270x2032mm and with a speed of 4qm/hr. Xeikon claims that the high speed could be achieved because of the new imaging head used in the press, and Maer also told the press that the upcoming models will allow a dual head system to be incorporated. The double heads will provide a boost to the machine’s abilities and make it capable of 12sqm/hr output, and cause a significant change in the speed by over 40%. This adoption is expected to take shape by the mid-2014.

Flexo expert, Tony White, while commenting on the machine said, “Thermoflexx 80 offers a range of five resolutions 2400, 2540, 4000 and 5080dpi. Any two from this range can be installed on the current machine and automatically switched between using “hot” folders.” The machine accepts plates up to 1270x2032mm and a plate thickness from 0.73 to 6.35mm. Also, halftone screenings up to 175lpi can be achieved at the 2540 resolution and up to 250lpi at the 5080 resolution.