Xerox and DataLase have signed an agreement to bring to market a new inkless printing solution which lets businesses offer personalisation services to customers.
The solution will enable brand owners to connect with consumers with personalisation and late-stage ability to differentiate products and packaging.
DataLase's Variprint solution uses the new Laser Imaging Module (LIM) designed and built by Xerox.
The laser module is capable of printing at printing at higher resolutions than many inkjet digital printing solutions, creating sharper images.
The laser module can also create greyscale images with a resolution of up to 1,200 dpi and can digitally print varied information such as graphics, barcodes and text up to 1m per second.
The printing works when the laser hits reactive pigments that incorporate into a coating that generally printed on various products or packaging. When the pigments are exposed to the laser, a colour change reaction takes place in the coating that results in a high definition, digital print.
DataLase CEO Chris Wyres said: “Building on the huge interest we generated at drupa 2016, the DataLase solution can deliver a unique way to help connect brands with consumers on a one-to-one basis through personalisation and late stage differentiation of products and packaging — such as adding timely local promotions and marketing material. Real time marketing capability on pack is now a reality.”
Xerox Packaging Programs manager Aanand Parthasarathi said: “The digital print and packaging market is growing at a healthy pace.
“Our new lasers, coupled with DataLase technology, will deliver new capabilities in the fulfilment process such as switching languages or a last-minute change in an ingredient list.”
According to DataLase, the new technology has a wide range of market applications on a global scale, where it can used on a spectrum of product and packaging applications including food, drink, pharmaceutical, personal care and household sector for case coding, labelling, product coding and folding cartons.
