Steve Katz, Editor12.03.14
Xeikon recently hosted several printing and packaging industry journalists and analysts in Orlando, FL, USA. During the event, which took place November 17-18, the Belgium-based digital press manufacturer provided a status update on the company, as well the direction it’s headed entering 2015. The event also showcased Xymogen, a nutraceuticals company that is home to Labels in Motion, its in-house label converter that has leveraged its Xeikon 3500 digital press to expand into supplying custom labels to brand owners outside of Xymogen.
Wim Maes, Xeikon’s CEO, began by introducing the company’s new ownership partners – Bencis Capital Partners and Gimv. As the lead Xeikon investor, Bencis brings to Xeikon not only valuable resources to the tune of $1.5 billion, but also printing and packaging industry experience, having formerly invested in SPG Prints (Stork) and AkzoNobel Ink. Maes also discussed investments Xeikon is making globally, with strengthened sales and service teams in North America and Canada. Inroads are also being made in Asia and Latin America, Maes said, adding that six new people have been added to Xeikon’s team in Europe.
While Xeikon has a commercial and document printing side to its business, it's the Labels & Packaging segment that is driving revenue and showing the most growth. In fact, Maes pointed out that in just one year’s time, year-to-date Labels & Packaging revenue is up 28%. Maes reported that Xeikon’s Labels & Packaging install base will reach 318 units by the end of 2014, including 76 units in the US and Canada. By comparison, in 2012, there were 205 units installed and 254 installed by the end of 2013. In terms of print volume, the year-to-date growth in running meters is up 42% since 2013, Maes said, driven by an even split between new and existing customers.
Significantly, Maes added, 2014 marks the first time the Labels & Packaging segment accounts for the majority of Xeikon’s revenue, now making up 51% percent of the business versus 49% for the document and commercial segment. Illustrating the recent success and strides made in Labels & Packaging, in 2010, the segment only accounted for 23% of Xeikon revenue.
Speaking on what the industry can expect from Xeikon in the immediate future, Maes said, “Our future focus is to continue to expand our presence in the Labels & Packaging market, break the barriers of dry toner, and further reduce the costs of digital label production while integrating digital printing in the processes of our customers.” He added that in today’s market, after HP Indigo, Xeikon has emerged as the “clear #2” digital press supplier for the label and packaging sector.
Filip Weymans, Xeikon’s director segment marketing, Labels & Packaging, went into detail on Xeikon innovation that is fueling the growth in popularity of the Xeikon 3000 series of digital label and packaging presses. “How do you stay on top?” Weymans asked. The answer, he said, is through innovation. “The Xeikon 3000 series presses are being used for printing not just self-adhesive labels, but also folding cartons, IML and HTL."
Weymans revealed the results of a Xeikon study, where the company surveyed a number of label printers. The results, he said, stressed that EP (electrophotography), the technology behind Xeikon’s digital presses, is today’s quality benchmark, and it accounts for more than 80% of the digital print volume produced.
2015: ‘The Year of the Cheetah’
Weymans, who is affectionately known as “The Animal” among his Xeikon cohorts, fittingly introduced the Cheetah, Xeikon’s new press dedicated to the self-adhesive label market. Unveiled for the first time at Labelexpo in September, the press will be commercially available beginning in 2015, which the company is calling “The Year of the Cheetah.”
So far, eight “beta” Cheetah presses have been sold globally, including one at an undisclosed location in the US. The company reports four more installations scheduled for Q1 2015. Named for its speed, the Cheetah can reach printing speeds of 98 feet per minute. Compared to the top speeds of 63 fpm of the Xeikon 3300 and 3500 presses, it marks a significant speed increase. Also, with regard to production costs, it was explained that the Cheetah provides more than a 10% cost reduction than the Xeikon 3300.
The five-color, 13-inch Cheetah features more corona treaters for charging the photoconductive drums of the EP process. Despite its speed, there are no issues with toner distribution, and the press takes advantage of the benefits provided by Xeikon’s low-temperature ICE toner technology. Also, new drive motors provide the higher power to achieve the high speeds.
Xeikon's dry toner has been key to fueling Xeikon's success, with advantages including white ink, and its compatibility with food products. In response to the inroads inkjet printing has made recently, Weymans explained, "Toner is still the best technology to reproduce full color images with impact printing, while the business potential of inkjet is too small and divided over several players."
Labels in Motion
Concluding the event was a tour of the 136,000 square foot Xymogen facility in Orlando, where attendees were treated to an up-close look at the operations and workflow of one of the nutraceutical industry’s premier brands. The tour of the facility took visitors on a walk-through of the dietary supplement-making process – from raw materials to encapsulation to bottling.
The tour ended at Labels in Motion, Xymogen’s in-house labeling company that has expanded and is growing its outside client base.
Visitors had the opportunity to see the company’s Xeikon 3500 digital label press in action. In addition to high quality graphics, Labels in Motion uses its Xeikon press to print unique QR codes and variable data, thus insuring the legitimacy of Xymogen products, as well as allowing for tracking individual products.
In addition to Xymogen and other supplement brands, markets Labels in Motion serves include beer and wine, specialty foods, health & beauty, and most recently has made major strides in printing labels for the growing E-liquid market (nicotine products).
For more on Labels in Motion, including its detailed history and business model, check out L&NW’s 2014 Narrow Web Profile on the company.
Wim Maes, Xeikon’s CEO, began by introducing the company’s new ownership partners – Bencis Capital Partners and Gimv. As the lead Xeikon investor, Bencis brings to Xeikon not only valuable resources to the tune of $1.5 billion, but also printing and packaging industry experience, having formerly invested in SPG Prints (Stork) and AkzoNobel Ink. Maes also discussed investments Xeikon is making globally, with strengthened sales and service teams in North America and Canada. Inroads are also being made in Asia and Latin America, Maes said, adding that six new people have been added to Xeikon’s team in Europe.
While Xeikon has a commercial and document printing side to its business, it's the Labels & Packaging segment that is driving revenue and showing the most growth. In fact, Maes pointed out that in just one year’s time, year-to-date Labels & Packaging revenue is up 28%. Maes reported that Xeikon’s Labels & Packaging install base will reach 318 units by the end of 2014, including 76 units in the US and Canada. By comparison, in 2012, there were 205 units installed and 254 installed by the end of 2013. In terms of print volume, the year-to-date growth in running meters is up 42% since 2013, Maes said, driven by an even split between new and existing customers.
Significantly, Maes added, 2014 marks the first time the Labels & Packaging segment accounts for the majority of Xeikon’s revenue, now making up 51% percent of the business versus 49% for the document and commercial segment. Illustrating the recent success and strides made in Labels & Packaging, in 2010, the segment only accounted for 23% of Xeikon revenue.
Speaking on what the industry can expect from Xeikon in the immediate future, Maes said, “Our future focus is to continue to expand our presence in the Labels & Packaging market, break the barriers of dry toner, and further reduce the costs of digital label production while integrating digital printing in the processes of our customers.” He added that in today’s market, after HP Indigo, Xeikon has emerged as the “clear #2” digital press supplier for the label and packaging sector.
Filip Weymans, Xeikon’s director segment marketing, Labels & Packaging, went into detail on Xeikon innovation that is fueling the growth in popularity of the Xeikon 3000 series of digital label and packaging presses. “How do you stay on top?” Weymans asked. The answer, he said, is through innovation. “The Xeikon 3000 series presses are being used for printing not just self-adhesive labels, but also folding cartons, IML and HTL."
Weymans revealed the results of a Xeikon study, where the company surveyed a number of label printers. The results, he said, stressed that EP (electrophotography), the technology behind Xeikon’s digital presses, is today’s quality benchmark, and it accounts for more than 80% of the digital print volume produced.
2015: ‘The Year of the Cheetah’
Weymans, who is affectionately known as “The Animal” among his Xeikon cohorts, fittingly introduced the Cheetah, Xeikon’s new press dedicated to the self-adhesive label market. Unveiled for the first time at Labelexpo in September, the press will be commercially available beginning in 2015, which the company is calling “The Year of the Cheetah.”
So far, eight “beta” Cheetah presses have been sold globally, including one at an undisclosed location in the US. The company reports four more installations scheduled for Q1 2015. Named for its speed, the Cheetah can reach printing speeds of 98 feet per minute. Compared to the top speeds of 63 fpm of the Xeikon 3300 and 3500 presses, it marks a significant speed increase. Also, with regard to production costs, it was explained that the Cheetah provides more than a 10% cost reduction than the Xeikon 3300.
The five-color, 13-inch Cheetah features more corona treaters for charging the photoconductive drums of the EP process. Despite its speed, there are no issues with toner distribution, and the press takes advantage of the benefits provided by Xeikon’s low-temperature ICE toner technology. Also, new drive motors provide the higher power to achieve the high speeds.
Xeikon's dry toner has been key to fueling Xeikon's success, with advantages including white ink, and its compatibility with food products. In response to the inroads inkjet printing has made recently, Weymans explained, "Toner is still the best technology to reproduce full color images with impact printing, while the business potential of inkjet is too small and divided over several players."
Labels in Motion
Concluding the event was a tour of the 136,000 square foot Xymogen facility in Orlando, where attendees were treated to an up-close look at the operations and workflow of one of the nutraceutical industry’s premier brands. The tour of the facility took visitors on a walk-through of the dietary supplement-making process – from raw materials to encapsulation to bottling.
The tour ended at Labels in Motion, Xymogen’s in-house labeling company that has expanded and is growing its outside client base.
Visitors had the opportunity to see the company’s Xeikon 3500 digital label press in action. In addition to high quality graphics, Labels in Motion uses its Xeikon press to print unique QR codes and variable data, thus insuring the legitimacy of Xymogen products, as well as allowing for tracking individual products.
In addition to Xymogen and other supplement brands, markets Labels in Motion serves include beer and wine, specialty foods, health & beauty, and most recently has made major strides in printing labels for the growing E-liquid market (nicotine products).
For more on Labels in Motion, including its detailed history and business model, check out L&NW’s 2014 Narrow Web Profile on the company.