From October 16 to 18, 2024, the Global Package Show 2024 was held at the Komori Graphic Technology Center (KGC) in the Tsukuba Plant for customers primarily in trading card and package printing. A total of 223 visitors from around the world attended. As the Covid-19 situation subsides, the demand for package printing continues to grow.

Furthermore, the trading card printing market is also expanding rapidly as the number of players increases. Amid the diversification of consumer needs and the growing interest in sustainable products, there is a demand for more flexible, high-productivity, and high-value-added packaging solutions. To respond to these market changes, this open house featured Komori's Smart Factory, with KP-Connect Pro as the core, linking multicolor presses that achieve outstanding quality and productivity with an AMR (Autonomous Mobile Robot).

Demonstration 1 (Trading Card Printing)


[Demonstration Machine]

・Lithrone GX40RP advance EX Edition, 40-inch 10-color Dedicated Perfecting Offset Printing Press

・KP-Connect Pro

・AMR (Autonomous Mobile Robot)

A demonstration of trading card printing was conducted using the Lithrone GX40RP advance EX Edition, which has a five-color front and five-color back configuration. This Lithrone GX40RP advance is equipped for the first time with a coating unit on the RP section, allowing one-pass double-sided varnish coating. The process was managed by the KP-Connect Pro manufacturing execution system, with automatic job data transfer, plate output, and plate transport.

In the demonstration, the character side was printed with four process colors using silver and spot coating, and the unified pattern side was printed using four process colors with OP varnish and varnish coating, creating a drip-off effect. The RP press, which does not require gripper changes, demonstrated high front-to-back registration accuracy and in-sheet density stability, showing its suitability for trading card printing.

Demonstration 2 (Package Printing)

[Demonstration Machine]

・Lithrone GX40 advance EX Edition

・40-inch Seven-Color Sheetfed Offset Printing Press with Inline Double Coater, Double Drying Units, and Double Delivery

・KP-Connect Pro

With the Lithrone GX40 advance EX Edition, two package design jobs were demonstrated. The Super-Short Makeready, which automates tasks such as plate changing, blanket washing, ink cleaning, coater changing, and ink setting, demonstrated a package printing job changeover that typically takes a long time which was completed in approximately 13 minutes. The entire printing process, from prepress, press, and postpress to logistics, can be monitored, visualized and automated in the central control room equipped with the KP-Connect Pro manufacturing execution system. The Smart Factory proposed by KGC showcased various automation solutions that contribute to enhancing value-added productivity.

Customer Testimonials

Benson Hong, President, Best Deal Graphics and Printing
"We obtained the information we initially expected. It was very beneficial and helped us learn about new machines and technologies. What impressed me most was how each machine is interconnected and automated. Also, it was great to be able to see all the solutions at once."

Ha Tu Hao (Kevin Ha), Technical Director, QP Printing
"I found the double coater of the RP press very interesting because it leads to savings not only in time but also in cost. In addition, I was impressed by the incorporation of the latest technologies and the excellent productivity."

During the free tour time after the demonstrations, the company demonstrated Komori's postpress equipment. We also held mini-seminars on after-sales service and KP-Connect in the venue. A printing sample corner and service corner were made available, allowing customers to freely explore according to their interests.

The Global Package Show 2024 was a valuable opportunity to bring together the latest technologies and packaging solutions for the future of the printing industry. Komori will continue to contribute to the development of the printing industry as a long-term partner supporting our customers' businesses. We sincerely thank everyone who attended the exhibition.