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Sydney-based printing house Luminar has ramped up its digital pouch printing capabilities with the purchase of a mammoth new press – a move that could give food and beverage manufacturers a big boost.

The installation of a new HP Indigo 20000 digital press means Luminar – the rebranded Avonlea Labels – will be able to “say yes more than no”.

Luminar managing director Matt Ellis says the press, supplied by Currie Group, dramatically increases its capacity for flexible pouches.

“Flexibles went from zero to twenty per cent of our business in twelve months,” Ellis told Food & Drink Business. “Because we operated narrow web, we were limited in what we could offer the industry. Now we can offer what it needs in terms of web width,” he says.

Ellis said Luminar partnered with “a couple of flexible packaging operators” who saw the need for digital flexibles for their customers.

The result has been “a huge uptick” in customers, showing the company there is demand for flexible packaging. Luminar is targeting a broad range of product segments, including: nutrition; natural and organic; dried meat; nuts; baked goods; confectionery; roasted coffee; and pet food.

According to Ellis, food and beverage manufacturers can now benefit from a high-quality digital solution with quick turnaround and no plates or cylinders.

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