Leibinger provides printing samples as free service
The Application Centre and Ink Lab are under the same roof. The laboratory develops, for example, quick-drying inks for the food industry as well as sterilisation-resistant inks. Source: Paul Leibinger
Leibinger is offering “exceptionally realistic” printing samples within three working days as a free service at its recently opened Application Center via state-of-the-art technical equipment and advanced resources.
Customers benefit from a comprehensive package of tailored printing technology and ideally matched ink for their specific application – a one-of-a-kind offering in the coding & marking industry, the company says.
The Leibinter Application Center creates print samples in line with specific customer requirements. In other words, companies from all sectors can now send in samples of their products, which are first analysed and then printed and tested with different inks.
The samples provide a perfect decision-making tool for the right coding & marking solution, which customers can use to get started as quickly as possible. To this end, the Application Center team is in close contact with customers throughout the entire sample printing process.
“Every material has different properties, and every ink behaves differently on them. This is why it is essential to test ink on the specific materials so that customers can assess the results for themselves,” explains Dr Bastian Klose, head of the Leibinger Application Center. Since July 2024, the former sample printing facility has been located in new premises with more space and advanced, state-of-the-art equipment. “We decided on the term Application Center because we have created many new possibilities here to produce the best prototypes for our customers in a way that replicates real-life processes,” explains Klose.
The Application Center offers an exhaustive portfolio of services: customers receive their printed samples back within three days – entirely free of charge. To make this happen, the Center uses a fleet of some 70 printers.
“This is truly exceptional in our industry,” explains Klose. “And it is only possible thanks to Leibinger’s fully automatic nozzle sealing technology, which ensures that the ink never dries. Press the button to print samples, and the nozzle simply closes. Every printer is ready for use at any time at the push of a button, even when highly pigmented inks are used,” adds Klose.
Using IR spectroscopy, Leibinger can precisely determine the material class of the product to be sampled. With a little skill and expertise, additives in the material can even be identified in some cases. This is essential for selecting the ideal ink for the material, as the specific properties of the ink and material influence each other. If needed, the materials can be pre-treated directly at the Application Center – using processes such as Corona or Plasma – to modify the surface properties of the materials and optimise ink adhesion.
The Application Center is also true to the industrial process when it comes to speed. A specially designed acceleration unit enables the team to create print samples at defined speeds, simulating a real-life production environment. “After we have created the samples with the selected inks, we prepare a detailed sample report,” explains Klose. “This is provided to the customer along with the printed samples.”
The Leibinger ink portfolio includes some 70 inks. They are developed in the cutting-edge ink laboratory, which has had its own building since 2022. The new Application Center has now been added – to ensure short distances, seamless coordination and ideal working conditions. The laboratory team, with its many years of experience, develops a wide range of inks, including sterilisation-resistant ink, fluorescent security ink, FDA-compliant ink, food-safe ink and many others.
“Our ink laboratory is the birthplace of Leibinger inks,” says Klose. “This is where we develop customised solutions for different markets, ranging from the food industry to fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and even cable production.”
Dr Bastian Klose highlights that Leibinger goes far beyond the standard in the coding & marking market – also in terms of customer service.
“We provide our customers with printing solutions that are perfectly tailored to their specific application.” Thanks to comprehensive advice and sample production that replicates real-life processes, customers can be sure that they are receiving the very best solution to meet their coding & marking requirements.
