GIDUE’s Xpannd offset press made its debut at Labelexpo Europe on Wednesday. It is an offset/flexo integrated press, a 12” wide, 9 color machine with six offset and three flexo stations.

“We knew that offset would become more important in this industry,” said Federico d’Annunzio, GIDUE’s managing director. “Everybody considered offset only for the high end market. Quality is not the main issue, because UV flexo is a strong competitor to offset, but standardization lets you achieve a high quality. You can reach a certain level of quality with offset and keep it. I expect a strong reaction from flexo, because flexo won’t stay still and have offset take its market share. But for four to six years we will see offset becoming more dominant in our industry.”

The company also is exhibiting its Athena press and the I-Combat, both servo driven UV flexo presses.