At the Label Printing Roadshow, organized by Konica Minolta Business Solutions Italia in the splendid setting of the Cantina VentiVenti in Medolla (MO), Prati contributed to making the “difference”. After the digital toner printing of the new AccurioLabel machines, it was the turn of the DIGI COMPACT to unwind and rewind the adhesive paper rolls to execute all finishing stages and obtain quality labels.
Prati was chosen as the trusted finishing partner for the February 6-7 stop of the 2025 Label Printing Roadshow, a special event that celebrated the meeting of three manufacturers: Konica Minolta Business Solutions Italia, Prati, and UPM Raflatac, each playing a crucial role in label production, to explore the value of a systemic vision of the process. During the event, it was possible to discover the state-of-the-art in Konica label printing systems and roll-to-roll digital enhancement in a journey that showcased all the strengths of an end-to-end workflow: from printing to label finishing with die-cutting and protection through flexo coatings.
At the Label Printing Roadshow, the audience had the opportunity to:
- touch digitally enhanced samples;
- see how it is possible to complement traditional printing technologies with digital systems capable of handling low runs and high customization;
- verify the print results on prestigious labels for the food, wine, cosmetics, and industrial sectors;
- print labels with white color in a single pass and with a high degree of opacity.
But let’s see how DIGI COMPACT made “the difference”. It is a compact and ergonomic solution that provides a high-performance digital finishing line. Easy to use, highly intuitive, and fully customizable, it can combine analog and digital technology on a wide range of materials from 12 to 350 microns. Additionally, thanks to a reduced paper passage, it ensures waste reduction during the set-up phase.
Michelangelo Mascellaro, showroom manager at Prati, showcased the machine in roll-to-roll configuration during the event, capturing the audience’s attention. Here’s why: “We pre-treated the roll material with a corona treatment to print a glossy or matt protective varnish, depending on the request. This was followed by register die-cutting with our semi-rotary die, which offers numerous advantages. First of all, the operator does not need to change the magnetic cylinder, as they can always use the same one; it is sufficient to modify only the work parameters on the machine. Once the register system is set, we can also adjust the cutting depth, thanks to our gap master, and then finish the job by cutting and rewinding. The machine is very simple and intuitive, yet includes a lot of automation, not to mention the significant savings achieved by using a single magnetic cylinder while only changing the blade.”
What did customers appreciate most? “Certainly the modularity: in addition to the corona treatment, we can add flexo printing modules, control systems, etc., and configure the machine for roll-to-stack operations (to produce, for example, single-layer labels with plastic films and then stack the labels).
The DIGI COMPACT can also be customized with a semi-automatic turret with an automatic cutting group to significantly reduce processing times. Blade positioning occurs in 20 seconds with millimetric precision, and since the blades are self-sharpening and positioned at an angle, the customer can continue to use the blade group for over 5 years, with excellent performance!”
But that’s not all. “For those looking to go further,” Mascellaro continues, “by adding a register notch, in addition to executing the full varnish, the machine can register directly with a pre-printed roll and perform a gloss UV varnish in register, also automated to ensure perfect printability and match the machine’s speed.”
What prospects does this machine offer the customer?
“Having a single platform for multiple applications, DIGI COMPACT embodies a forward-thinking approach: as a multitasking machine, it can be configured for roll-to-roll, roll-to-sheet, and roll-to-label operations. The goal is to offer infinite finishing possibilities with just one machine.
“This all-in-one model,” explains Chiara Prati, CEO and CSO of Prati, “represents the future of digital label finishing, where sustainability, efficiency, and unparalleled flexibility come together to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving market. In response to today’s market needs, which require maximum flexibility, Prati machines guarantee wide customization options, with a versatile design based on an open concept that can adapt to continuously evolving circumstances.”
What is the guiding principle of Prati’s approach?
“Standardize customization. Our machines,” continues Chiara Prati, “stand out for their exceptional modularity, offering unmatched flexibility to meet multiple needs. Powered by FUTURA technology, they are designed to be fully scalable and ready to adapt to the changing demands of the market. This approach allows us not only to meet current market needs but also to anticipate future ones, helping our customers maintain a competitive edge in a continually evolving sector.
With new solutions like Prati’s DIGI COMPACT, companies can now achieve a broader range of finishing applications on a single platform, embracing versatility without compromising speed or quality.”
Exciting Emotions
“Participating in the event,” explains Concetta Daniela Binario, Communication Manager at Prati, “confirmed how sharing experiences, networking, and good relationships among people are crucial for the success of an event. The location chosen by Konica Minolta also contributed to making a difference. The profound words written on the walls of the Cantina VentiVenti resonate: for beautiful things, it takes TIME; imagination, innovation, love.
And the visit to the winery was exciting and instructive in this sense. In the case of wine, starting from the production of must, each phase is followed by a more or less long resting period, which allows for refinement. Only by respecting the right resting period can the wine express its qualities to the fullest.
Isn’t it the same in the industrial reality? Every project succeeds when accompanied by experience, dedication, passion, and the right TIME.
For 2025, Prati has several innovations planned, both in terms of machines and departments. The first we will discuss soon will be INNOTECH, a step towards excellence in customer service to respond quickly and efficiently to various requests. All innovations that will testify, with the right time, what it means for Prati to stand by its customers on a journey of innovation and high-quality works.”
Because…
Believing that everything has been discovered is a grave mistake,
is taking the horizon for the limits of the world
(Antoine Marin Lemierre)
