FFEI has unveiled a number of enhancements to its Graphium hybrid digital UV narrow-web label press, including a sixth inkjet channel to enable a digital over-white in addition to the existing digital under-white.

The sixth channel, which was always on the product roadmap, will give a configuration of white plus CMYK plus white, enabling converters to print both under-white and over-white.

This gives a variety of benefits, including boosting the opacity from 65% to 85% in pure white areas of a label and increasing edge definition and clarity when printing labels with white knockout text.

FFEI managing director Andy Cook said: "When you're printing a coloured background with white knockout text, there is a tendency for the weight of the surrounding ink to cause some loss of edge definition. If you apply the white on top you get much crisper, nicer result. "Also for applications where you want a really 'white' white, you can now print the under-white and finish with the over-white to give the highest levels of flatness and opacity." Further updates are planned, including the option of a digital spot varnish for the sixth ink channel.