The HP Indigo 18K Digital Press opens up new possibilities for print shops in digital B2 offset printing: With support for a wide variety of substrates, expanded color options, and the new HP iCoat II inline coating system, high-quality commercial, packaging, and specialty applications can be produced efficiently in a seamless production process.

Demand for flexible, versatile, and cost-effective production solutions in the printing market is steadily increasing. Offset printers, in particular, are looking for ways to diversify their service offerings, generate additional value in-house, and tap into new market segments. As the global market leader in digital B2 printing, HP Indigo is expanding its portfolio with the HP Indigo 18K Digital Press—a system that combines digital flexibility with offset-like quality and industrial-scale productivity.

The HP Indigo 18K was unveiled at drupa 2024 in Düsseldorf and has since generated significant interest, particularly among offset printers. The B2 digital press is designed for a wide range of applications—from high-quality commercial print products to envelopes, calendars, and personalized print products, all the way to sophisticated packaging applications such as folding cartons.

With a maximum sheet size of 750 mm x 530 mm and a substrate thickness ranging from 75 to 600 microns, the HP Indigo 18K offers an exceptional range of production capabilities. Particularly noteworthy is its ability to print on both sides of substrates ranging from 75 to 600 microns in a single pass, even in duplex mode. This enables print shops to strategically expand their range of services and broaden their portfolio to include, for example, folding cartons, cardboard packaging, or high-quality specialty products.

The HP Indigo 18K also sets new standards in color: The system can be equipped with up to seven color units and allows for the use of special colors such as orange, violet, and green to further simulate process colors. In addition, Pantone colors can be delivered as true spot colors upon customer request—a unique selling point in the digital printing market. Furthermore, white printing opens up additional design possibilities on black and colored substrates as well as on transparent films.

The new HP iCoat II inline coating system further expands the value chain. Water-based or UV coatings can be applied as spot or full-surface coatings directly during the production process. In addition, soft-touch coatings and other coating variants can be used to create high-quality special effects that add tangible and visible value to packaging, envelopes, calendars, and other printed materials.

The combination of digital B2 production, a wide variety of materials, expanded color gamuts, true spot color handling, and integrated finishing makes the HP Indigo 18K a forward-looking solution for print shops that want to expand their range of services, tap into new applications, and offer their customers distinctive print products with higher value.