en.Wedoany.com Report on Mar 24th, Italian label manufacturer Artes Etichette has recently installed the world's first high-performance hybrid press, the Gallus Five, to enhance its digital printing capabilities. The system became operational in December 2025, helping Artes transition a significant volume of conventional printing jobs to digital, thereby reducing setup times, saving materials, and streamlining production processes. This move reflects the continued growth of the Italian label market, valued at approximately $2 billion in 2024 and expected to expand steadily over the next decade, primarily driven by evolving packaging demands and product diversification.
The Gallus Five rapidly reached industrial production levels after installation. Artes utilizes this hybrid press to handle increasing production demands, particularly in the food label sector, as well as for labels in chemicals, detergents, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and durable goods. Regular jobs reach 10,000 linear meters, with periodic runs up to 60,000 linear meters, demonstrating its ability to achieve industrial-grade productivity. For customers requiring high volumes and precise results, the Gallus Five is becoming Artes' preferred platform, meeting demands for speed, flexibility, and consistent quality.
Luca Airoldi, CEO of Artes, stated: "Quality is taken for granted. No customer says, 'Make me a cheap label that's not too beautiful.' The label must be perfect, and the Gallus Five delivers the precision needed to meet that standard every time." The Gallus Five, co-developed by Gallus and Heidelberg, is designed to scale hybrid production for volume-driven markets. It incorporates the newly developed Heidelberg Saphira UV05 ink set, featuring a high-pigment formulation that reduces ink consumption and lowers the total cost of ownership.
According to Airoldi, rapid response to urgent jobs is another key advantage of the Gallus Five. He said: "The Gallus Five enables us to meet challenging delivery deadlines. When a customer needs something urgently, quality and reliability are paramount. With this machine, it's hard to go wrong." The press operates at speeds up to 100 meters per minute, and its color stability, predictable registration, reduced waste, and shorter makeready times significantly simplify operations. Airoldi added: "With conventional technology, if you have four or five colors, you have to account for startup time. With digital printing, you save on setup time and materials. There's no ink residue, no startup waste. This means complex jobs that previously might have required several hours of preparation can now be started in about 30 minutes."
