Labelling Blog

FEPE, the European Federation of Envelope Manufacturers, held its 54 th Congress in Edinburgh on “Meeting the Needs of a Demanding Market”. The event which was co-hosted by the Global Envelope Alliance (GEA) was attended by 110 delegates from 18 European countries, the USA, Canada, South Africa, Israel and Japan, representing Envelope Manufacturers and their suppliers. The Director General of the Universal Postal Union Edouard Dayan, the Chairman of the US Regulatory Commission Ruth Goldway, the and Jane Dyer from the International Post Corporation reported about transformation and diversification of postal services at global level required to serve consumers, which, according to recent studies in the US and Switzerland, still favour “paper” as the most secure and reliable communication media. GEA´s founder Bert Berkley stressed the importance of cooperation with postal operators, a message picked up various times during the event.  Presentations on market developments...

In his keynote speech at Labelexpo Europe, UPM Raflatac President Jussi Vanhanen presented some of the key findings from a recent market survey commissioned by the company. According to Vanhanen, growth in self-adhesive label demand will continue in Western Europe and North America at a slower pace than in the previous decade, while demand will increase especially in the emerging markets.     “In the developed markets of Europe and North America, the consumption of self-adhesive labels will follow the growth of packaged products. Self-adhesive labels will take marginally market share from other labelling methods. Therefore the growth rates for the industry will most likely remain at around 1-2% per annum. The highest growth rates will be enjoyed in the food and beverage end-use segments where the penetration of the self-adhesive label is rather low,” said Vanhanen at Labelexpo in Brussels.     Nevertheless, on the global level self-adhesive labelling wil...

Comprehensive services portfolio sets the standard in customer care   Xeikon customers can expect even better support thanks to the company’s new range of tailored service and support packages. Xeikon Integration provides peace of mind during the installation and first year of integration of a new machine. We offer a range of packages, and each includes machine installation, basic operator training, application production training and a Xeikon Care Gold service contract:   · Optimal – additional professional training and on-call print consultancy help improve productivity, workflow efficiency and operators’ skills · Flexible – includes 10 days’ on-call print consultancy to ensure your Xeikon solution operates at maximum productivity as soon as possible · Enhanced – includes advanced, customized training to ensure your team can handle any production hurdles that lie ahead · Basic – includes professional installation, as well as standard operator and applicat...

Print service providers in Chile and Brazil now have access to market-leading digital printing solutions following Xeikon’s expansion of its dealer network in South America. Davis Graphics will sell the Xeikon 3000 series, Xeikon’s dedicated label presses, in Chile, while PTC will supply the same systems in Brazil. The partnerships will enable Xeikon to build on its momentum in South America, as GSI is already selling the company’s systems in Colombia.     South America is an important market for Xeikon. The region is experiencing significant growth, with print service providers in the region increasingly looking for flexible and cost-effective digital printing technology.     Xeikon chose Davis Graphics and PTC as their distribution partners because both companies have an excellent track record in the graphics industry, specifically in the self-adhesive label market.     Miguel Troccoli, owner of Brazil-based PTC, comments: “We’ve seen st...

High product quality guaranteed when using OMEGA and GAMMA printers and corresponding inks Extension of product safety and quality guarantee: Atlantic Zeiser Group, a leading developer and supplier of integration modules and standardised total solutions for industrial digital printing has announced its OMEGA and GAMMA printing systems as well as the corresponding UV inkjet inks developed in-house now hold UL certification of the official authorities based on an 3M initiative. The certification guarantees that using 3M's high-quality label material with Atlantic Zeiser printing modules and inkjet inks will maintain a consistently high level of product quality. Customers, label and machine manufacturers have the assurance that they can rely on a tried and tested combination of printing technology, printing inks and printing materials.     “Atlantic Zeiser and 3M, the market-leading manufacturer of high-performance films and labels, have been working closely toge...

New flexo quality standard delivers flexo print comparable to offset, gravure     EskoArtwork ( www.esko.com ), has revolutionized the flexographic printing industry with the introduction of HD Flexo two years ago. HD Flexo has brought to flexographic printing a quality level that could previously only be achieved with offset or rotogravure printing processes. HD Flexo today has evolved to be the new standard in flexography, functions with most digital flexo plates and is suited for applications including labels, flexible packaging and corrugated.       “Prior to HD Flexo, selling flexo shrink sleeves against rotogravure was a harder sell—the quality didn’t quite match on the more intricate designs,” says Sean Keeney, President & CEO of Walle Corporation, the first company in North America to install this technology. “So gravure was the preferred print method for customers, unless the upfront cylinder costs made it prohibitive or the sleeve ...

New Inline UV2 exposure unit enables flexo printers to offer choice of round or flat-top dots     EskoArtwork ( www.esko.com ) has once again lifted the quality bar of flexo plate making with the release of Inline UV2. The new inline UV exposure unit for Cyrel Digital Imagers now offers flexo printers the flexibility to select the type of print dot – either round-top or flat-top – according to the specific job requirement. With this new found flexibility, printers can offer their clients the best of both worlds in terms of dot quality . A hot topic in the flexible packaging market today is whether to use round or flat-top dots during the flexo plate making process. Both have their respective advantages: round-top dots offer vignettes down to zero with the finest minimum dots, while flat-top dots offer best-in-class solids, due to their high solid ink density. Recently, there has been a resurgence in demand for flat-top dots to improve solid ink densities when print...

Leading Graphic Arts Supplier Operates in 54 Countries Serving More Than 230,000 Print and Business Customers Worldwide     EskoArtwork ( www.esko.com ) today announced that it has entered into a distributorship relationship with Antalis Southern Africa to distribute a range of EskoArtwork products serving the flexo / packaging market, as well as the visual communication market. These include the complete flexo product line with CDI flexo platesetters, HD Flexo and Digital Flexo Suite, the complete Suite 12 packaging software editors and workflow solutions, and the digital finishing solutions.   “Our goal is to work with the number one suppliers in each of the domains we serve,” said Keith Solomon, Director of Graphics for Antalis Southern Africa. “EskoArtwork is obviously a leader in the packaging and flexo solutions arenas, and their products fit nicely with other products in our portfolio.”     Antalis Southern Africa has 468 employ...

The Mercian Labels Group, Cannock, UK, has completed its latest investment with the purchase and installation of a new Xeikon 3300 digital label press. The new press which is due to be commissioned shortly is the company’s second investment in Xeikon digital printing equipment.     Dr Adrian Steele, Managing Director of The Mercian Labels Group said: “Investing in a second Xeikon machine at this time in the economic cycle is the right decision for both our customers and us.  We are in business to make money, and the increased capability of the Xeikon 3300 machine will bring a new dimension to our short-run labelling division, which will make us more profit.       “The increased four-colour speed with inline converting delivers a real productivity benefit to us as lead times from artwork approval to dispatch are now always under three days.  Our workload in 2011 has been getting increasingly erratic and spiky, but that’s the way we like...

Successfully used by Castel for the application of labels in its two bottling centers of Castel Languedoc Roussillon and Blanquefort Bordeaux, the UPM Raflatac ProLiner PP30 release liner allows Castel to improve its productivity and environmental performance.     The filmic release liner is characterized by lower weight and volume than paper-based glassine and results in both economic and environmental benefits for the largest producer of French wines: made from polypropylene, ProLiner PP30 is thinner and tougher than traditional liners and allows real productivity gains. For the same diameter, the reels are longer and can have 20% more labels, which means fewer reel changes on the bottling line, so less waste. Castel have invested in a new labelling machine and the resilience of ProLiner PP30 helped increase the application speed of the labels on bottles, without break risk, from 12 000 to 25 000 bottles / hour. The ProLiner PP30 release liner is mainly used for labe...

Hand in hand with the ability to offer greater personalisation and traceability comes an increased need for reliable verification and integrity assurance solutions as demonstrated by Atlantic Zeiser’s VERICAM ™ solutions at LabelExpo 2011, Brussels, from September 28 to October 1, hall 11, stand R95.   Operations keen to deliver unrivalled reportability, reduced error rates and track and trace capabilities can find all the answers they need in Atlantic Zeiser’s integrated state of the art, simple to use, verification systems. High-quality cameras guarantee the alignment of the printing and integrity check the process, ensuring print and personalization jobs are more profitable by reducing setup times and increasing machine availability at the highest standards.     Making 100% data verification and print quality control easier than ever is the VERICAM high-speed camera system. Combining Atlantic Zeiser’s unrivalled camera algorithms with the most adv...

Xeikon will release a new white paper on brand protection printing at Labelexpo Europe 2011, taking place at the Brussels Expo, Brussels, Belgium from 28 September to 1 October. The 36-page white paper offers a comprehensive overview of the anti-counterfeiting techniques that can be combined with digital printing technology to combat the ever-increasing rise in counterfeit goods across the globe.     Hundreds of brand protection and security technologies are available on the market today, yet only a few printers and converters are really making any use of them. The aim of the new white paper is to educate the market on the many security capabilities that are now available through digital printing, and to show the need for all players in the packaging supply chain to work together to build an integrated brand protection solution.     “Working together is the key to brand protection”, says Filip Weymans, Marketing & Business Development Manager, Labels ...

Xeikon will showcase its latest additions to its ever-expanding family of label substrates for the Xeikon 3000 Series at Labelexpo Europe 2011, taking place at the Brussels Expo, Brussels, Belgium from 28 September to 1 October. Visitors to the Xeikon stand will have the opportunity to see, for the first time, live demonstrations of the Xeikon 3500 printing on Cast PE, supplied by MACtac. The press will also print labels on the first bio-degradable material from Fasson. In addition, Xeikon printed labels will be on display across the show floor on stands of Xeikon’s many other partners.     As more and more label printers turn to digital print technology for their production, there is a growing demand for substrate flexibility in the digital arena. Xeikon is committed to meet this demand and since the introduction of the QA-I toner at IPEX 2010, its toner R&D group has worked closely with its partners to continuously expand its range of substrates for the Xeikon 3000...

THINflex® Reduced Film and Liner Thickness Allows Brands to Meet Sustainable Packaging Goals   FLEXcon, an innovator in adhesive coating and laminating, today announced the introduction of a new line of “greener” down-gauged films; namely, THINflex® 1.6 mil topcoated BOPP films in clear, white, and silver. By reducing film and liner thickness, FLEXcon is providing converters and brands with sustainable options, which allow consumer packaged goods companies to reduce excess packaging and offer a “greener” product to consumers.  These films are ideal for primary and secondary labeling applications on semi-squeeze and rigid containers.  The new offering is ideal for health and beauty, food and beverage, and over-the-counter pharmaceutical labeling.   “The shift away from excessive packaging continues. We’re providing brands and converters with more sustainable options by reducing the overall footprint of the label components,” says Rick Harris, Product Ma...

DuPont Packaging Graphics has created an online, highly interactive version of its industry roadmap, titled “ Advancing Flexography, the Technical Path Forward .”  Currently available in English and soon accessible in seven other languages, this interactive content, based on the popular white paper first published in April 2011, has been thoroughly revised and includes new details on the benefits of emerging technologies such as the DuPont™ Cyrel® DigiFlow flexographic workflow, a modified ultraviolet (UV) main exposure system that enables linear copy and improved solid ink density.     “The past, present and future technologies that drive the flexographic printing industry to meet the increasing demands for faster output, higher quality and greater sustainability are explored here in engaging new ways,” said Michael Buri , global brand manager- DuPont Packaging Graphics .  “The interactive medium is designed to appeal to forward thinking printing professional...

Package printers and brand owners are always looking for new ways to more accurately predict spot colors on press while at the same time reducing costs and improving efficiency. Now, users of the KODAK APPROVAL NX Digital Color Imaging System can do just that with a new tool—KODAK RECIPE COLOR Profiler.     With the new KODAK RECIPE COLOR Profiler, users of the APPROVAL NX System can develop spot color recipes in less time and at a lower cost than in the past. One of the key differentiators of the APPROVAL NX System is its ability to render spot colors accurately using halftone proofing. Kodak has improved the process for setting up recipes, making it faster and easier than before.     Using RECIPE COLOR Profiler, the time it takes to develop spot color recipes can be reduced to less than a minute, while also eliminating the use of three to four sheets of media, which reduces both material and labor costs. Unlike inkjet proofing of spot colors, the APPRO...

Package printers and brand owners are always looking for new ways to more accurately predict spot colors on press while at the same time reducing costs and improving efficiency. Now, users of the KODAK APPROVAL NX Digital Color Imaging System can do just that with a new tool—KODAK RECIPE COLOR Profiler.     With the new KODAK RECIPE COLOR Profiler, users of the APPROVAL NX System can develop spot color recipes in less time and at a lower cost than in the past. One of the key differentiators of the APPROVAL NX System is its ability to render spot colors accurately using halftone proofing. Kodak has improved the process for setting up recipes, making it faster and easier than before.     Using RECIPE COLOR Profiler, the time it takes to develop spot color recipes can be reduced to less than a minute, while also eliminating the use of three to four sheets of media, which reduces both material and labor costs. Unlike inkjet proofing of spot colors, the APPRO...

— Kodak will be reinforcing its "Concept to Consumer" theme at Labelexpo Europe 2011 (Hall 9 Stand 9F70) throughout presentations in its educational and inspirational K-Zone.     The relaxed and informal on stand area will provide an interactive element demonstrating Kodak’s broad product portfolio, knowledgeable expertise and creative approach to delivering customer focused solutions. Through a mixture of moderated customer roundtables and technical discussions, experts from Kodak will also discuss exciting market trends and the possibilities they offer as well as the pressure spots and how these can be addressed.     “Kodak wants to help share knowledge and assist customers in what they do, not simply ‘talk about products’ but give real life feedback on the issues that customers face, how they have been overcome and how this has benefitted their business,” comments David Croft, Kodak’s Packaging Segment Manager.     Clever Pro...

New KODAK SPOTLESS Flexographic Solution leverages the wider color gamut capabilities of the KODAK FLEXCEL NX System to drive production efficiencies and maximize shelf impact. Kodak today announced the KODAK SPOTLESS Flexographic Solution, a new system that helps flexographic trade service providers and printers maintain impactful product package appearance, cut costs and increase production efficiency through the reduced use of spot colors.         The new software and measurement device package is an ideal companion to the award-winning KODAK FLEXCEL NX System . Users of FLEXCEL NX Plates enjoy better print stability, higher print densities and wider color gamut with four-color process printing than other digital flexo plates—features that are essential for successful substitution of spot colors with process color printing.     The KODAK SPOTLESS Flexographic Solution is designed to be user-friendly, intuitive and includes specific ...

Kodak announces KODAK DESIGN2LAUNCH Brand Manager, a centralized digital workflow and brand-asset management solution. The solution will be available for demonstrations at PACK EXPO (booth # S7014) in Las Vegas, Sept. 26-28.   This technology enables enterprise packaging and marketing teams to securely approve, organize and distribute packaging and marketing artwork, layouts and other digital assets to departments, regions and suppliers. The web-based solution provides end users with process management tools that can boost operational efficiency, increase speed-to-market and improve brand consistency over multi-channel marketing and packaging assets.   “Faced with global expansion and increased customer demands, enterprises require better ways to market, manage, protect and grow their brands,” said Ron Malloy, Director of Enterprise Growth Initiatives, Kodak’s Business Solutions and Services Group. “DESIGN2LAUNCH Brand Manager helps to put standards in place that enabl...

Kodak announces the KODAK TRACELESS AD System for Antidiversion, a proprietary solution for manufacturers to defend against gray market activities, reported by Deloitte LLP to cost businesses billions of dollars in revenue each year. The TRACELESS AD System combines an invisible ink and proprietary detection system to help brands track products and prevent the creation of illegitimate distribution channels and unauthorized resellers.     Kodak’s Security Solutions product experts will demonstrate TRACELESS AD System at industry events, IQPC Anti-Counterfeiting & Brand Protection Conference in New York, Sept. 26-28, PACK EXPO in Las Vegas, Sept. 26-28 and Labelexpo in Brussels, Sept. 28-Oct.1.     “Gray market activities disrupt manufacturers’ distribution channels and create artificially lowered prices, supply chain demand issues and unauthorized sales,” said Dr. Myra T. Olm, Director, Brand Protection Research and Product Development, Security Soluti...

Xeikon will launch a new version of its QA-I toner in spot red and orange at Labelexpo Europe 2011, which takes place at the Brussels Expo, Brussels, Belgium from 28 September to 1 October. The new spot colors feature a vastly improved light fastness up to a level of 6 on the blue wool scale. In addition, both colors now meet FDA food safety requirements for both direct and indirect dry food contact. Visitors to the Xeikon stand will also have the opportunity to see for themselves the results of a recent light fastness benchmarking test, which confirms Xeikon as the best performing digital printing technology on the market. When Xeikon first released the QA-I toner at IPEX 2010, it raised the bar of digital color print toners to new heights. Uniquely developed for the label and packaging market, the new toner featured major advances in color gamut, fast lightness and food safety. It was released in all the standard CMYK process colors along with a series of off-the-shelf spot colors ...

– Xeikon will launch VariLane, a new software plug-in for its X-800 Digital Front End, at Labelexpo Europe 2011, taking place at the Brussels Expo, Brussels, Belgium from 28 September to 1 October. With VariLane, print service providers can now create imposition schemes for label print runs with different references and with labels of different sizes. This offers printers the maximum flexibility to optimize the amount of material used and to maximize the print time – further increasing their profitability and improving production capacity.     Imposition is one of the fundamental steps in the prepress process. Arranging the position of labels on the roll width in order to serve the proper application of the labels in the later production processes. Typically, labels are arranged in lanes across the web roll – and because the label had to be of equal size, the print lanes were of equal size. VariLane, the latest plug-in for the Xeikon X-800, offers prepress operators the ...