Labelling Blog

With a dozen installations worldwide and one customer ordering five,   PRATI is celebrating the market success of its   VEGA plus  LF 330 BOOKLET system. "We are really proud this extraordinary solution is helping so many companies develop new applications to enable growth in such a range of markets segments", says Chiara Prati, sales Manager at PRATI. Specifically designed for the off-line production of booklet, coupon and EC labels, the 75m/minute VEGA plus LF 330 BOOKLET has a web width of up to 330mm and can  apply - in register - a booklet label on the base label.  It is ideally suited to pharmaceutical and agri-chemical sectors as well as the food industry where this type of label is perfect for promotional content on packaging. It runs unsupported and self-adhesive labels  - standard, coupon, flat, curved, and thick booklet - regardless of the diameter. Delivered in a modular format, it can be adapted to meet customer’s requirements. “It is this modular

UPM Raflatac has been granted FSC and PEFC chain of custody certificates for its labelstock operations in Australia and New Zealand. The chain of custody certifications guarantee that the wood used in UPM Raflatac’s label materials originates from sustainably managed forests.   “Achieving chain of custody certification for our Oceania operation demonstrates our ongoing commitment to environmental responsibility,” says Jouni Komulainen , General Manager of UPM Raflatac Oceania. “Our customers can purchase paper labelstock knowing that their materials are sourced from sustainably managed forests, and certified paper labels give retailers the opportunity to demonstrate their sustainability credentials to consumers, who in turn can make responsible buying decisions.”   FSC and PEFC are currently the main global forest management certifications. The Australia and New Zealand facilities will be annually audited to verify its continued compliance with the certification requirements.

The inaugural Label Summit Africa has been hailed a huge success after 303 senior delegates including converters, brand owners and label designers attended. Held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) between 19-20 March, the Summit’s innovative program proved thought provoking and brought new ideas of how to do business across the wider continent to the forefront.       Organised by the Labelexpo Global Series team, the keynote address was given by Jay Gouliard of Avery Dennison Label and Packaging Materials. Highlighting the importance of innovation, Gouliard looked at the opportunities and benefits offered by eco labels and innovation packaging, whilst outlining that increasing sustainability can maximize profitability. Other presentations included Dr Adrian Steele of Mercian Labels Group who gave a case study on how online marketing transformed a short run label printing business model. Hewlett-Packard Indigo’s Christian Menegon with Grant Watson from Ro

Book production specialist Sagim has increased its orders by 20 percent and stretched profit margins on short runs, following its investment in the KODAK PROSPER 1000 Press. The KODAK PROSPER Press has enabled the company to be more competitive and meet increasingly shorter turnaround times.   Sagim was the first print house in Europe to invest in a PROSPER 1000 Press. Its customer base comprises small, medium and large French publishing houses, such as Grasset , Odile Jacob , Presses Universitaires de France , Flammarion and Gallimard .   A well-considered investment Christian Devambez and Guillaume de Courcy purchased Sagim in April 2009. Their aim was to invest in new technologies and offer a highly competitive package for short and medium runs. “The choice was to reinvest in offset or switch to digital, and we opted for the latter,” says de Courcy, Managing Director.   Sagim investigated the different technologies available — from xerography or inkjet-based

At drupa 2012, (Hall 4, A02) Pageflex will highlight its position as a leading supplier of web-to-print solutions by showcasing new software and product releases that extend the capabilities of its solutions to new regions and other forms of communications. " At drupa, printers from all over the world gather to learn how to be successful in a challenging marketplace,” says Elly Perets, Vice President of Pageflex Sales and Marketing. “The latest release of our software includes globalization features that puts Pageflex at the center of those discussions. We have translated our technology into ten new languages, which gives print service providers in countries all over the world the tools they need to be more efficient, expand their product offerings, and grow their business. It also enables truly global operations to have one consistent partner."   These features will be showcased at drupa alongside new additions and partnerships that extend Pageflex’s personal

UPM has developed a new in-house solution for recycling paper based release liner back into pulp and paper. Release liner is the siliconised backing material that is an essential part of self-adhesive labelstockuntil the printed labels have been taken into use.   Packers and brand owners can now have their used release paper recycled at UPM’s paper mill’s de-inking plant in Plattling, Germany, instead of sending it to incineration. At the UPM facility, the liner is de-siliconised and processed into pulp to be used as raw material for UPM’s paper products.   “This innovative solution serves the entire industry. We are very happy that our constant aims to minimise solid waste and maximise the reuse of raw materials are coming true also in the label value chain. With four million tonnes of recovered paper per year, UPM is the world’s largest user of recycled fibre in graphic papers and therefore we have access to various types of recovered papers – now also including release paper

Avery Dennison Label and Packaging Materials has launched a new HP Indigo-certified digital print-ready version of its high-performance Global MDO film.   With the addition of this new facestock, Avery Dennison continues to expand its portfolio of HP Indigo-certified substrates. The broad and flexible portfolio is available in minimum order quantities. Available in clear and white options, the new top-coated digital film laminate is part of Avery Dennison’s innovative machine direction orientated (MDO) film product line. The films feature a balance of properties that eliminate darts and wrinkles in high-speed dispensing environments and challenging packaging formats, ensuring greater shelf and brand appeal.     “The Global MDO digital facestock enables label and packaging brand owners to fully leverage their SKU strategies by taking advantage of the speed-to-market capabilities of HP Indigo digital printing. The expansive portfolio offers the ultimate flexibility in dri

Kodak has expanded a reseller agreement with Online Print Solutions (OPS) from covering customers in North America to a global relationship, further enhancing the commitment to drive a high level of additional value to customers through advanced web-to-print tools. Kodak has been an authorized reseller of the full range of OPS web-to-print and cross-media marketing solutions in North America since early 2011. The growth and success of this relationship is resulting in a global expansion to Europe and Asia during the first quarter of 2012.   Kodak is committed to adding professional services and third-party products that complement Kodak’s portfolio, delivering personalized solutions that fit each customer’s unique requirements.   “The success of the Kodak and OPS relationship in North America really dictated the need for a worldwide offering,” said Mark McGowan, CEO, Online Print Solutions. “The combination of Kodak’s exceptional professional services team and commitment to sup

Today Avantium announced its second major partnership for its YXY technology to produce PEF bottles. Danone Research and Avantium have entered into a Joint Development Agreement for the development of PEF bottles for Danone, number two worldwide in bottled water business. The agreement forms another cornerstone of Avantium's commercialization strategy to further co-develop the YXY technology for producing PEF bottles.   "The agreement with Danone Research is a fantastic step forward on our path to commercialize PEF bottles" says Avantium's CEO Tom van Aken. Today, Danone Research is at the forefront in contributing to the development of next generation bio-based plastic bottle. Our YXY solution for the packaging industry creates a new bio-sourced material delivering superior functional properties versus conventional PET technology (for example light weighting potential, barrier and thermal properties). We believe that the process economics and carbon footprint of

For fast and reliable driver’s license checks, Schreiner PrinTrust has now developed the ((rfid))-Document Label. The RFID label is applied to the driver’s license with key data encrypted for contactless reading. The label simplifies and enhances the security of administrative processes for vehicle fleet management and car sharing systems, for example. Additionally integrated security features provide protection against counterfeiting.     The ((rfid))-Document Label by Schreiner PrinTrust is subsequently applied to existing ID documents such as driver’s licenses or membership cards. Data such as the validity of the document and user ID can be stored on the RFID tag for fast and decentralized checks after application of the label. The rugged product composition of the ((rfid))-Document Label guarantees long life as the size and technical properties are customized to the particular application. Customers have a free choice of printing and design options and the adhesive is a

To know where you are going, it’s important to recognise where you are. In the spirit of that well worn sentiment, Intergraf is launching its new policy brochure Vision for the European Graphic Industry. The brochure is aimed at decision makers of the European Union and will be supplied free of charge to Intergraf member federations. The brochure compiles all of Intergraf’s lobbying activities into one clear, concise document. It focuses on four main areas. These are: business competitiveness; environment and energy; skills, employability and labour market; and finally, promoting print. The twelve page brochure will be a source of information on the aims of the graphic industry for officials from the European Union. Through Intergraf members it will also provide information to decision makers at national level. It is important that those who need to be informed about the industry are aware of the scope of the challenges the industry faces and the opportunities available. With a

Technical Innovations in Offset and Digital Printing At drupa in Düsseldorf (May 3 –16), Muller Martini will present new production systems and demonstrate the possibilities for optimizing existing systems at Stand C21 in Hall 14. Digital solutions from Muller Martini will also be displayed at the stands of HP and KBA. “At this year’s drupa, we will showcase convincing innovations from all group divisions that meet the demands of today’s market,” says Bruno Müller, CEO of Muller Martini. We will present a total of ten machine exhibits at our 2,100m2 stand: - The VSOP web offset printing press from Muller Martini for packaging materials with the shortest changeover times and the highest level of printing quality. - A completely new inserting system for the production of newspapers and mailshots with an optimal price-performance ratio. - State-of-the-art systems for hardcover production – for example for high-quality photo books. - New possibilities for saddle stitching wit

At DRUPA 2012, Scodix bursts onto the scene by launching a newly created Scodix Rainbow™ and Scodix Inkjet-Braille™ solution for digital print enhancements. The Scodix Rainbow is an add-on station that digitally applies glitter powder to selected areas over printed substrates. The process – Scodix Digital-Glittering™ – is a patent pending new print technology that brings the sparkle to printed materials. Once again Scodix makes history, while demonstrating its commitment to digital print enhancements. Suitable for a range of applications, including photo-books, labels and packaging, greetings and business cards, books and marketing presentations, Scodix Digital-Glittering™is a breakthrough in digital enhancement printing, offering an opportunity for print service providers to turn ordinary applications into extraordinary creations. Based on the ScodixSENSE™ printing process, the latest inkjet solutions also creates a clear thick polymer as high as 250 microns to enable the reproduc

Sales at Krones, the world’s market leader for beverage filling and packaging technology were up by 14.1 % in the 2011 business year compared to 2010, rising from 2,173.3 to 2,480.3 million euros. Krones has thus overachieved its growth target. At 2,514.0 million euros, the company’s order bookings were 14.6 % up on the preceding year’s figure. Earnings before taxes rose during 2011 in comparison to the preceding year from 70.8 million euros to 74.6 million euros. This result is affected by a provision in the financial statements for 2011 relating to potential settlement arising from the Le-Nature’s litigation. As previously reported (see also ad-hoc release dated 26 January 2012), Krones is currently engaged in mediation with US-plaintiffs with respect to the Le-Nature’s case. Krones was able as planned, despite the challenging macro-economic environment and the adjustment for one-off expenditures, to strengthen its 2011 operative profitability. Earnings after taxes fell in

Xeikon further strengthens its commitment to the Asia Pacific (ASPAC) region with two senior appointments. Josep Roca takes up the role of ASPAC Sales Area Manager with responsibility for further developing the business of Xeikon’s digital printing solutions – both in the Document Printing and Label & Packaging markets. Josep will also be responsible for the new ThermoFlexX flexo imager lines of business in the region. Joining Josep is Li Yuk Ngong, based in Singapore, who has been appointed as the ASPAC Service Manager. Li is tasked with building up a strong support team to provide the highest level of service and support in the region for the full range of the company’s digital printing solutions and ThermoFlexX flexo imaging solutions. With over seventeen years of printing industry experience in the Asia Pacific region, Josep brings a wealth of industry knowledge to the team. Much of this experience has been gained as an industry specialist in the AS PAC packaging segment al

Pageflex is an international supplier of marketing and printing automation solutions since 1996 and has headquarters in Marlborough (USA) and Caesarea (Israel). Following its recent strategic initiatives to expand its presence in Europe, Pageflex is now addressing the increased demand for its products with the opening of a new office in Warsaw, Poland. The move will support plans to build on its rapidly growing customer base and enhance its relationship with European resellers including ROI360 Software Distribution in the UK, Konzept-iX in Germany, and VBS in the Nordics. ROI distributes Pageflex Storefront, Pageflex Server, Pageflex Campaign Manager and Pageflex iWay and after recently entering into a Master Reseller Agreement, it added Pageflex iWay. Konzept-iX , which has represented Pageflex since 2000 has also been given Master Reseller Status and added Pageflex iWay to its portfolio of solutions. In addition, reseller VBS has successfully distributed iWay technology since

The Flexographic Technical Association’s 2012 Excellence in Flexography Awards competition aimed to rate the execution and degree of difficulty of nearly 500 submissions from every flexographic segment. This year, the competition’s 36 volunteer judges bestowed 130 awards; including 36 gold medals, 37 silver medals, 46 bronze medalists and three self-promotion accolades. Held annually, since 1960, to date more than 4,500 awards have resulted from the contests. Formal unveiling of FTA’s 2012 award winners, came at a gala banquet held in conjunction with the organization’s 54 th Annual Forum and 30 th Edition of its INFO*FLEX Exhibition. The events are currently taking place at the Grand Hyatt and Henry B. Gonzalez Convention center, respectively. INFO*FLEX, which bows at 12:30 pm, Monday, March 19 will house an “awards gallery,” where every winning print piece will be on display. “Last year, there were few awards that stood out with higher line counts. The percentage is higher thi

Hammer Packaging has been recognized with seven awards in the 37 th International Gallery of Superb Printing competition, produced by the International Association of Printing House Craftsmen (IAPHC).  The competition is produced annually by the IAPHC, honoring excellence in the arts and sciences of graphic expression.       Hammer received recognition across several label types: Gold – Activate, Nantucket Nectars, Two If By Tea; Silver – Bolthouse Farms Passion Orange Guava, Purex Crystals, Tribe Tea; Bronze – Summer’s Eve. "It is an annual tradition to look forward to presenting the entries of Hammer Packaging to the jury of the International Gallery, an international graphics arts competition administered by IAPHC, The Graphic Professionals Resource Network.”  Kevin Keane, President and CEO of the IAPHC commented:  “Hammer Packaging is a 4th generation firm that does not rest on its Internationally recognized laurels.  The firm re-invests in both its human resou

UPM Raflatac has opened a new slitting and distribution terminal in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The terminal began operations in early March and will supply both paper and film labelstocks to customers in Argentina. The new terminal demonstrates UPM Raflatac’s commitment to improving its service capabilities and product offering to meet growing demand in the South American region. “The opening of our new terminal in Argentina is an important strategic step for UPM Raflatac. We are excited to offer our high-quality labelstocks and to be able to significantly improve our service capabilities to the market in Argentina,” says Jouko Lähepelto , Senior Vice President, Americas & Asia Pacific. The Argentina terminal complements UPM Raflatac’s service network in South America, comprised of a labelstock factory in Rio de Janeiro and a slitting and distribution terminal in Jaguariúna, Brazil.   About UPM Raflatac UPM Raflatac, part of UPM’s Engineered Materials business group, is one

Spec Systems and Label and Litho place orders for ROTOCONTROL slitting, rewinding and die cutting finishing machines .   ROTOCONTROL today announced the receipt of another three finishing machine purchase orders in South Africa from Spec Systems, Label and Litho, and a third Converter. The orders were confirmed through the local Agent ROTOTEC at Label Summit Africa, and marks 21 finishing machines sold into South Africa.   Colin Roux, Spec Systems and Pascal Aengenvoort, ROTOTEC at Label Summit Africa 2012                Ordered by Colin Roux, Director and Steven Makepeace, Director of Spec System s wa s an RSD Die Cutting, Slitting/Rewinding Finishing Machine. Technology features that led to the order include 100% servo Bosch Rexroth Drives, remote Service and Support through the Internet, and continued after sales and support based on a long-standing relationship with Michael, Pascal and Patrick Aengenvoort of ROTOTEC. Spec Systems   is a turnkey Auto ID solutions provider w

The documents in the new database cover all pertinent routine enquiries from our customers about product safety, regulatory compliance and end-user specifications. They largely apply to all Siegwerk products and are meant to quickly satisfy many of our customers’ information needs. You are asked to state compliance of your printed article to REACH? Or required to confirm compliance with the regulations for food packaging, for cosmetics, for toys (i.e. standards EN 71-3, ASTM F963), or for electronic devices (RoHS directive)? Or you are asked to confirm that your printed products contain    no Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC)  no toxic heavy metals  no phthalates  no bisphenol A  no mineral oils  no polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH's)  no brominated flame retardants  no organotin compounds of concern (TBT's, DBT's, MBT's),  no polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's),  no nanoparticles   We help to make this easie