Labelling Blog

Founded in 1821 by Girolamo Luxardo, the eponymous company is now one of the oldest European companies, as well as global leader in the production of sweet liqueurs. Luxardo S.p.A., currently managed by the sixth generation of the founding family, is famous for its Maraschino production and holds the European record for marasca cherry tree farming with approximately 20,000 trees.     The production of this prestigious company however, is not limited to Maraschino alone, but it also includes a broad variety of sweet liqueurs, herbal liqueurs, grappas and fruit distillates, in addition to the famous Sangue Morlacco, Sambuca dei Cesari and many many more, which are distributed in almost every market worldwide.   In Italy, Luxardo is the top producer of alcohol-soaked aromas for the confectionery sector which include Amarascata, a deluxe Marasca Cherry jam made with 170% fruit.   The production facility boasts one of the most modern distillation plants to guarantee the

Barcode tracking applications found in the metals processing industry can reach temperatures up to 600C and identification of these metals can be difficult, expensive and time consuming if using the wrong durable label material.     For many applications, polyester labels are considered durable label solutions.  For harsher applications, polyimide based labels offer greater performance.  However, for ultra-high temperatures found in the metals processing industry and even more robust solution is needed.  As illustrated in the images above, Polyonics aluminum based labels are far superior to the polyester and polyimide materials in extreme temperature environments.   Polyonics has developed two high temperature aluminum materials that use a special white top coat that resists yellowing at high temperatures and is thermal transfer printable.  These materials offer an acrylic adhesive system or a silicone adhesive system for the ultra-high temperature identification of coils,

Troika Systems, the manufacturers of the highly successful Anicam Series and QC tools have endorsed Alphasonics anilox cleaning systems. The two companies have worked closely over recent years in showing anilox management is invaluable to any flexo printer and that maintaining regular cleaning is integral to this process. Troika have put their name to the endorsement for the Liverpool based manufacturer due to the effective results seen in the field when Alphasonics systems have been encountered. Managing Director of Troika, Phil Hall said, “We’ve seen Alphasonics systems in countless print houses and know the company well. Through analysis of huge numbers of aniloxes where different cleaning methods are used, we can say with confidence that Alphasonics are fulfilling their statements and are a safe and highly effective method of anilox cleaning. We’re thrilled to be able to lend our seal of approval.” Troika have cited thorough cleaning on all inks in the time stated by Alphason

Raising the Hurdle for Counterfeiters: Tailored Authenticity Protection with the Pharma-Comb Label by Schreiner MediPharm Schreiner MediPharm develops customized, reliable means of marking pharmaceutical products to enhance protection against piracy and tampering. The Pharma-Comb label offers a wide range of security features that address the specific needs of pharmaceutical manufacturers and meet the requirements of EU Regulation 2011/62/EU for prescription drugs. The Pharma-Comb label is a versatile marking solution with detachable label parts. Equipped with integrated security features, the label becomes an effective means of providing pharmaceuticals with customized authenticity protection. Overt features like holograms or color-shifting security inks are combined with covert features such as the void effect or the LaserSecure specialty pigment into multi-level security systems, depending on the requirements.   Holograms Complex holograms confront potenti

26—Jaz Book, designed for color book printing applications, and Jaz Silk, specifically made for direct mail and commercial printing, both from Sappi Fine Paper Europe, are the latest substrates to be recognized in Kodak’s Paper Rating Program. Testing shows that both papers, created for high-speed digital inkjet web printing, provide outstanding image quality on KODAK PROSPER Presses.       The 4 diamond rating for each means that users will experience consistent, high-quality results. Kodak, a digital printing pioneer, has been working with paper mills around the world for more than 25 years to test and develop media that will deliver optimized results on KODAK Printing Equipment. The relationship between Kodak and Sappi, the world’s leading producer of high-quality coated fine paper, has been growing for more than four years. “Working collaboratively is a priority for us. Together with Kodak, we have been able to positively combine our experience and expertise with a great re

Xeikon NV, an innovator in digital color printing technology, announced today that Labels in Motion, an Orlando, FL-based label printing company, has purchased and installed a Xeikon 3500 digital label press to handle production of customized labels for the nutraceutical market. Labels in Motion is a subsidiary of XYMOGEN®, an independent health sciences company with more than 25 years of experience providing quality vitamin supplements to healthcare practitioners. XYMOGEN had been outsourcing label production to other companies, but the management team decided to bring the digital label operations in-house, and Labels in Motion was founded.   The Xeikon 3500 is based in a new 135,000-square-foot manufacturing facility, and is used not only for printing XYMOGEN product labels, but also serves other companies in the health and wellness, as well as food and beverage markets. Manon Chin, chief operating officer for Labels in Motion, said the company’s strengths go much further t

Castello Banfi, a reference point in the wine sector, was founded in 1978 by the Mariani brothers who, at the time, already owned Banfi Vitners, one of the major American wine import companies. Protagonist in terms of wine excellence on a global level, Castello Banfi obtained the ISO 9001-14001 certification in 2001 for its quality and environmental policy and, in 2006, was the first winery in the world to obtain the SA 8000 certification for its exceptional ethical, social and environmental responsibility in the production of goods and services, and was awarded the Wine Oscar by the Italian Association of Sommeliers in 2010. With a property of 2,830 hectares, 850 of which with special vineyards, Banfi grows a raw material that is absolutely perfect for the wine-making process. Soul in the vines, heart in the winery, with over seven thousand barrels to age their wine, built according to very strict criteria and certified directly by Banfi. The wines produced by this important vine

Customers can use the ”Parking République” parking garage in Metz, France without a parking ticket or cash. Drivers simply identify themselves by means of the NFC-Sticker from Schreiner PrinTrust attached to their cell phone when entering and exiting the facility. The NFC-Sticker thus proves its capabilities as a multi-talent yet again. As a means of payment, customer card, proof of identity or access authorization, the specialty label makes it possible for the user to join the world of contactless applications–even without an NFC-capable cell phone.     2,100 parking places and more than a million customers per year—Urbis Park operates the largest parking garage in the city of Metz. The company uses a parking management system by Scheidt & Bachmann that makes it possible for drivers to conveniently enter and exit by means of NFC technology. Customers can register online to receive a personalized NFC-Sticker for application to their cell phone. “The NFC-sticker thus replaces

– X-Rite , Incorporated is staging a free webinar to showcase how PantoneLIVE can help meet brand expectations and achieve consistent color across a multitude of substrates, from labels to cartons. Targeted at creative and label design professionals, the webinar will take place on March 27 at 11am EDT (3pm GMT).   It will detail how PantoneLIVE ColorBook and Viewer enables designers and premedia users log in to the PantoneLIVE ecosystem and assign the centrally stored PantoneLIVE colors, including Brand-Owner colors. The result is a seamless communication of color requirements from brand owner through the design stage and into production, including ink formulation and pressroom With PantoneLIVE ColorBook and Viewer designers can preview the appearance of colors in the production phase. This provides designers with an up-front, realistic view of what will be achievable in production, and allows users to make smarter decisions early on, saving valuable time and reducing er

Xeikon, an innovator in digital color printing technology, announced today that South Africa-based Spec Systems installed a Xeikon 3030 digital color press to complement their current business – a first for Xeikon's 3030 press in South Africa.     With offices in Durban, Johannesburg and Cape Town, Spec Systems has grown into being an important label solution provider in South Africa and specializes in thermal transfer solutions, bar code labels and blank labels. Spec Systems’ philosophy is top quality and fast service to their customers. Making their move into full color label production, the company decided to skip traditional flexo label printing as it would be too cumbersome, and to opt for a digital printing system. After comparing a range of competitive solutions, Spec Systems decided to invest in a roll to roll configuration built around the Xeikon 3030 and an offline Xeikon miniDCoat for UV coating, die-cutting and rewinding as they were confident this configuration

  Find out where the energy curing industry is heading and how companies can be part of its future success. It is a fact of life that many people, in many industries, believe that energy curing – using UV or EB – is a new technology, or, at best, in its infancy. Neither is true. The technology took its first steps 40 years ago. Today, both systems offer high-technology solutions to curing -- drying or bonding – of all kinds of materials, from composite laminates, plastic shoes and bags, smartphone outer casings and inkjet to printing inks. Energy curing is fast, reliable, and cost-efficient.   RadTech’s mission This year, RadTech Europe -- the association created by the leading players in the energy curing supply chain – celebrates its 25 th anniversary. In my role as President, it is my mission to promote members’ expertise, and encourage an increase in our membership to reflect the broadening markets; to bring a knowledge of the capabilities of our core technology to an

UPM Raflatac has introduced two adhesive upgrades to continue advances in migration safeguards in line with the EU 10/2011 regulation. The regulation aims to further improve consumer safety, by placing tighter controls on the potential for substance migration from packaging components into food.   UPM Raflatac’s new RP 36 FG and RP 36 ML adhesives have improved non-migration characteristics to further reduce even the slightest possibility of food contamination. They are classed as infant and baby safe, and they are approved for direct food contact, including labelling carcasses, as well as indirect food contact.   Laminates of Foodgloss RP 36 FG and Foodgloss RP 36 ML achieve good results in a Sensory Analysis for Indirect Transition of Flavour according to EN 1230-2 (Robinson test). Improved UV resistance gives the laminate and converted labels a longer shelf life for efficient and convenient stock management. RP 36 FG also offers good clarity for optimal product presentation

Bioforce in Ayrshire, UK has purchased a Newman Labelling S150 system to label a range of traditional herbal remedies including Echinaforce Echinacea Drops, which are sold the world over. The S150 is a fully automatic labelling system, designed for maximum versatility, offering the capability to apply paper and clear self-adhesive labels to a wide range of products; these include cylindrical, rectangular or square containers from 10mm dia. to 150mm dia. in glass, plastic, metal or composite materials. The system, which outputs up to 150 c.p.m., requires virtually no change parts, making it both easy and efficient to use. The S150 is the first new Newman Labelling System purchased by Bioforce, but the company has enjoyed a long relationship with Newman following the purchase of a refurbished Newman 5FL machine around 15 years ago. Bioforce Production & Operations Manager Michael Stokoe explains further: "the 5FL had performed so well for us with very little issues for

huber group launches CRS max – an optimised mixing system for offset inks. A definite and precise mixing philosophy is the hallmark of the huber group's CRS max ink mixing system. The ready-to-use, monopigmented base colours enable ink formulae to be mixed that can be customised to the respective application and to the demands with respect to the substrate and finishing. As a result, all spot colours can be mixed rapidly, flexibly and cost-effectively right in the printshop. In addition to the high quality of all of the components, the ink mixing system offers a number of other impressive competitive advantages. The printer mixes precisely the right amount of each ink required and has them immediately at his disposal. Also, thanks to the straightforward pigment concept, any residual ink can be worked into fresh inks without any problems. Since this means that practically no residual inks are accumulated and very little time is wasted matching the colour of inks at the pre

Established in 1863 in Switzerland, Maggi was bought in 1947 by the Nestlè group, world leader in nutrition, health and well-being. Specialised in the production of products that are easy and quick to prepare, Maggi is today the Nestlè brand dedicated to high-quality instant sauces, rich with nutrients and that are, at the same time, competitive on the international market. For years, P.E. LABELLERS has worked together with this famous multinational company in many countries, providing the best of its labelling technology for the various applications requested. In 2012 the Vietnamese Nestlè plant turned to P.E. LABELLERS to solve a big problem involving labelling: the application of a thick and glossy wraparound label, with cold glue on truncated conical formats at a rather high speed; an almost impossible feat while respecting the client's specifications and the very low application tolerances imposed by them (lower than a millimetre). Thanks to its forty years of experience

Labeling adhesives have to satisfy multiple requirements. A new generation of casein-free adhesives now offers extended properties and a performance profile that ensures trouble-free production processes for beverage manufacturers while extending their options. Worries that these innovative adhesives could cause problems in bottle cleaning plants have proven to be groundless. In the course of their life cycle, beverage bottles can encounter a whole range of conditions – in bottle cellars, in beverage retailing, during transport, in refrigerators or during cleaning. The same applies to their labels that position the brand and also inform the consumer about the beverage’s composition and ingredients. The label is also exposed to a large variety of influences, e.g. fluctuating temperatures, changes of air, moisture and mechanical stress. The adhesives employed therefore have to do far more than just stick the label to the container. In fact, they have to feature a broad profile of proce

T.W. Parkers, a self-adhesive label and packaging converter, and the UK’s leading supplier of ‘post-mold’ labelling, has installed two Gallus EM 430 S lines at its plant in Bootle on Merseyside to boost efficiency and broaden the scope of its production capability. The two flexo presses replace three older 330mm wide presses, and according to Parkers, have ‘doubled running speeds and have the additional benefit of a wider web width.’ Established originally in 1952 as a supplier of paper bags to the grocery trade, the company has always been involved with food packaging, and moved into labels and carton production with a mix of flexo and offset press technology.  But, it was the company’s quest for innovation that led it to become an award winning label converter when it developed specialist techniques and knowhow to develop the market for post-mold labelling of food containers. Still under family ownership, with Tim and Toby Parker at the helm, the company underwent a major program

Albert Gabriel, David Bankson and Pat Hill of Label Technology, with the Martin Automatic MBSF butt splicer on a new MPS press.   Label Technology, Merced, CA, has installed a Martin butt splicer on a new MPS EXL660 flexible packaging press. The MBSF splicer matches the high productivity specifications of the 10-unit, 26-inch digital servo drive press, unwinding and splicing paper and unsupported films, including 48g PET, at speeds to 750 fpm. David Bankson, President of Label Technology, says, "Martin butt splicers are an essential piece of equipment on our flexible packaging lines. They are extremely reliable, easy to operate and very robust. I have no doubt they will be delivering consistent performance for years to come." The latest installation brings to three the number of Martin Automatic splicers in Label Technology's facility, with splicers running on Mark Andy and PCMC presses. http://www.martinauto.com

March 2013 marks 20 years of successful operation for UPM Raflatac in Russia. UPM Raflatac was the first international manufacturer of self-adhesive label materials to open its own slitting and distribution terminal in Russia, in 2009. Today the company offers comprehensive service and logistical support for deliveries direct from sales offices and slitting facilities in Moscow and St. Petersburg. “Russia is among the largest growing markets for label materials, and delivery speed has a big influence on demand,” describes Artjom Shvedun , Sales Director for UPM Raflatac in Russia. “Today we have the capacity to deliver from two Russian terminals to almost all our local customers within 48 hours.” The Russian division opened with a staff of one in 1993. Today a team of 60 professionals works to meet the challenges of a growing market. “There’s very high competition in Russia among printers and suppliers of self-adhesive materials, so it’s essential to maintain the highest standard

ROTOCON has announced the receipt of a purchase order from First Impression Labels , a converter in South Africa, for a ROTOCONTROL RSC 340mm web width vertical inspection slitter/rewinder finishing machine. This marks the second ROTOCONTROL RSC finishing machine investment for First Impression Labels. ROTOCONTROL RSC sold to First Impression Labels The order was confirmed on the second day of Propak Africa by Vaughan Cumming, Operations Director of First Impression Labels. Pascal Aengenvoort, Director of ROTOCON, comments: "We are thrilled to receive this second ROTOCONTROL order from First Impression Labels at Propak Africa. The overall attendance to our stand so far has been exceptional and there has been considerable interest in the RSC finishing machine demonstration, in addition to MPS offset and flexo printing. We are offering a shuttle service from the show to JMB Labels to demonstrate the MPS 410mm narrow-web press in a production setting." Located in Durban

Chinese self-adhesive label market is growing with a double digit rate. From an initial stage of reduced printing quality and high volume production, the label market is moving to a more sophisticated and technical advanced level. Today, the local industries, together with multinational corporations, are looking for high-standard labels and innovative quality. Nuova GIDUE, one of the most competitive Italian manufacturer of printing and converting machines in the Labels and Packaging industry, announces the successful installation of its new M5 at Suzhou Industrial Park Tianjie Printing Co. Ltd. SuzhouTianjie Printing Co. Ltd is a leading label converter in the Chinese panorama. Founded in May 2002, it is a private enterprise specialized in the printing of self-adhesive labels. The several years’ diligence and hardworking spirit endowed Suzhou with a solid foundation. Suzhou Tianjie has the production process of completing printing, UV drying, silk screen printing, cold foil stampi

The Pharmintech trade fair event will be held in Bologna on April 17th - 19th. This is the first edition where Packlab (P.E. LABELLERS group) will be displayed among the exhibitors in Hall 22, Stand B59. In this occasion, it will launch its new self-adhesive linear labelling machine, specially designed for the pharmaceutical sector: PHARMALINE.   The PHARMALINE CW 60 model has been designed to meet the needs of pharmaceutical companies in terms of product traceability. Equipped with a sophisticated checking and discarding system, this labelling machine prints labels and checks the printing quality by discarding unsuitable labels before they are applied on the product, thereby solving issues related to discarding containers if labels are printed incorrectly and making it easier to trace discarded labels, in accordance with requirements contained with pharmaceutical regulations. Available for speeds of up to 100 ppm, PHARMALINE can apply a self-adhesive front label on part of or a

The conference program has been revealed as registration opens for the inaugural Label Summit Indonesia which is being held at the Westin Resort Nusa Dua in Bali between 29-30 May. Focusing on the label and package printing industry, the Summit will comprise a mix of technical presentations, real life business case studies and the latest industry insight and business intelligence into market trends, conditions and challenges. The Summit commences with a roundup of market trends with presentations by Multi-Color Corporation’s Brenton Barrett who will look at global trends and Ariana Susanti of the Indonesian Packaging Federation who will explore the latest developments in South East Asia. In a printer panel discussion, converters from Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines will look at printing as part of the economy and future growth opportunities. The afternoon’s sessions will address the latest available technologies, capabilities and applications. The

Label the future? That is a challenge for the label industry, in the face of the exceptional change that is happening on many fronts. A developing palette of label technologies and alternative options; the ‘cloud’ business environment; the urgent need for succession change in SMEs; making the decision to stay local, serve a specialty market segment, or go international; maturing geographical markets versus the emerging economies… these are all topics which, within FINAT and its member companies, the label industry is actively engaged in addressing. The prime task of FINAT, as the industry’s European association, is to help its members, who span the entire supply chain (from raw materials and label stock coating and lamination, to pressroom consumables and label converting) to define, and then activate, their future routes to success. Technology innovation Technology innovation is changing the face of the entire print industry; and as commercial print dwindles in the face of downl