Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts from October, 2013

Henkel’s new whitepaper on the topic of “Food Packaging”

Food packaging safety is an issue to which Henkel – as the world’s largest adhesives manufacturer – is deeply committed. On its knowledge platform “Food Safe Packaging Portal Europe”, Henkel presents a new whitepaper about “The requirements for self adhesive labels”. In her whitepaper, Henkel expert Elodie Picard explains how the company is constantly adapting its adhesive portfolio to fulfill customer demand.    The requirements for pressure sensitive labels are constantly changing and becoming more demanding. The food and beverage markets are the largest segments for pressure sensitive adhesive labels, and the requirements can be very different depending on the end use. Elodie Picard provides a summary as well as information and insights into relevant topics. Interested people can visit www.henkel.com/foodsafety to register for the premium area, where the whitepapers can be found along with a comprehensive glossary and further videos covering a range of key issues on food saf

The PandA Cube – the new series of print and apply labelling systems by Etiquette Labels

As the UK’s independent experts in labels and labelling, Etiquette prides itself on providing the reliable and cost-effective solutions that allow our customers to meet the demands of the ever-changing world of packaging. When it comes down to machinery there are three words on most purchasers lips – quality, price and reliability. In response to both the financial difficulties and the general demands from our customers, Etiquette has introduced PandA series of Print and Apply Labelling Systems , the latest of the series being the PandA Cube.   Historically, customers have needed to invest in a dedicated machine for label application in each position, such as Front of Pack, Top of Pack, Side of Pack etc.  However the new PandA Cube is a fully integrated system and with changing parts (applicator modules), the system can be customised and configured to apply labels in the most conventional, industry-standard positions. This delivers unrivalled adaptability to those companies wh

Kodak Seals Successful Deals with PWP PS and Optichrome at Print Efficiently 2013

Signed orders from PWP PS and Optichrome were among the highlights of Kodak’s participation at this year’s Print Efficiently. General commercial printer PWP FS signed an order for a KODAK NEXPRESS SX3300 Digital Production Color Press on the opening day of the show. The £2.5m turnover operation expects the new addition, with its KODAK NEXPRESS Fifth Imaging Unit Solution, to help it increase its digital market share by doubling the current monthly output of 300,000 A4 pages.   Managing Director Keith Robertson explains, “We are keen on the ability to use the clear dry ink for spot and flood coating and interested in what the dimensional ink will allow us to do. We think is it an exciting way to extend what we can offer our customers and it will enable us to be more creative. Designers in particular are open to suggestions and we look forward to presenting them with a greater range of options.” Colourful savings Optichrome chose to invest in KODAK COLORFLOW Software Pro wi

Kodak Cites Industry Growth Opportunities at GUA Conference

A freshly emerged Kodak and a brand new Technology and Solutions Centre combined to make the 8th Graphic Users Association of Kodak Solutions (GUA) Conference an upbeat event with a positive market outlook. More than 160 attendees were welcomed by Chris Payne, Kodak’s Vice President of Marketing, who highlighted the importance of the GUA and presented the latest update on the company and its emergence. Karsten Müller, President of the GUA, added, “As a board of customers, the GUA works to ensure that we are equipped with the latest knowledge and expertise to help one another. To do this, we actively engage Kodak to help us find solutions to our real-world business and technical challenges.” That is one of the reasons why this event for the first time featured a whole track dedicated to the ground-breaking KODAK Stream Inkjet Solutions that drive future growth and long-term success, provided an overview of the technology. The many and varied market opportunities possible were

Shelton Turnbull to install the Colordyne 1600-PC Rotary Pro digital printing press

Shelton Turnbull has invested in a Colordyne Technologies™ (CDT) 1600-PC Rotary Pro digital label and tag printing press to allow the company to address its major focus for the future – growing variable data printing and “on-demand” printing. A leading provider of printing and graphic communication services in Eugene, OR, Shelton Turnbull was impressed by the CDT 1600-PC Rotary Pro’s ability to compete favorably with traditional printing methods. The press will be installed this month to complement its existing flexographic presses. “We needed quicker turn-around and lower costs for short runs,” said Barry Miller, president of Shelton Turnbull. “Colordyne was unquestionably the best option for us as it both lowered cost while providing quality enhancements.” The Rotary Pro is a full-featured digital label and tag production system offering complete in-line printing, laminating, varnishing (aqueous or UV), rotary die cutting, slitting and rewinding. It offers the ultimate in dig

Inci.Flex first repro house worldwide to gain Esko Full HD Flexo Certification

Esko  announces that Italian-based Inci.Flex is the first repro house in the world that achieved Full HD Flexo Certification. The company was the first in Italy to invest in Full HD Flexo last year, and now already passed Esko's rigorous certification process. Full HD Flexo, along with the Certified quality seal, enables Inci.Flex to fully exploit the capabilities of digital flexo printing and deliver consistent, high-quality jobs with sharper images, bright impactful solids and a wider color gamut. Obtaining the Full HD Flexo Certification was of high importance for Inci.Flex. Shortly after installing Full HD Flexo in 2012, the company worked together with its customers to fine-tune their work and gain certification. "The converters we worked with were able to achieve remarkable print density and excellent definition with a low dot gain. That work – the plates, the production process and the printed results – was evaluated by Esko with great success: we got Certified!&qu

Avery Dennison Adds Food Safety and Promotion Portfolio to Its Select Solutions™ Offering

Avery Dennison has introduced a Select Solutions Food Safety and Promotion portfolio. The portfolio features a collection of fluorescent and dissolvable label materials to help brand owners run promotions, create product awareness throughout the food value chain, and safeguard consumers against illnesses related to material residue.   “Label materials are important links in the food value chain,” said Yaron Zimmerman, product manager, specialty products, Avery Dennison Label and Packaging Materials – North America. “From the warehouse to restaurant level, our new food safety and promotion portfolio addresses applications that include on-container retail promotions, in-transit freshness labeling and dissolvable labels for re-usable food service containers.” The portfolio includes: Fluorescent Label Material Used as promotional, inventory or warning labels, fluorescents demand attention. They are commonly used at the store level to promote new products and ingredients as

Denny Bros increase leaflet label presence in Spain

Deny Bros has appointed FMCG experts, BPO Packaging, based in Barcelona to represent them with the aim of maximizing their potential in nurturing existing customer relationships and securing new multipage labeling opportunities in Spain. Jorge De Oliveira and Pilar Blanch who are both product and business development specialists from BPO, will be the main contacts at Denny Bros’ new Spanish sales office which will further strengthen the company’s presence in the country.  The development comes at a time when Denny’s new Spanish website has just recently gone ‘live’. BPO will now assist Denny Bros in seeking out brand owners and buyers from many industries including food and drink, healthcare, chemical, automotive, beauty and DIY to select the right on-pack label media for their products.  Explains Denny Bros’ Sales and Marketing Director Stephen Jarrold, ‘This new arrangement will put more focus on the way the Fix-a-Form® brand is perceived in Spain which is an extremely valuable

World Market for Digital Packaging and Labels to Reach $15.3 Billion by 2018

The market for digital packaging and labels will be worth $7.3 billion in 2013 and continue to show impressive grow for the next five years, according to a major new report from Smithers Pira. Labels will account for the bulk of this volume with a value of $6 billion in 2013 - a total of 89.6% of all digital packaging. The Future of Digital Printing for Packaging to 2018 is a comprehensive new study by Smithers Pira, containing in-depth information regarding technological developments in the digital packaging sector as well as five year forecasts categorised by type and geography. According to the study, analogue packaging will grow by 28% in the 2008-2018 period while all digitally produced material will increase by 375%. This obvious disparity in growth rates explains why many equipment suppliers are developing digital equipment for the mainstream packaging market. Digital printing is well established in label production, where electrophotography and inkjet enjoy growing share

Kodak's Dynamic Content Delivery Solutions Welcomed At Successful WAN-IFRA 2013

Kodak expertise on how to create a dynamic newspaper printing production proposition proved to be a major attraction for visitors at this year’s WAN-IFRA World Publishing Expo 2013 in Berlin. Keen market interest in understanding where future developments lie was clear at the event, which enjoyed a 20% lift in visitor attendance to 8,500, up from last year’s 7,000.   “The market is undergoing a crucial period of change following pressure from online and mobile communications,” comments Philip Cullimore, Regional Managing Director EAMER. “Maintaining competitiveness is down to the ability to increase content flexibility and therefore value. This is why dynamic, more targeted content from codes to full pages enables publishers to add value and develop a product that encourages reader loyalty.” Some customers and prospects saw this capability for themselves when they toured a nearby Axel Springer production centre in Spandau. There they watched exactly what KODAK PROSPER S30 Im

Finnish converter safely relies on the FB-3300

The decision has been  made to follow with an increasing demand on the Finnish market for more complex and value-added labels. This flexo press is Laatuetiketti’s second FB-Line press. As a result, the company will now be able to widen the supply of labels with duplex coupons for foods and continue with different kind of label materials and gummed paper. Three entrepreneurs, who amongst them had accumulated almost 80 years of experience from the label converter industry, founded Laatuetiketti Oy six years ago. Back in October 2007, Laatuetiketti had one single customer – and one single press. Co-owner Timo Rouvi explains, “When venturing into a new business start-up, there is nothing more important than making the right initial investment”. Rouvi continues, “We listened to our printers who strongly recommended we purchase a Nilpeter FB-3300 – which we did”. With only one machine on the floor, the press reliability is of the absolute essence. “The FB-3300 is easy to operate and

Fix-a-Form celebrates top of class in international award ceremony

Leaflet label pioneers Fix-a-Form International (UK) recently held their biennial conference in Brussels with top managers and sales personnel in attendance from their global network of manufacturers. The highlight of the event showcased some of the globe’s best in class work during the prestigious 2013 Fix-a-Form® awards ceremony. Independently judged, the awards scheme assessed work across four categories.   Having recently joined the network, Inovalabel Romania took first prize for the best promotional Fix-a-Form® leaflet label for their work with a dairy client with Arca Italy receiving runner-up prize for their olive oil auto-collar construction. CCL Label’s (Denmark) XL-Label construction was awarded top prize for best innovative Fix-a-Form® leaflet label with a unique anti-counterfeit design for the agrochemical industry by Pemara Labels (Malaysia) receiving runner-up prize. For the third time in a row, Pyrotec South Africa received the award for Best Fix-a-Form® Ma

CCL Industries acquires Advanced Packaging Films GmbH

CCL Industries Inc. has signed a binding agreement to acquire the assets of Advanced Packaging Films GmbH in Schkopau, near Leipzig, Germany, for approximately $9 million in cash and assumed debt. The new business unit will trade as Advanced Performance Films and will be an integral part of the CCL Label global Food & Beverage business headed by Guenther Birkner, President. The transaction is expected to close on October 31, 2013.  Mr. Birkner commented, “This new capability allows us to design proprietary, specialty films for new sleeve and pressure sensitive label applications while improving our supply chain performance for part of today’s demand. It is an important strategic step as we seek to accelerate growth with global brand owners in the premium segment of this market. We remain the world’s largest trade buyer of heat shrinkable films for label applications from our valued supply partners.”   Geoffrey T. Martin, President & CEO of CCL Industries added, “Ov

Anro Inc. Places Order for First Highcon Euclid in the USA

Highcon announces  that West Chester-based Anro Inc. has placed an order for the Highcon Euclid digital cutting and creasing machine making it the first company in North America to be able to offer the benefits of digital package converting to its customers. The Highcon Euclid will join Anro’s digital printing line-up, allowing them to offer their customers a one stop shop; faster speed to market, greater flexibility and shorter run packaging. The family-owned entity has been in business since 1953 and launched digital technology in 1998. Chris Baker, Highcon VP Sales and Business Development:  “ Anro is well known for product innovation and customer service. A proven early adopter, the company needed no introduction to the advantages of digital technology. The Highcon Euclid allows Anro to produce products and services that are unique to digital finishing, such as highly creative packaging and on-demand responsiveness,  giving Anro a real competitive edge’’. Jim Spinelli, Anro CO

Esko introduces new Kongsberg C digital finishing platform

Acknowledging that the wide format digital printing world continues to rapidly escalate productivity that requires faster turnaround times on an ever increasing variety of materials, Esko ( www.esko.com ) answers that trend with the introduction of a completely new Kongsberg digital finishing system, the “Kongsberg C”. The first model of this new platform, the Kongsberg C64, is first demonstrated at the 2013 SGIA Expo in Orlando, Florida (October 23-25).   Kongsberg C systems are the first fully-featured super-wide digital finishing systems. “This is not scaled up from a light duty finishing table – it’s a completely re-engineered platform after a decade of the highly successful and well-known Kongsberg X-series,” comments Tom Naess, Esko Product Manager CAM. “We wanted to make sure that it was designed for 24/7 production and semi-industrial environments. Along with substantial flexibility, the new, wider format perfectly fits modern 3.2-meter wide format printers, working with

WS Packaging Group Unveils New Product Group Solutions as Part of Branding Initiative

WS Packaging Group, Inc. has realigned its product offerings into four new groups to more effectively communicate its focus on the full range of innovative packaging and branding solutions it offers to the market. The four product groups are WSPackaging&Label, WSPromotion, WSAutomation, and WSTechnology. The corporate branding umbrella remains WS Packaging Group Inc. “Our goal for the rebranding was to effectively organize our product offering and brands under appropriate headings so customers can more easily identify the full range of solutions we can bring them to help them achieve their brand growth objectives,” said Mark Moorhead, corporate director, marketing. “These new product group names leverage the strength, equity and investment in the WS Packaging brand at the product group level, and then by extension, specific product and service brands.” WSPackaging&Label product offerings include labels (pressure sensitive, glue applied, and in-mold), folding cartons, sh

SLEEVE LABELS: the industry’s ‘must attend’ event

All interested in, or concerned with shrink or stretch sleeve labeling will be eager to mark their calendars for next spring’s AWA International Sleeve Label Conference and Exhibition, 29-30 April. Following the outstanding success of the last event held in the USA, the 2014 conference will again be held in Cincinnati, OH, USA, and promises to deliver an informative, expert update on this dynamic industry. As in 2012, it will also feature a facility tour at Verst Group Logistics to see multiple sleeving production lines in action – including the company’s new high-elasticity stretch sleeve labeler. Focused agenda The formal agenda, led by a market overview from Dr William Llewellyn, Vice President and Senior Consultant, AWA Alexander Watson Associates, is divided into topic-specific sessions – on marketing, design, innovation, materials, application and technologies, and environmental issues. The advantages of MD shrink labeling, ink innovation and special effects for shrink fil

Mark Andy Unveils Digital Printing Solutions

Mark Andy Inc. announces the unveiling of the latest advanced digital printing platform, Mark Andy Digital Series.  The Digital Series is a game-changing, wholly configurable system that integrates full color, quality digital printing technology in line with converters’ needs for fast change, web handling, in-line converting and other label and package decoration options.  It provides key advancements in speed, color, quality and flexibility – delivering best-in-class quality at the lowest cost per unit. With beta sites identified, the first Digital Series will be installed in December 2013.  A design made up of contributions from a dedicated group of highly experienced and innovative digital scientists, engineers and technicians with hundreds of years of inkjet expertise, the new Digital Series promises to deliver a long awaited new and technically advanced total solution for label and package printers and converters.  At the core of the Mark Andy Digital Series is a unique and fle

Ocme for sustainability

Today, companies can no longer ignore the important ecological implications of their activity. Although this is partly an ethical consideration, it also has important commercial and economic implications. Increasingly more consumers are choosing companies that are sensitive to environment and companies today focus on costs reduction that means reduction of space, staff, energy, materials and time. Solutions such as DryBlock® have been designed to meet all these kind of needs. The DryBlock® system is a new way to build and manage the whole end of line. This combines the entire dry part of a production line into a single, integrated and synchronized Monoblock to ensure: cost reduction, reduction of energy consumption, space reduction, an increase in efficiency and high levels of flexibility. Reductions in cost and waste lead to the rationalisation of resources through the total synchronization of all elements involved, while maintaining the same features of each single machine inv

UPM Raflatac exhibiting pharmaceutical labelling solutions at InnoPack 2013

UPM Raflatac’s team of pharmaceutical labelling experts is present at the InnoPack exhibition on 22-24 October in Frankfurt, Germany. On stand 41B50 in hall 4.1, UPM Raflatac presents a comprehensive range of high-quality and leading-edge materials supported by global R&D and technical resources. As a leading supplier of self-adhesive label materials, UPM Raflatac works in close cooperation with the industry partners, carefully monitoring the trends and market needs. A full spectrum of pharmaceutical labelling requirements is covered by the dedicated label materials, and high performance adhesives with characteristics such as high cohesion for small diameter labelling, luminescence for missing label detection and resistance to sterilization. Options for security and anti-counterfeiting features protect patient and consumer safety, traceability and brand equity.   At InnoPack, UPM Raflatac’s experts present the migration-safe RP 31 Purus adhesive specially developed for lab

iSys Label Appoints ProFlexo International as New Distributor for Mexico, Central America, Colombia & Venezuela

From left to right: Jorge Diaz, Director ProFlexo - Mexico, Aileen Castillo,Sales Representative ProFlexo – International, Jaime Dagnino, Director ProFlexo – International, Randy Rickert, Director of iSys Label, Fernando de la Cueva, Sales Representative ProFlexo - Mexico   iSys Label, Canadian developers and manufacturers of short to mid run digital label printers have announced they’ve appointed ProFlexo International Inc., as their newest distributor. Covering Mexico, Central America, Colombia and Venezuela, ProFlexo International will offer iSys Label’s APEX 1290 and EDGE 850 digital label printers both directly and through a dealer network, providing customer’s direct access to the latest digital label printing technology. “The appointment of ProFlexo International will greatly enhance our presence in the Latin American market. Their existing industry knowledge was a key factor in the decision making process and we believe that ProFlexo will be a valuable partner within o

An OMET XFlex X4 press series goes to Poland

The Lublin-based Embe Press printing house has recently become the first Polish user of the Omet X-Flex X4 370 narrow-web printing press, equipped with flexo units and die-cutting station. It was the third Omet press purchased by the company as well as the second one delivered and installed by Ferag Polska – a sole distributor of Omet in Poland. Embe Press Sp. j. was established by its current co-owners – Slawomir Bezdek and Marian Mamczarz – more than twenty years ago. From the beginning it has been using two printing techniques – offset and flexo, however the second one brings Embe Press approx. 95% of its turnover. The equipment park of the company consists of five printing presses, including three Omet machines. The latest investment in the same producer’s solution was caused – as both co-owners say – by a growing number of orders for packaging printing, mainly from the food industry. The companies representing this market area, both from Poland and from abroad, constitute the

VIDEOJET® Introduces Three New Inks Specifically Designed for Its Newest Line of Ultra High Speed (UHS) Continuous Ink Jet Printers

Videojet Technologies Inc ., a world-leading manufacturer of coding, marking, and printing products, today announced three new Ultra High Speed (UHS) inks for its line of UHS continuous ink jet printers. These new inks – V516-D, V517-D and V530-D – join a family of ten other UHS compatible i nks that have been extensively tested across a broad range of print speeds and environmental condition extremes. Designed for optimal drop formation, Videojet UHS inks are held to the highest quality control standards, which means customers can experience top print quality at the highest speeds. “These three new UHS inks had their debut at Pack Expo 2013 where we presented our recently released Videojet 1620 and 1650 UHS continuous ink jet printers. We developed the UHS inks to provide exceptional coding quality that our high speed application customers have come to rely on,” said John Kirschner, Videojet supplies business manager. “Our family of UHS inks continues to grow with the addition of th

KHS introduces Innoprint

The new KHS-Innoprint machine KHS  allows beverage companies to print labels and logos directly onto their PET bottles. This direct digital printing process provides much more flexibility than classic roll-fed labeling technology, with the required print image transfered straight from the computer to the machine's control unit. This enables new bottle printing ideas to be implemented at great speed, as the KHS-Innoprint's control unit processes the data it receives very quickly. As a result, the smallest batches – or in extreme cases even each individual PET bottle – can be adorned with a different image. With their brilliant color and outstanding optical resolution of 1,080 x 1,080 pixels the ensuing prints are totally convincing. Another advantage of KHS' new digital printing process are the recipe-controlled format changes which make for very fast changeovers. If new bottle types are scheduled for printing, the print head is adjusted to the relevant position for

Kodak Stages Grand Opening for New Headquarters in Eysins (Switzerland)

Kodak marked the grand opening of its new Technology Centre in Eysins, Switzerland with an official ceremony attended by customers, partners, and employees. The new facility combines the company’s European headquarters, inkjet demo facilities and EAMER Technology Centre in a single building.     "Kodak is now a formidable competitor - strong and ready to help lead the industry through disruptive technologies and breakthrough solutions in fast-growing market segments," said Antonio M. Perez, Kodak Chief Executive Officer. "Our new Technology Centre in Eysins is a good example of how we bring everything together for the benefit of the customer -- technologies, products, services and our great team." Among that best technology is the successful KODAK PROSPER Press. Its capabilities were highlighted by Tom Fenske, one of four brothers who own Fenske Media in the US, when he gave a presentation during the opening. The operation’s two KODAK PROSPER 5000XLi Pre

Heidelberg Label Days bring together label manufacturers from around the world

Some 80 representatives from label producers around the world met at the Print Media Center of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) at its Wiesloch-Walldorf site on September 23 and 24. In the printing industry's biggest demonstration center, Heidelberg showed how its packaging solutions could be used flexibly and highly productively for industrial label production.   Inmold labels in sheetfed offset printing: The Speedmaster XL 106 with the CutStar sheeter handles the thinnest of films down to 50 micrometers with ease and with a high level of productivity. Label printing is a growth market Today, labels make up around 20 percent 1 of the packaging printing segment worldwide. Global demand is currently growing at around 4.5 percent 2 a year and production was approximately 49.2 billion square meters in 2012. The share of labels printed on sheetfed offset presses is growing strongly at present. With the growth rate at "just" 12 percent 3 from 2006 to