Labelling Blog

VEGAPlus CORE is a special finishing system from Prati that has been designed and built for feasible use of the revolutionary self-adhesive linerless CORE.  Support for labels without release liner is the brainchild of ILTI company that produces labeling systems, Ritrama, a manufacturer of self-adhesive materials and Prati who provides technical collaboration for appropriate converting lines. The system of Core Linerless Solutions® (CLS®) consists of a self-adhesive film, produced by Ritrama.  A thin film of PP film on a release liner is printed on traditional rotary narrow web presses at maximum speed without the need for die-cut. Once printed, the roll is transferred to the finishing line VEGAplus CORE from Prati ( http://www.corelinerless.com/en/technical_info#post-print ) that transforms the self-adhesive material CORE to a single web roll without liner support. Without going into details of this operation, VEGAPlus CORE enables precise web tension control followed by...

E-bikes are recording the highest growth rate in the vehicle market at the moment, according to Auto Club Europe. More than 1.3 million bicycles with various electric motors are currently being operated in Germany. For the latest drive system launched by the European market leader, Schreiner ProTech has developed design rings as accentuating visual elements and covers for the assembly holes. Many of the film-based solutions and functional parts by Schreiner ProTech are not visible at first glance or applied inside a product. In contrast, the design rings for e-bikes are deliberately placed on top of the drive system in order to close the assembly holes underneath. “The objective was to find a particularly sturdy material that would protect the drive system from normal external damage or vandalism while meeting the customer’s design specifications,” says Axel Müller, the responsible key account manager at Schreiner ProTech.   The material composite that was selected for thi...

Label Summit Indonesia 2014 which took place at Jakarta’s Balai Kartini between 18-19 June saw nearly 50 market leading companies showcasing their products and services to 297 attendees. Held for the first time in Jakarta, the second edition of two-day conference and pop-up exhibition comprised a mix of real life business case studies, panel discussions and technical presentations highlighting the latest printing technologies. Event highlights included Xeikon’s Filip Weymans’ keynote presentation. Weymans opened the conference with a thought provoking account of how personalization is growing in importance around the world and why packaging is playing an increasing role in triggering positive emotions between brands and the consumer. Weymans outlined how trust in brands is growing at a local level as brands use social media to create and form communities in particular regions. Another highpoint was the free and frank exchange between the printer panelists Andy Arto of Satyamitra ...

Kodak has commercially released new extensions to its industry-leading KODAK FLEXCEL NX System, empowering customers in the post-print and pre-print corrugated markets to drive significant print quality improvements while taking advantage of increased print stability and pressroom efficiencies. Developed in response to customer demand, the new KODAK FLEXCEL NX Wide 5080 System, and new range of KODAK FLEXCEL NX Plates will extend to the corrugated sector the print excellence customers have grown to expect from Kodak flexographic solutions. With a proven track record in labels, flexibles, cartons, shrink sleeves and bags, theFLEXCEL NX System allows pre-press providers and printers to maintain a competitive edge by delivering highly impactful packaging of exceptional quality while streamlining production costs. Through continued innovation and investment in technologies such as KODAK SQUAREspot Imaging Technology and KODAK DIGICAP NX Patterning, corrugated producers will now be able t...

The specialty chemicals Group ALTANA and Landa Corporation have concluded an equity financing agreement under which ALTANA will invest €100 million (~US$135 million) for a minority stake in Landa Digital Printing . Both companies see the agreement not only as a financial investment, but also as a starting point for a long-term strategic partnership to bring digital printing solutions to the commercial, packaging and publishing markets. Other units of the Landa Group, including Landa Labs and Landa Ventures, are not included in the transaction. The proceeds will be used for completing the development of Nanography , Landa’s water-based digital printing process, including engineering and production ramp-up of Landa Nanographic Printing™ Presses and building of manufacturing plants for Landa NanoInk™ colorants. ALTANA is expected to be an active partner, drawing on print industry expertise gained from its divisions including BYK Additives & Instruments, ECKART Effect Pigments, a...

With access to valuable hardware and software information, self-service support has increased 75% in less than half a year. Esko ( www.esko.com ) announces the successful implementation of its on-line Knowledge Base system. This system, part of a complete Esko help center available at http://help.esko.com/ , is a digital platform for customer support self-service. It is accessible for Esko users worldwide and can be navigated in a number of languages. “According to the Technology Services Industry Association (TSIA), planned spending on knowledge management and self-service technology is currently very high. Companies are relying on technology to create more robust self-service knowledge base systems,” comments Igor Vandromme, Esko Vice President Global Services. “TSIA also reports that new technology is enabling self-service sites to be overhauled and help to improve success rates. When more than half of TSIA members plan to spend resources in a single technology area, it is obvi...

HERMA is now presenting a special Inkprint collection. This self-adhesive material allows print shops to produce low- and very low-volume label runs on extremely economical inkjet printers with water-based inks. Whereas conventional self-adhesive materials are generally adequate for UV-curable inks, water-based ink requires a special paper coating that can absorb the ink better. The two grades included in the range, HERMAinkprint glossy (grade 211) and HERMAinkprint matt (grade 137), deliver outstanding results on standard inkjet printers, such as Canon, Epson, HP etc. with both sheet and web printing. They are also extremely suitable for ultra-fast Memjet technology which, with its static, page-wide print-head, combines the advantages of an inkjet printer with those of a page printer. Even at speeds of over 300 millimetres per second, images, codes and identification symbols can be printed crystal-clear and distortion-free in conjunction with the new HERMAinkprint range.   ...

The Coca-Cola Company, the most recognized brand name in the world, has a long tradition of marketing campaigns that capture attention worldwide. This summer is no different and with the release of the "Share a Coke" campaign in the United States, the company has made drinking a Coke, Diet Coke or Coke Zero even more personal. Hitting the shelves now, consumers can find their own name printed on individual 20 ounces bottles. With hundreds of different names being used, consumers can find their own name or share a personalized bottle with a friend. Coke contracted with Innovative Labeling Solutions, ILS, in Hamilton to lead and coordinate efforts to launch this unprecedented marketing event.   “As the lead label partner, ILS was able to work directly with Coca-Cola through the development, coordination and printing of a multitude of label variations within a relatively short period of time," said Chief Operating Officer Preston Bowles. ILS was selected to l...

Pyrotec PackMark  bring the Markem-Imaje 9232 S : a full-featured, high performance printer specifically engineered for the beverage industry. Ideal for demanding manufacturing environments, this revolutionary high speed inkjet coder can print two lines of text for production throughput rates of up to 120,000 products per hour. It also offers a host of other benefits that are designed to boost your uptime and optimise your total cost of ownership. These include up to five lines of printing for ‘best before’ dates, logos, alphanumeric text, and barcodes (1D and 2D); as well as font heights of up to 32 dots. The enhanced ink cartridge life also makes it possible for you to print up to 90 million characters per litre as standard. The Markem-Imaje 9232 S is ideal for consistent coding in humid environments including production lines that require frequent washdowns. It can also print on all types of beverage packaging including metal, PET, glass, liquid carton bricks (tetrapak)...

Effective June 30, 2014, Alexander van ́t Riet, Executive Vice President Labels of the Constantia Flexibles Group will step down from the leadership of the Labels Division in order to take up other professional duties. Starting July 1,2014 Mike Henry will assume leadership of the Labels Division. As EVP Labels Mike Henry will become member of the Executive Board of Constantia Flexibles, reporting to Thomas Unger, CEO. Mike Henry has been part of the leadership team of the Spear Group since September 1999 and in addition to his Finance Director position he leads the operations of the Spear Group in England and South Africa. Mike Henry holds a degree in Accounting & Finance from Kingston University, UK and is a Chartered Accountant. Before joining the Spear Group Mike Henry started his career at KPMG and served on the board of various industrial companies. The change in the leadership of the Labels Division also expresses the intention to further develop the integration of t...

Panther Graphics, Inc. a full-service print communications company based in Rochester, N.Y., is utilizing two of Kodak’s newest offset technologies to meet customer demands for high-quality and sustainable print at a competitive price. The combined economic and environmental benefit of an investment in KODAK ACHIEVE Platesetters with KODAK SONORA XP Process Free Plates has become increasingly popular with printers around the world. Panther Graphics is one of many companies to identify the advantages of this powerful combination and experience impressive return on its investment. The KODAK ACHIEVE Platesetter is a robust, entry-level output device that delivers high image quality with excellent reliability and consistency. Based on the successful KODAK TRENDSETTER Platesetter platform and Kodak's TH5 thermal imaging technology, the ACHIEVE Platesetter brings high-quality imaging at an affordable price. As print jobs become increasingly customized, offset printers are finding th...

RadTech Europe (RTE) announces that the next RadTech Europe Conference and Exhibition will take place at the Clarion Hotel in Prague from 13 to 15 October 2015. This informative three-day event will offer:   · Cutting edge presentations covering all aspects of radiation curing technology from breakthroughs in chemistry to the latest regulatory developments. · Unrivalled networking opportunities – A new conference set-up provides easy access to leading industry players and end-users . · A dedicated end-user day that will provide answers to all your questions regarding the practical use of radiation curing. This session will also provide information on the latest applications - from (3D) printing and packaging to electronics and automotive. · A completely revamped exhibition , including the latest product introductions for UV/EB and UV-LED For more information and regular updates about the Conference, visit www.radtech-europe.com ..

Edale hosted their very own training day on 17 th June and the response received was overwhelming with spaces filled within 48 hours of issuing invitations. This one day course was held at Edale’s head office in Hampshire and included presentations and practical training from supporting companies Fujifilm, Cheshire, Lohmann’s, Reproflex3 and Alphasonics. The aim of this course was to train supervisors, pre-press personal and operators in the different variables that could improve print quality and how to implement them. Companies who attended were split into smaller groups to allow more one on one time. Half the day was spent listening to presentations and participating in interactive discussions and the other half of the day was based in Edale’s showroom alongside Edale’s FL-3 flexographic printing machine with hands on experience and practical sessions. Edale’s account manager, Louise Bailey, comments “ It was great to see so many people getting involved, engaging not only w...

Stretch and shrink sleeves have grown over the previous decade to capture around 12.5% by area of the global labels markets. What is causing this increase in demand? Sleeve label demand is largely driven by its advantages in terms of marketing and brand identity, as well as its visual on-shelf appeal to consumers. New developments in sleeve label films and manufacturing processes are also improving the quality and definition of sleeve labels on a continual basis. Other market drivers for sleeve labels include economic influences, consumer demand for convenience products and retail trends. In this new bulletin, Smithers Pira examines the main advantages of stretch and shrink sleeve labels, and what might be behind this market growth. 1.) Brand identity What sleeves offer that is different to most other types of labelling and decoration is a cost-effective method of decorating highly complex shaped containers. They may also enable the wall thickness of plastic and glass containers t...

Colordyne Technologies (CDT) has introduced the 2600 Series , an upgraded print engine powered by Memjet™ technology, for its Production Class Digital Color Printing System and flexo retrofit program. The 2600 Series upgrade brings several value added benefits to the Production Class Digital Color Printing System, including: Faster speeds: Run at full speed, up to 225 feet per minute (69 m/min; 45 ips), regardless of image content (160 ft/min, previously) Improved print resolution: 1600 x 1375 dpi (up from 1600 x 1200 dpi) Enhanced print quality: Send uncompressed files directly to the print engine More powerful RIP: Faster data processing; no need to pre-RIP RIP and print on-the-fly: Eliminate time to first label Job chaining abilities: Switch print jobs continuously without stopping the machine Industry-standard Harlequin RIP (HDS) Frequency Modulation (FM) Screening PDF workflow: No need to change file formats Larger ink containers: 55 L ink t...

The number of North American craft breweries grew 15 percent in 2013, according to the Brewers Association. To help this rapidly growing market segment meet its branding needs, Avery Dennison Label and Packaging Materials has expanded its Craft Beer portfolio with eight new label constructions, including a semi-gloss paper with a wet-strength additive that delivers added protection against peeling and tearing. “The Avery Dennison Craft Beer portfolio allows brewers to create a label that is as distinctive as their beer, enhancing differentiation and preference while ensuring they present the desired image to the consumer exactly as they intended,” said Laura Clark, global marketing director, beverage, Avery Dennison Label and Packaging Materials. “As sales of craft beer continue to grow and new competition enters the market, it’s important to distinguish one’s product in every respect.” The Avery Dennison Craft Beer portfolio consists of paper and film materials with adhesives t...

Major software release of the next-generation productivity suite for packaging preproduction and management More than just a software update, Suite 14 is an essential resource for successful packaging and prepress professionals. It enables better connections throughout the supply chain, improves workflows, achieves higher consistency and quality, and helps operators to work smarter with templates and intuitive operator tools. The new Suite 14 is available beginning July 2014. Esko ( www.esko.com ) announces the release of Esko Suite 14, a comprehensive collection of new and updated software designed to give brand owners, premedia houses, converters, sign and display producers and commercial printers the resources they need to manage today’s complex preproduction environment. "To be successful today, packaging service providers and brands owners are required to perform exceptionally well in all areas of packaging preproduction," says Carsten Knudsen, Esko President an...

Today, Kodak and Japs-Olson announce the first installation of the new KODAK PROSPER 6000C Press , the industry’s fastest full-color inkjet press. Ideally suited for commercial print applications requiring high-ink laydowns, the PROSPER 6000C Press is part of a new PROSPER Press lineup that delivers high levels of quality, reliability, print speed and application flexibility. The PROSPER 6000C Press aims to empower commercial printers and print service providers of data-driven print applications, such as direct mail and transactional printing.   With over 107 years of printing history, Japs-Olson, an industry leading commercial and direct mail print service provider based in St. Louis Park, Minn., welcomes the opportunity to have the PROSPER 6000C Press housed and running in its state-of-the-art printing facilities. The installation is part of beta testing already in operation, conducted by Kodak and Japs-Olson to push the new press to its performance limits and tap the pot...

Packaging service providers and printers are under constant pressure to reduce costs, improve productivity and deliver new and innovative packaging concepts to brand owners. Understanding the trends affecting the industry today is the first step toward addressing these challenges and creating a differentiated offering. Esko ( www.esko.com ) announces the release of a new white paper identifying key market drivers that affect the packaging supply chain and discussing opportunities for innovation and efficiency in prepress and converting operations. 5 Key Trends for Packaging Prepress and Production Workflow , written by WhatTheyThink Senior Editor Cary Sherburne and sponsored by Esko, is available for download at http://whattheythink.com/whitepapers/5-Key-Trends-in-Packaging-Prepress.cfm “Our research and our many conversations with customers and industry professionals has identified five key trends that affect the future of packaging prepress and production,” said Jan De Roeck, Es...

Suzanne Zaccone, executive vice-chairman and formerly president and co-owner of GSI Technologies, has been awarded the 2014 R. Stanton Avery Lifetime Achievement Award. Zaccone is the first female recipient of the esteemed accolade which is part of the prestigious Label Industry Global Awards. Now in their 11th year, the awards judging panel met in Monaco prior to the opening of FINAT’s annual Congress, to review nominations across this and three other award categories. Sponsored by Avery Dennison, the R. Stanton Avery Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes the values and vision of Stan Avery and his pioneering efforts and is designed to honor the outstanding contribution to the promotion and growth of the label industry the winner has made. Zaccone joins an illustrious list of fellow high achievers who have also been bestowed with the title including Ritrama’s Tomas Rink, Steve Lee of RotoMetrics, Helmut Schreiner, FLEXcon’s Neil McDonough and Terry Fulwiler of WS Packaging Group. ...

A new patented flexible packaging solution that incorporates advanced packaging films with a variety of spouts, closures and handles is now available from Mondi Americas. The versatile product platform, called the Square Bag, supports diverse consumer goods applications, including the packaging of food, wine, laundry detergent, pet food and motor oil. The Square Bag, which is constructed of advanced barrier films in multiple layers, offers exceptional product protection. It securely packages powders and granular materials weighing up to 10 lbs. and liquids up to 1.5 gallons.   “Many consumer goods packagers today are thinking outside the traditional cardboard box, hard plastic container and glass bottle,” says Kevin Young, president, Mondi Americas. “Mondi’s Square Bag offers these packagers an appealing alternative to conventional packages. It provides clear advantages in terms of attractiveness, shelf impact and ease of filling.” In addition, Young notes that the...

The new Monte desserts from Zott are simply ingenious and very tasty – and the packaging plays a key role! The flavour stays fresh thanks to the modern two-cup chamber system with folding seam that keeps the unique Monte cream – a combination of creamy milk, chocolate and hazelnuts – and fruit or crispy ingredients separate until they are mixed just before eating. The plastic container is manufactured using a thin-walled injection technique with in-mould labelling by the Weidenhammer Packaging Group (WPG), Europe’s leading supplier of composite cans, composite drums and plastic containers. Perfect all-around labelling is achieved using the special Weidenhammer full-cover technique that enables the sides and bottom of the plastic container to be seamlessly processed without edges. The new Monte dessert from Zott, a tradition-rich Bavarian company, stands out in two ways. Firstly, the four Zott Monte varieties, Cherry, Crunchy, Cappuccino Balls and Shortbread, clearly meet consumer dem...

FLEXcon , an innovator in adhesive coating and laminating, today announced it is working with Whitlam Label Company to create a durable protective barrier for industrial parts. Together, the companies created an innovative solution to meet the needs of a key parts supplier that requires a film and adhesive combination that is strong enough to withstand the manufacturing process, yet can be easily removed once the protective barrier has served its purpose. The goal was to create a product that could prevent proprietary solvent chemicals from penetrating into the component part which would be exposed to strong solvent chemicals and extreme heat (150 degrees Celsius) for an extended period of time during the manufacturing process. Any exposure to the chemicals would damage a magnetic assembly within the component. The challenge was that the protective barrier had to bond strongly enough to prevent any chemical penetration – but then also still be removable. In being truly removable, t...

Polysack will participate in the 19th international RosUpak exhibition for the packaging industry to be held at the Crocus Expo in Moscow, June 17-20, 2014. RosUpak brings together the main domestic and international leaders in the packaging industry. With 700 companies from 30 countries attending, RosUpak is the largest packaging exhibition in Russia, the CIS and Eastern Europe, focusing on all aspects of packaging, including equipment, materials, labelling and warehousing logistics. Polysack’s film products have been popular in the Russian market for years, including Polyphane Twist – a wrapping film for candies and chocolates. Having continuously developed new cutting-edge products that meet the latest market trends, Polysack will present – for the first time in the Russian market – Polyphane FIT™ – an innovative film used for manufacturing wrap-around shrink labels for bottles and curved containers. The lightest-weight commercial high-shrink label in the world, Polyphane FIT™ ...

The management board of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG  has resolved with the approval of the supervisory board to carry out a capital increase against contribution in kind from authorised capital with the exclusion of the subscription rights. For such purpose, Ferd. Rüesch AG, Switzerland, a company controlled by Ferdinand Rüesch, will contribute its 70 % stake in Gallus Holding AG, Switzerland, as contribution in kind into Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG against the issue of new shares. After the completion of the transaction, Heidelberg will directly and indirectly hold 100 % of the shares in Gallus Holding AG. Gallus is a leading supplier in the packaging industry for labels and folding boxes. In 2013, the Group generated a turnover of CHF 188 million with approx. 500 employees. The planned complete takeover of Gallus Holding AG accelerates the development and use of Heidelberg's digital products in the growing labels sector. In fall this year, Heidelberg and Gallus will be u...

Hagmaier Etiketten and Unilever recycling efforts honoured at congress. FINAT, the international association for the (self-adhesive) labelling industry, announced the winners of the first FINAT Recycling Awards Competition during its annual congress in Monaco. Converter Category Winner In the converter category, the winner Hagmaier Etiketten & Druck GmbH impressed the jury with the high recycling rates for both paper and film liner, the communication efforts made both inside and outside of the company, and with the solutions offered for other secondary materials. Finally, by offering customers take back of spent liner, the company not only demonstrates responsibility for its own secondary materials, but helps others as well.   Cellulose Fibre Insulation blowing machine from RecuLine End-user Category Winner The end-user category saw a number of impressive entries, but in the end Unilever edged out the others based on the company’s clear dedication to a zero ...