Labelling Blog

Rhyton Cretan Thyme Honey is a winner on two different fronts: as a first-quality speciality gastronomic product, and as an outstanding example of how to label and pack such a product. Brought to market by Rhyton – a Greek co-operative supporting gastronomic products from a network of local producers – the honey is a perfect marriage of flavour and good looks. Awarded a Golden Star in the Great Taste Awards for 2014 – for the second year running -- Rhyton Cretan Thyme Honey joins an exclusive club, because the UK Guild of Fine Food’s annual international taste index of speciality foods and beverages is widely recognised as the ‘foodie Oscars’. But that is not all. In the annual international FINAT Label Competition, promoted by Europe’s label industry association, Rhyton Cretan Thyme Honey’s self-adhesive label, printed by the Greek self-adhesive label specialists N. Cabas S.A., took first prize in the food products category. Sometimes less is more This particular award was ind

Argentinean based Mai S.A., founded in the 1970’s, manufacture tea bag packaging machines, with a separate department in which they print tea bag tags, labels and envelopes. This month sees them install their fifth Edale FL-1 press in under three years. MAI S.A first came in to contact with Edale in 2011 when Mr Guillermo Mai, President of Mai S.A, began looking into new printing machines. Having researched the Edale product range, Mr Mai decided that the FL-1 was the most appropriate for their business needs and they haven’t looked back since! After the initial press purchase; 2012 saw Mr Mai contact Edale again to purchase a further two presses with 2014 seeing him purchase his fourth and fifth. Mr Mai says “ We initially chose an Edale FL-1 because of its versatility, and the capability to adapt to our width of paper band. Our jobs need versatile, compact machines, as we print a lot of different tags in short runs”, he continues “as our business has continued to grow, the FL-1’s

The perfect recipe for radiation curing for food packaging has not yet been proposed or defined by the EU legislators. All that exists today are the GMP and Framework Regulation, as well as Swiss Ordinance, respected and now widely adopted across the food packaging supply chain, but still something less than the definitive answer. This situation was the driving force behind the Food Packaging Seminar held in Stuttgart in September by RadTech Europe, the regional association promoting the radiation curing technologies across all markets. The event drew together around 90 participants – all experienced specialists from the various disciplines related to the food packaging value chain (raw materials, printing inks, equipment, materials, and brand owners) -- to discuss and debate the proper use of radiation curing in food-safe printing, with the aim of enabling this technology -- which delivers a broad platform of benefits -- to achieve its well-deserved maximum potential. Market overvie

FLEXcon , an innovator in adhesive coating and laminating, today announced that it has collaborated with ITW Security and Brand Identity Group to qualify a combination of drum label materials and resin thermal transfer ribbons that meet the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) standard, as well as BS5609 Section 3 for the chemical and petroleum market. FLEXcon’s DRUMcal™ line can now be printed with ITW Security and Brand Identity Group’s resin ribbons for two-color and flat head thermal transfer printers, meeting the latest GHS standard which requires drum label plaque cards to be variable printed with both red and black ink. Certain DRUMcal™ products are also approved under BS5609 Section 2 for salt water immersion. “Working with FLEXcon has allowed us to solve a problem that converters face as they look to meet GHS standards for chemical and petroleum companies and end users,” said Don Lance, Strategic Account Manager, ITW Security and Brand Identity Group. “Enabling clients to print

Sidel, a global provider of liquid packaging solutions, recently launched the world's first-ever pasteurisable lightweight PET bottle for beer with a non-petaloid base. The innovative bottle supports a crown cap, which together with the non-petaloid base gives the bottle the appearance of glass, but with all the advantages of PET. The new bottle weighs only 28 grams, which is up to 86% less than an average equivalent glass bottle, according to Sidel data. Sidel's PET Beer Bottle According to a recent Euromonitor report, the beverage market in Africa currently stands at 56 billion liters. Beer ranks second amongst various beverage categories, constituting 22 per cent share, with bottled water being the first with its 55 per cent share of total beverage market. South Africa is the leader in beer production with 3,445 million liters, followed by Nigeria with 2,048 million liters and Angola with 1,032 million liters. Ongoing, focused marketing with product innovation are expe

Kodak exhibited its advanced digital print solutions at this year’s WAN-IFRA World Publishing Expo in Amsterdam to key influencers in the publishing industry. At this year’s show, Kodak unveiled the new CTP automation capabilities on its KODAK TRENDSETTER NEWS Platesetter , running KODAK SONORA NEWS Process Free Plates live for attendees. The company also discussed the benefits of the KODAK PROSPER 6000P Press for newspaper printing as well as the KODAK PROSPER S-Series Imprinting System and KODAK THERMALNEWS PT Digital Plates . The exhibition saw Kodak reset industry standards, with an unmatched display combining outstanding quality and day-to-day productivity with a compelling introduction by Philip Cullimore, Managing Director EAMER, covering sustainability, hybrid printing and variable inkjet printing. There were a number of demonstrations showing the benefits of KODAK SONORA NEWS Process Free Plates and the new SCU on the KODAK TRENDSETTER NEWS Platesetter, which generated

The printing industry’s big players turned out in force for the second annual European Business Leadership Summit (BLS) in Geneva, Switzerland. Hosting more than 60 c-suite executives from across the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, the event saw industry stalwarts and Kodak’s major customers meet to discuss how the print industry can prepare for and power future growth in an ever evolving media landscape. Kodak CEO, Jeff Clarke, presented a view of Kodak’s future vision and was joined by Kodak’s Managing Director for EAMER, Philip Cullimore. The event provided a platform for international networking, offered interactive presentations and included a panel debate under the banner “Is Print a Premium Channel in the Marketing Mix?” Philip Cullimore, Managing Director, Kodak EAMER. The two day summit saw innovative expertise take to the stage with exploration of pertinent themes such as global sustainability, digital and mobile compatibility. Attendees were also provided with

Cartes 2014 will be held in Paris from November 4 to 6. At the global event for payment, identification and mobility, Schreiner PrinTrust will be presenting the further development of the NFC-Sticker. The new EMV-conformant NFC-Sticker now meets even higher security standards and provides an efficient means of closing the gap between current card systems and future mobile payment systems. The NFC-Sticker offers advantages to every market participant. For card manufacturers, it is an ideal product to complement their portfolios. Personalizers can inscribe the chip and surface with specific data on existing machines and commonly used standard processes. Banks can immediately enter the mobile payment business, and for consumers it offers a convenient, fast and secure means of payment. The NFC-Sticker is based on a Java operating system and easy to personalize. In addition to the payment function, Mifare emulation allows to enable further applications such as loyalty programs, tick

Domino recently appointed Julie Cross as the new Technical Director of its Digital Printing Solutions Division to help support the company’s rapid growth in the digital printing sector. Julie – who joined Domino in 2009 – has vast experience in product commercialisation, having been instrumental in bringing a high number of products to market throughout her career in the print industry. More recently, she initiated and led Domino’s drop on demand (DOD) ink development, which culminated in the first Domino in-house formulated DOD inks. In her new role, Julie will lead all technical aspects of the Digital Printing Solutions Division. This will include the development and launch of new products, as well as expanding the division’s skills and knowledge to facilitate further market growth. Robert Pulford, Managing Director of Domino’s Digital Printing Division, comments: “Julie will play a key role in developing this area of our business as we continue to compete successfully within

Tapp Label Acquisition Company LLC, has signed a definitive and binding agreement for the purchase of  Tapp Label Technologies Inc.  The deal is expected to close in December. Tapp Label Acquisition Company LLC is a newly formed corporation focused on becoming the premier fully integrated provider of custom labels to the North American wine and spirits market. In July of this year, this corporation completed the acquisitions of LabelOne Connect in Beaverton, Oregon and Bonham Label in Livermore, California. The Tapp acquisition provides a quantum move forward in its overall development plan.  After the completion of this agreement, all companies will operate under the Tapp Label brand offering full digital, flexography, and offset printing capabilities in California, Oregon, and British Columbia. The company will continue seeking focused capital investments in equipment and technology while expanding its geographic reach. “The combined operations of  Tapp Label will offer synergi

According to a new report by Allied Market Research titled, " Global Organic Electronics Market - Size, Industry Analysis, Trends, Opportunities, Growth and Forecast, 2013 - 2020 ", the global organic electronics (OE) market would reach $79.6 billion by 2020, registering a CAGR of 29.5% during 2014 - 2020. Organic displays are the largest revenue source for the organic electronics market, accounting to nearly 2/3 rd of the market. OLED displays, which find application in laptops, tablets and TV sets, hold lion's share in the global organic electronics displays market. Asia Pacific generates about 63.5% of the revenue for the global market due to the fact thatAsia Pacific is home for almost 3/4 th of the global electronics manufacturing industry, which is the primary application area for organic electronics.   To View the report, visit the website at   http://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/printed-organic-and-flexible-electronics-market   Growing appeal towards pol

FLEXcon , an innovator in adhesive coating and laminating, today announced that it is a platinum sponsor of the Sustainable Green Printing Partnership (SGP), helping to support SGP’s mission to encourage and promote participation in the worldwide movement to reduce environmental impact. SGP aims to increase social responsibility of the graphic communications industry through certification and continuous improvement of sustainability and best practices within manufacturing operations. FLEXcon will participate in the first annual SGP Community Gathering in Las Vegas at the LV Convention Center, which is co-located with the SGIA Expo . This meeting brings together buyers, printers, and suppliers within the print industry to discuss, debate, and learn about the growing trends of sustainability. Jodi Sawyer, Market Development Specialist for FLEXcon’s Product Branding business team, will join the panel, “Sustainable Media – Does It Exist?” at 1:45 p.m. PDT on Thursday, October 23. “FL

AWA Alexander Watson Associates have published The Linerless Label Market 2014 -- a third edition of their in-depth international market study of one of the emerging features of the pressure-sensitive label market in recent years. A product identification concept which took its first steps in the 1980s, linerless labeling has now established a focused technology chain that has enabled it to take a small but definable share of the mainstream labeling market, both in primary product labeling and in variable information print. In-depth market profile The Linerless Label Market 2014 delivers an updated, independent, wide-ranging assessment of the various applications for pressure-sensitive labels today which do not involve the use of a release liner. One of the major technology drivers for linerless labels is the cost savings which may be made by eliminating a liner, along with productivity improvements and a ‘leaner’, more sustainable labeling process. Typical primary product label ap

The countdown is on as Labelexpo South China prepares to return to the Pazhou Exhibition Center in Guangzhou between 3-5 December 2014. Formerly known as the South China Label Show, the new look expo is set to underline its position as the region’s largest event for the label and package printing industry with over 150 exhibitors. Showcasing the very latest in new printing technologies and materials, Labelexpo South China will also offer a live Technology Clinic and conference program that have been expertly designed to keep South Chinese printers/converters ahead of their competitors. Show visitors will be able to learn about how to add value to their business, create new opportunities for clients, boost efficiency and productivity, reduce costs and increase profits. Aimed at label, packaging and general printers, brand owners and label and packaging designers, it is expected to attract over 5,000 visitors. The exhibition will again feature some of the industry’s leading Chinese a

When De Budelse, an innovative graphic company that focuses on packaging and print in both offset and digital as well as ICT, looked into a new software platform, all pieces of the puzzle fell into place with CHILI Publish. CHILI Publisher online document editing software fits perfectly within the strategy and vision of De Budelse about how their customer platform should be: functional, flexible and with maximum freedom for the client. "Because that is where the future lies," says Harry Mennen, who together with his colleagues, was the driving force behind this new innovation at De Budelse. De Budelse’s customer base mainly consists of nationally and internationally active companies, located in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. De Budelse puts a strong focus on the production of packaging, high volumes in small runs and ICT Services. ICT and process automation are crucial links between De Budelse and its clients, as this ensures the required versatility, flexibility a

Athena Graphics, one of Europe’s leading prepress specialists for the flexographic industry, recently became the first in the Benelux to install an Esko CDI imager with Full HD Flexo technology. “We have been working with Esko hardware and software solutions since our founding in 1991, and we will continue to do so. Having such a close relationship with Esko enables us to deliver the high quality our customers – both brand owners and printers – are demanding,” says Ignace Cosaert, Managing Director at Athena Graphics. Esko CDI with Full HD Flexo at Athena Graphics The addition of an Esko CDI imager with Full HD Flexo capabilities takes Athena Graphics another step ahead of the competition, explains Cosaert. “Brand owners today simply demand the very best quality. Printers are looking for new ways to meet that demand. And with Full HD Flexo from Esko, we have found the right solution to satisfy those needs. Because of the unique dot shape this technology creates, we now can produc

Leica Geosystems has developed a brand protection program enabling them to comprehensively counter product piracy. The quality seals by Schreiner ProSecure are an essential component of the product protection strategy employed by the world’s leading manufacturer of high-precision measurement instruments. The innovative security label came in first in the category “Security” in this year´s FINAT Label Competition. Schreiner ProSecure´s quality seals are in worldwide use to identify Leica products as originals. To achieve a high level of counterfeiting protection and to make authentication possible for different target groups, the solution is combining different security features. Color-shifting security ink The special composition of the security ink results in a color shift from pink to green, depending on the viewing angle. The color-shifting ink is detectable without any aids and, as a decorative element, immediately catches the eye of customs officials, distributors and

Pro Mach, Inc. announced today the completion of its acquisition by affiliates of AEA Investors LP (AEA) from The Jordan Company. Financial terms were not disclosed. Pro Mach’s management team and employees will continue to operate from their facilities in North America and Europe. Pro Mach is a leading provider of packaging machinery and integrated systems, with more than 25 equipment brands sold throughout the world. Pro Mach provides automated solutions that drive efficiency and increase packaging line performance for diverse food, beverage, pharmaceutical, consumer goods, and industrial goods companies. It manufactures and integrates bottling and capping, primary packaging, flexible packaging, material handling, identification and tracking, and end of line packaging solutions. “Our acquisition by AEA brings a strong partner for our vision to be the world’s premier provider of integrated packaging, material handling, and processing solutions,” said Mark Anderson, Pro Mach Presid

Industry veteran brings nearly 30 years of regional experience to new role . Xeikon, an innovator in digital color printing technology, announces that industry veteran Bent Serritslev has joined the company as Managing Director Xeikon Asia Pacific (ASPAC) to manage the company’s continuing growth in this dynamic region. Bent Serritslev, who assumed the role on October 1, studied at Copenhagen Business School and has since spent 33 years in the printing industry, of which 29 have been in Asian locations, including Hong Kong, Thailand, India, Malaysia and Singapore. Previous roles representing Gallus, Mark Andy and Heidelberg have enabled him to build up a substantial knowledge in the fields of both labels & packaging and commercial print, and to build significant relationships with key players in the region. “We see an unprecedented growth in the Asia Pacific printing industry. The global need for brand integrity and consistency is also in that region reflected in the requir

Newly developed user interface makes operating highly intuitive, easy, fast and flexible. The increasingly growing demand for ever more sophisticated production tools has inspired Esko to develop the i -cut Production Console. This newly developed front-end operating system will be the common platform for all Kongsberg digital finishing systems. It combines the feature set of the XL-Guide tailored for packaging applications and i -cut Vision Pro, the industry standard front-end for cutting and short run productions. Designed for all operations on all Kongsberg tables, the i -cut Production Console forms a solid foundation for any future developments. The i- cut Production Console (iPC) drives all functionality found on Kongsberg tables, such as camera control, machine set up, tool recognition, calibration and tool adjustments. “These tried and tested features are industry favorites, and are now incorporated into a much more intuitive operating system for users,” explains Tom Nae

IML’s latest investment is the purchase of a 300m/min Inspection Slitter Rewinder from Bar Graphic Machinery IML has a long history in label manufacturing dating back to 1936, having established a forte for highly durable labels and tags IML became a leading supplier to the local steel giants of Sheffield.  The labelling of metals, particularly at high processing temperatures, remains a key influence for IML; innovation and expertise propels the company forward and fortifies its position as a global leader within this highly specialised field. IML’s Managing Director: Shaun Higgins comments: Having established a speciality in high performance labels and tags the company has, over the years, diversified into other specialised markets where product identification and traceability are vital in very demanding, and sometimes hostile, applications. IML’s aim is to consult with each customer to guarantee the best possible labelling solution tailored to their individual requirements. Sha

The Comexi Group, a specialist in machinery solutions for the flexible packaging conversion industry, has reached an agreement with CCL Label to install the Comexi OFFSET CI8 in its plant in Völkermarkt (Austria). As both companies seek maximum quality, sustainability and increase productivity in their products, the Comexi OFFSET CI8 becomes the suitable solution to strengthen CCL Label’s positioning as an environmentally responsible printer while responding their customer’s stringent demands.   The flexibility of the Comexi OFFSET CI8, which makes it possible to carry out just-in-time design changes, together with fine-tuning and fast production have been the key factors for CCL’s decision to acquire this new machine. This flexibility is achieved thanks to the state-of-the-art central drum offset technology system, combined with automatic sleeve change. CCL Label has also taken into account Comexi’s fast design changes thanks to the use of lithographic plates.   Offset technolog

– Still a believer in thermal imaging, BVZ Berliner Zeitungsdruck GmbH ( www.berliner-zeitungsdruck.de ) decided to invest in its future in May this year, when the company started producing plates with three KODAK GENERATION NEWS Platesetters integrated in a press configuration for fully automatic newspaper platemaking. Kodak’s ability to supply the complete plate lines and the NELA plate handling technology played a key role in the company’s investment decision. It was also hoped that the upgrade to KODAK Technology would iron out previous reliability and control problems experienced by BVZ Berliner Zeitungsdruck GmbH. Like the parent company Berliner Verlag, which is responsible for the Berliner Zeitung and Berliner Kurier – as well as the weekly ad journal Berliner Abendblatt through a publishing subsidiary – this printing house is owned by the M. DuMont Schauberg media group in Cologne, Germany. New CTP generation takes over with Kodak The new CTP systems replaced three fla