Labelling Blog

MPS Systems North America Inc. (MPS) announced it has sold an EF flexo press to Bizerba Label Solutions, part of the Bizerba Group. Bizerba Label Solutions is located in Joppa, MD. According to John Gomeau, president of Bizerba Label Solutions, the deciding factors for purchasing the MPS EF press were its operator friendliness, open design, advanced features such as Crisp.Dot and iControl, quick change die system and press automation. “We are very impressed with all this press has to offer,” said Gomeau. “The fact that it can run very thin films at high speeds and in stable register is very remarkable. It’s also great that we can continue to use our existing plate roll tooling stock.” Gomeau said he also feels with MPS’ commitment to service, the two companies will build a partnership that will enable Bizerba to become more efficient with quicker changeovers and faster print speeds. Kees Nijenhuis, vice president of MPS Systems North America Inc., agrees that the two companies’ fo

Treofan Group, a global leader in Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene (BOPP) films will for the third time present its comprehensive product portfolio at the Xeikon Café Packaging Innovations event, taking place in Belgium from  March 10 to 12 ( www.xeikoncafe.com ). The manufacturer’s Treofan® and TreoPore® are aimed at the packaging and tobacco industries, labels, and technical films for electronic applications such as batteries and capacitors. At the Xeikon Café, Treofan will focus on BOPP film solutions as print media for the digital print in-mold labelling market. “Being an entrepreneur in the in-mold segment, we have the strategic mindset to be at the forefront of any new developments. This is why we like supporting Xeikon Café so much,” explains Joachim Jung, Treofan Business Development. “The opportunity to be a part of the knowledge sharing network and event enables us to be aware of leading developments so we can best focus ours on supporting customers in the most effective

Today, Xeikon announced its sponsorship of Belgium’s Planckendael Zoo and the Centre for Research and Conservation (CRC) in support of efforts to ensure that Cheetahs around the globe both survive and thrive and more specifically in support of the Planckendael Zoo’s Cheetah. According to the CRC, the Cheetah is the fastest land animal and can run at speeds of over 100 km/h in just 4 seconds. There are only about 25,000 remaining Cheetahs in the world. Xeikon’s sponsorship will help ensure that the number of Cheetahs worldwide continues to grow and that their habitats, whether in the wild or in captivity, are protected. “With the (upcoming) release of our Cheetah digital press and our ‘ Year of the Cheetah’ Campaign, this sponsorship provided an excellent opportunity to not only give additional visibility to the fastest digital press in its class, but to do so while benefiting the world population of Cheetahs, the fastest animal in its class!” says Patrick Van Baelen, VP-WW Market

From March 2 to 5, Schreiner PrinTrust will be showcasing the latest generation of the EMV compliant NFC-Sticker at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Simply attached to a cell phone, the NFC-Sticker turns any mobile phone into a cashless means of payment. As Schreiner PrinTrust fulfills the requirements of the MasterCard® Global Vendor Certification Program the label can be used like a contactless credit card at all PayPass™ terminals worldwide. Easy, convenient secure: The extremely flexible and thin NFC-Sticker is based on the proven technologies for contactless credit cards and ensures reliable and secure NFC functionality within the payment infrastructure. This makes the sticker a viable alternative or complement to contactless cards. Cell phones, which are always within reach, are particularly well suited mobile devices for carrying the sticker. Due to its special shielding layer the sticker delivers reliable performance even on metal housings. Furthermore, the design ensu

Xeikon announces today the upcoming arrival of its Xeikon Cheetah press at award-winning digital label printer CS Labels. The new Xeikon digital press is one the most important advancements in digital printing in the last 15 years, and UK-based CS Labels has been selected as one of the pilot sites for this ground-breaking technology, bringing CS Labels’ pressroom portfolio up to five cutting-edge Xeikon digital presses. The new addition will enable CS Labels to increase capacity by yet another third, and the company expects the Xeikon Cheetah to be a key enabler for continuing its year-on-year growth of up to 25% and taking turnover to £4m a year. As one of the fastest digital label presses on the market with printing speeds of 30 meters per minute, the Xeikon Cheetah is 56% faster than any other press in the current Xeikon portfolio, making it the most productive digital press in its class. “I am delighted that we have been selected to pioneer this technology and integrate it into

Sidel Japan has recently celebrated its 10 th anniversary supporting beverage producers in the country and surrounding regions, providing a strong local presence to its global experience in PET solutions for liquid packaging. Japan is, by value, the second largest retail market in the world after the US, with soft drinks alone accounting for 20,948 million litres in off-trade volume sales. It is also one of the most advanced countries in terms of packaging technology. Recognising more than a decade ago the importance of being close to its customers in Japan, Sidel opened its office in Tokyo. The country was considered a market which would benefit from the value of Sidel’s world-class equipment, services and people. With high engineering excellence and technology advancement, beverage producers in the country needed complete and future-proof solutions that could meet their demands. Such demands include a focus on downsizing packaging formats and lighweighting of bottles, particul

Xeikon announces today the launch of a new dry toner-based digital color press, the Xeikon 9800. The brand-new press will be demonstrated for the first time at the Hunkeler Innovationdays which takes place from February 23 to 26, at the Messe Lucerne exhibition facility in Switzerland. Its reputation for showcasing creative solutions that are fit for the future, makes this bi-yearly industry gathering the ideal venue for the product launch. The Xeikon 9800 will replace the Xeikon 8800 press in its family of digital color production presses, complementing the 8500 and 8600 presses. The Xeikon 9800 digital color press uses Xeikon’s new QA-CD toner, delivering the proven outstanding Xeikon print quality at speeds up to 21.5 meter per minute at reduced consumables cost. Xeikon will be taking orders for the new Xeikon 9800 digital press as off today, starting at Hunkeler. Deliveries are scheduled from September 2015 onwards. “We are very excited to showcase a brand-new digital color pre

At Fespa 2015, Marabu will be showcasing its complete range of screen, pad, and digital printing inks. The ink manufacturer presents itself as a competent partner for industrial and graphical applications. Customers can also benefit from the combination of the various printing technologies. At this year’s FESPA in Cologne, Marabu (hall 7, stand M25) will be showcasing its engagement for innovative industrial and graphical applications in the screen, digital, and pad printing market as well as its wide range of liquid coatings. Highlights will be printing solutions for glass, container printing, industrial printing applications for automotive, touch panels and 3C as well as textile and graphical digital printing. Glass decoration at the highest stage To achieve high-gloss gold and silver effects, the glass industry generally employs ceramic inks. These are expensive to purchase, and the firing process is energy-intensive and therefore costly. Organic UV inks are cheaper, but do no

Spartanics is pleased to announce their attendance at the Xeikon Café Packaging Innovations event, taking place in Belgium from March 10 to 12 ( www.xeikoncafe.com ). At the event, the leading label solutions supplier to the label and packaging markets will launch its X-350 Laser Cutting Module integrated into the SMAG E-Cut. Spartanics is attending with its partner, SMAG Graphique, supplier of in-line and offline converting systems. Engineered to be integrated with SMAG Graphique’s E-Cut and Digital Galaxie Semi-rotary Converting Solutions, the X-350 is a modular laser station that can cut materials up to 350mm wide with an infinite length. It is capable of reaching cutting speeds of up to 100m/minute. It comes standard with Spartanics’ Fastline and Optimization Control Software that takes PDF or vector based files and automatically turns them into laser cut files. It’s available in either a 200 watt laser or 400 watt laser. The X-350 laser cutting solution integrates seamless

Increased legislation requirements, greater versioning, language changes, more tactile and eye-catching finishes – today’s label market requires dedicated production solutions from specialized suppliers to maintain profitability. That is why Xeikon, together with its Aura partners, is hosting the Xeikon Café Packaging Innovations at its premises in Belgium, from March 10 to 12. During the three-day event, visitors will get first-hand updates on the latest trends and innovations in digital label production and have the opportunity to share insights, success stories and technological developments with industry peers. “As a worldwide specialist in the field of self-adhesive label printing, Xeikon has built up an extensive network of Aura partners which are all leading suppliers in their field. These partners and Xeikon’s label experts are joining forces at the Xeikon Café. That allows us to cover all aspects of digital production and offer visitors a unique expert knowledge base”, says

Kodak has unveiled a new content portal, www.chiefpackagingofficer.com , targeted at elevating the strategic role of packaging within leading consumer packaged goods, retail and over-the-counter product firms. The site provides wide-ranging packaging news summaries, original blog posts from subject matter experts, white papers, eBooks on industry trends, best practice case studies, and interviews with packaging industry visionaries. “The premise of our new site is that packaging today is a C-level conversation,” said Steven Overman, Kodak’s Chief Marketing Officer. “Today, packaging is increasingly tied to strategic initiatives and outcomes that impact brand reputation and ROI, but many brands still view packaging as simply a series of tactical steps and technical decisions. Through ChiefPackagingOfficer.com we are supporting our customers and the packaging industry in a way that shines the proper spotlight on the contribution of packaging to the success of an enterprise.” ChiefPac

The combined benefits of perfect ink laydown, right solid density, vibrant brand colours and supreme platemaking consistency offered by Esko Full HD Flexo technology are helping UK operations develop sector leading services, improve production and win new business and industry plaudits. “UK operations are under increasing pressure to provide an all-round, high quality, cost effective, range of services that touch on numerous production sectors,” explains Paul Bates, Esko Regional Business Manager. “But crucial to that is job flexibility, particularly with run lengths. This is where Esko’s Full HD Flexo becomes a critical tool in any solutions portfolio. The ability to provide what specifiers are demanding to ever tighter budgets enables our customers to be highly responsive to ever-changing market requirements.” Full HD Flexo adoption opens doors JFM Plates adopted Esko Full HD Flexo to stay ahead of the curve and it was the first UK company to achieve Full HD Flexo Certificati

The latest KNOWLEDGEshare Live event in Dubai provided stimulating and insightful debate on the major issues affecting the beverage industry. KNOWLEDGEshare is a beverage industry forum comprising a digital community ( blog.knowledgeshare.com ) of senior industry players and thought leaders, with the Live events providing the opportunity to engage in the discussions face-to-face. The event - the third in the KNOWLEDGEshare Live series - saw almost 150 participants from across the beverage supply chain gather in Dubai on 10-11 February 2015. Each was eager to identify how the industry can add value at every stage through a collaborative approach. Against the backdrop of various global challenges, the focus was on the many demands faced by the beverage industry and how the supply chain can work much more effectively by utilising the collective knowledge and experience that is available through such a forum. KNOWLEDGEshare Live in Dubai 2015, presented in association with Sidel, t

Colordyne Technologies recently improved the performance of its 3600 Series and 2600 Series by offering a new Aspen Memjet engine upgrade. The upgrade allows all Production Class platforms to print at speeds of up to 275 feet (84 meters) per minute with a resolution of 1600 x 1375 dpi . Since introducing the upgrade, several Colordyne customers have incorporated it into their existing 2600 Series systems: Diversified Labeling Solutions of Itasca, Ill; Process Label Systems of Minneapolis, Minn; and Shelton Turnbull , based in Eugene, Ore.; have all upgraded their print engines to utilize the new Aspen Memjet engine. In addition, three international corporations are planning upgrade installations before the end of the second quarter. "It's more than an upgrade and speed increase, it's a commitment to our installation base to provide them with continued innovation and an accessible upgrade path for years to come," said Gary Falconbridge, president of Colordyne. &quo

Xeikon, an innovator in digital color printing technology, is pleased to announce its first Technology Center in Asia Pacific. The offices are based in Malaysia and testify of the strategic focus and continuous growth Xeikon is experiencing in this region. The official inauguration earlier this week was well attended by Xeikon customers from the label, folding carton and document & commercial markets, and presided over by Mr. Cheong Kok Wai, the President of the Selangor & Federal Territory Chinese Printing Presses Association, Mr. Dato Koay Hean Beow, President of the Malaysian Printing Association and Mr. Wim Maes, CEO of Xeikon. “We are seeing unprecedented growth in Asia Pacific,” comments Maes. “Xeikon is expanding fast in this region and we find it very important to build and foster close bonds with our customers there. The brand new state-of-the-art 450 sqm facility will help us achieve these goals as it will be addressing the business and educational demands of our

Esko is pleased to announce that Speedscreen’s £1m investment program included the addition of a fully-featured super-wide Kongsberg C digital finishing system. Specialized in posters, POP displays, POS and signage, Speedscreen is one of UK’s leading large format printers with a £2.2m annual turnover. The company is no stranger to adopting cutting-edge technology. As an example, it was the first in Europe to install the Durst Rho 1012 large format printer. And it was now again among the first to acquire an Esko Kongsberg C64. “We have experienced year-on-year growth of over 30% during the last 12 months, and we are striving to equal that this year with the help of the Esko Kongsberg C64,” comments Tim Hill, Speedscreen Managing Director. “Esko’s solutions are a key component of our growth strategy. They allow us to be faster, more responsive, have tighter controls over margins and offer a more creative service. It future-proofs our business.” A video and more details on how Speedscre

Michelman has been chosen to be part of an elite, 122-member consortium that will make up the new Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI).   Michelman brings an experienced and talented team of reinforced plastic composites specialists, and a long history of innovative product development successes, particularly with its Hydrosize® film forming dispersions that optimize the surface chemistry of the reinforcement fibers that are integral to the performance of composites. Led by the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, the IACMI connects the world’s leading manufacturers across the supply chain, with universities and national laboratories pioneering advanced composites technology development and research.  It will focus on lowering the cost of advanced fiber-reinforced polymer composite materials by 50%, reducing the energy used to make composites by 75% and increasing the recyclability of composites to more than 95% within the next decade.  The new Instit

Xeikon, an innovator in digital color printing technology is pleased to announce its presence at LABEL&PRINT 2015, which is co-located with the well-known EasyFairs Packaging Innovations show and taking place in Birmingham on 25 and 26 February. On stand H15, Xeikon experts will be showing how the digital production of labels and folding cartons can transform the business of packaging printers, converters and brand owners alike. “We look forward to discuss and share experiences on the game-changing innovations in digital production. Packaging, especially folding carton, has become a powerful tool to maximize the product’s selling power, build a brand image and protect it. This has posed certain challenges for packaging printers and converters, of which the biggest challenges are ever-shorter runs and increasingly faster turnaround times. Our Xeikon Folding Carton Suite is helping them to meet these challenges by delivering top quality packaging applications with a unique look and

Pixartprinting 's product range has expanded to include new ready-made solutions. “ Forest Walk ”, a themed range inspired by the magic of the woods, is now online. This is a new creation from Pixartprinting Project, which offers "express" printing solutions for temporary displays in showrooms, shops and premises. Shop owners, retail chains and businesses can therefore trust the W2P specialist to provide complete kits of versatile products, available online and featuring pre-designed artwork that can be mixed and matched as desired for creative and highly effective displays. “The 'Forest Walk' range is another step down the path we began with ‘Land of Ice’, which aims to make our clients' lives even simpler" , said Andrea Pizzola , Sales & Marketing Director at Pixartprinting. “Our range has always been associated with providing the maximum possible level of customisation, with the possibility of uploading one's own artwork onto the online t