Labelling Blog

Neenah Paper announces the launch of its new website, neenahpackaging.com . The site, now live, is intended as a creative and specification resource for brand managers, designers, printers and converters who are responsible for luxe packaging and label design for premium and craft brands. With the launch, Neenah offers premium paper samples for customers. Neenah Packaging makes it easier for marketers to see and experience the difference that premium papers, boards and labels can make to help create an immediate connection with customers through their branding and packaging. The website features a photo-rich inspiration gallery with dozens of real-world brands and package design examples organized by industry—cosmetics and fragrances; wine, spirits & craft beer; consumer electronics; and retail—as well as by application. Users are invited to experience firsthand Neenah’s hundreds of fashion-forward paper colors and unique, high-touch textures and finishes with an intuitive

FLEXcon , an innovator in adhesive coating and laminating, today highlighted a unique service the company provides to customers who are navigating the UL compliance process. For the past 25 years, Jim Potter, technical service representative, Product Identification, FLEXcon, has worked with converters and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) servicing industries that are regulated by UL, such as durable goods, consumer electronics and industrial equipment. He assists them with identifying appropriate labeling substrates to suit their applications while meeting UL standards, as well as guiding them through the necessary UL certification process to expand their UL files. “FLEXcon looks to leverage its unique expertise to serve as a true partner to customers navigating through the UL compliance journey,” said Potter. “When customers come to us with a request, we look at the big picture to ensure that fulfilling their inquiry is strategically the best next step rather than just meeti

In response to its customers’ most pressing challenges, which include the need to reduce inefficiencies and enhance printing quality, Kodak is delivering PRINERGY Workflow 7, the latest advancement of the company’s workflow automation software. All of the enhancements to PRINERGY Workflow 7 protect the profit margins of today’s print service providers, including new features that limit human error, improve time to press, and enable faster and more informed decisions that are critical for keeping margins healthy. PRINERGY Workflow  increases the level of automation in every core function of the printing process – job creation, collaboration, file processing, trapping, proofing, imposition and color management, enabling printers to better compete in today’s changing print environment. Kodak’s workflow automation software also delivers the flexibility to integrate with current, future and third-party technology, allowing customers to grow their workflow system alongside their busines

On April 28, 2015, Michelman India will celebrate the grand opening of its new Business and Technology Centre in Mumbia, India. As a result of its recent acquisition of long-time sales and service partner, Supack International P/L, Michelman India now offers a business center, laboratory, and an experienced team of sales, technical service and business operations personnel. The facility’s laboratory has been equipped with several industry accepted product testing capabilities for packaging, printing, and coating applications. Michelman India is dedicated to the development of the Indian market, with an immediate focus on the growing printing and packaging sector. The company also has expansion plans to service other coatings and manufacturing industries that Michelman supports worldwide.

For the third time, the Schreiner Group has selected a "Supplier of the Year." This year, the "Supplier of the Year" award goes to Ritrama S.p.A. Ritrama supplies self-adhesive films and transfer adhesives to the Schreiner Group. Besides receiving a very high overall rating, the Italian family business has made significant improvements in performance in all relevant areas. left to right: Manfred Laschinger, Norbert Kreitmeir, Roland Schreiner, Tomas Rink (owner of Ritrama), Waltraud Teuber, Sonia Linzi (Internal Sales), Ricardo Rink (chief executive Ritrama), Jose Luis Cester (Manager Global Label Business Ritrama) and Karl Tschacha On April 17, Norbert Kreitmeir, Team Leader Purchasing Raw Materials at Schreiner Group, presented the award to Ritrama S.p.A., which was represented by Tomas and Ricardo Rink, President Ritrama. At a meeting at the company's headquarters in Oberschleißheim, both parties agreed to intensify their cooperation on an equal footing.

Asahi Photoproducts, a pioneer in flexographic photopolymer plate development, will be exhibiting at Converflex 2015 , taking place from 19-23 May in Milan. Asahi will be located on stand R20 in hall 2 at the show. Asahi will be featuring its Pinning Top Dot plate technology, which enables a broad colour gamut, vibrant colour reproductions, soft tonal shades and improved productivity. · Comparison classic polymer plates vs. Pinning Top Dot technology from Asahi Photoproducts Comparison under printing pressure classic polymer plates vs. Pinning Top Dot technology from Asahi Photoproducts “We are excited to be attending Converflex 2015,” says Andrea Belloli, Italian branch manager for Asahi. “Initial feedback to our Pinning Top Dot technology, which was announced last year, has been extremely positive and we are looking forward to sharing its benefits with attendees at the show.” David Galton, UK Sales Director for Asahi Photoproducts, adds, “Converflex is an excellent p

FINAT, the international association for the self-adhesive label industry, announces a series of webinars designed to present the latest independent label industry knowledge and focusing on topics relevant to the future of the industry. Purpose of the webinars is to offer a convenient tool at members’ fingertips to brief them on management, technology and sustainability developments that may impact their business in the near future. The FINAT Board’s ‘New Converting Technology’ taskforce is driving the webinar programme, and works closely with FINAT’s Young Managers Club that also regularly organizes business webinars specifically for young managers in the label industry with the next ones scheduled for June and October. The 2015 Technology Webinar Series follows a FINAT webinar end of last year on the future of printed electronics. “Proactive knowledge sharing and supporting our members, as well as the industry in general on technologies, trends and challenges is an ongoing focus f

Consumers, business partners and the regulatory authorities demand ever more accurate on-pack coding and information. Improved legibility, more variable data, better chosen print locations, faster production lines and more problematic packaging formats are all putting coding under the microscope. Coding errors affect product quality and drive unacceptable costs throughout the enterprise due to scrap, rework, regulatory fines, damage to the brand reputation and more. In order to effectively “repair” the coding process, we must first identify the root cause. According to a Videojet survey, up to 70 percent of coding errors are caused by operator error, with approximately half of these caused by mistakes in code entry and job selection. In addition, it was discovered that coding errors are not the deviation, but the norm. Nearly half of manufacturers participating in the survey revealed that coding errors occur at least weekly, while 25 percent of respondents reported them as a daily o

KNOWLEDGEshare Live 2015 in Chengdu, China, proved an excellent forum for discussing the latest developments in the Chinese beverage industry. The event also provided insights into where the beverage industry is heading and the challenges and opportunities that it faces going forward. Almost 500 participants attended the two day event from 24-25 March which covered a wide range of topics. The invitation-only event, presented in association with Sidel, saw thought leaders and senior players from across the beverage industry gather at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Chengdu. Commenting on the event, the second time KNOWLEDGEshare Live has been staged in China, Fan Li Dong, Vice President of Sidel Greater China said –“China is one of the world's fastest growing beverage markets. Beverage companies are constantly looking out for new packaging ideas to stand out from the competition and bottling solutions to drive costs down. The KNOWLEDGEshare platform brings together key players from ac

Gulf Print & Pack 2015 enjoyed its most successful edition to date as it closed its doors last week. As the Middle East region’s definitive platform for the commercial and package printing industry, 2015’s edition of the show posted a 26.7% rise in visitor numbers with a footfall of 11,918. Running 13-16 April at Dubai’s World Trade Centre, its registration data shows that visitors came from an unprecedented 110 countries (93 in 2013, 83 in 2011 and 65 in 2009) underlining the show’s growing importance in the wider MENA region. Whilst the majority of visitors (both onsite and pre-registered) came from the UAE, the wider MENA regions also put forward good visitor figures; Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Iran and Kuwait. The event also attracted high visitor levels from India, China and Pakistan. The four day show was inaugurated by H.H. Sheikh Hasher Bin Maktoum Al Maktoum, Director General of Dubai Information Department and featured over 300 exhibitors including: AFRA, Bobst, Em

UPM Raflatac is exhibiting at Security Printers 2015 organized by Intergraf in Copenhagen on 22-24 April. Experts from the company will be on hand to present and discuss security, stamp and label materials supporting a range of functionalities, fromanti-counterfeiting and authentication to brand protection and supply chain monitoring. UPM Raflatac develops and produces adhesive materials to support security printers in creating tax stamps, postal stamps and brand protection labels. These include off-the-shelf, standard paper and film solutions, with or without integrated security features, as well as custom materials made to specific requirements. Security printers can also work with UPM Raflatac to transform their own products into self-adhesive labels. UPM Raflatac operates a taxi-coating service, and also supplies transfer tape laminates for printers to carry out their own adhesive coating. “UPM Raflatac is a trustworthy partner for all players in the security printing i

Avery Dennison Label and Packaging Materials today announced a new product finder on its North American website. The tool is designed to help customers find the relevant products for most label and packaging applications in just a few clicks. “Our product finder is designed to save our customers time in selecting products for their labeling applications,” said Rick Neiman, global director, digital marketing for Avery Dennison Materials Group. “No matter the hour, they have access to technical information and recommendations for thousands of our pressure-sensitive materials.” The product finder, which can be found at label-tools.averydennison.com , automates product information and enables searching for product solutions. Site visitors can specify application needs for any combination of variables, including facestocks, print methods and environmental conditions, to find solutions that meet converting and application requirements. In addition, users will be able to find ser

Imprimex, a market leader in the Uruguayan packaging industry, has expanded its printing capacity with a Xeikon 3050 digital color press. The investment in the new press will allow the company to offer its label and folding carton clients the advantages of variable data printing, in short print runs and with the highest quality standards. Founded in 1978, Imprimex continuously grew and adopted its technological processes in order to meet the quality and productivity requirements of its clients in the food, beverages, cosmetics, editorial and advertising industries within the Uruguayan and international markets. “The new Xeikon 3050 digital press will support our new sales channel in the area of short-run folding boxes, for products with high quality and safety demands such as those required by the pharmaceutical industry”, says Horacio Rey Lottermoser, CEO of Imprimex. “Our strategy is to provide an answer to the international market trends. We want our clients to be able to count

UPM Raflatac’s innovative recycling concept RafCycle® reuses self-adhesive label stock to create new materials. RafCycle takes labelling by-products that would otherwise be incinerated or landfilled and gives them a new life as UPM ProFi composite material, new paper products or renewable energy. Many label converters and brand owners have already benefitted from the advantages RafCycle offers, one of which is label printer ETIBANA Haftetiketten in Germany. ETIBANA is a GMP certified company and one of the leading label suppliers for the pharmaceutical industry. ETIBANA’s Executive Director Mike Manss explains the importance of programs such as RafCycle in an increasingly environmentally conscious marketplace: “In the industrial future, sustainable business will be a very important issue because of limited resources. That is the reason why companies should be aware of the environment and recycling their waste. For ETIBANA, it is and has always been important to be a sustainabl

The organizers of Labelexpo Europe have confirmed that 2017’s edition is set to remain at Brussels Expo in Belgium. Home to the biennial event since 1985, the decision was taken following a year-long venue research project. The results of this were presented to the Labelexpo Advisory Board along with the findings of a consultation of key stakeholders on a potential location change. As well as reviewing Brussels, other shortlisted destinations evaluated by site visits included Barcelona, Amsterdam and Stuttgart. Further venue options in Geneva, Madrid, Dusseldorf and Frankfurt were also researched having already discounted other locations based on their immediate suitability. Lisa Milburn, managing director of the Labelexpo Global Series explains: “This is an important exercise for us and we routinely review the cities and venues we call home to ensure they offer the best value, facilities and experience for exhibitors and visitors alike. We carried out extensive analysis and consi

Novamelt serves the hot melt pressure sensitive markets such as the label and tape industry, as well as manufacturers of PSA- adhesive coated products for variety of industry segments. Novamelt has gained a worldwide reputation within the adhesive industry as a highly specialized company for hot melt PSA applications. Novamelt has production locations in Wehr, Germany and North Carolina, USA. In 2014, the company reported a turnover of approximately 50 million € and employs 100 people. In order to guarantee a secure and sustainable succession process, the owners of Novamelt decided to sell the company Henkel. Both parties signed an agreement on April 14th, 2015. The company founders, Pieter Mol and Harald Braun, did not find an internal succession plan within the family. Henkel, being a stock listed company with a majority of voting shares still owned by family members, will present a reliable future-oriented succession for customers and employees of Novamelt. The location in Wehr

FLEXcon , an innovator in adhesive coating and laminating, today announced an extension to its Phosphorescent product line with Phosphorescent PP 600 Lt. Green V-58 94 PFW . This light green glow-in-the-dark novelty grade film offers more flexibility — wider width, lower-cost alternative to phosphorescent vinyl, and is able to be customized with a variety of adhesives and release liners for specific application and converting methods. For brands and converters looking to be more sustainable, this 6 mil light green glow-in-the-dark polypropylene film is ideal for indoor novelty stickers and decals, P-O-P displays, and promotional graphics. This product is not recommended for safety applications. Its glow-in-the-dark surface coating gives a matte finish as opposed to gloss finishes currently available with traditional phosphorescent vinyls and/or glow-in-the-dark inks. This film is coated with V-58 high-performance removable acrylic adhesive that bonds well to a variety of surfaces. Pl

The L9 label associations are pleased to announce the results of the 2014 L9 World Label Awards competition judged by an international jury just before Labelexpo Americas in Chicago in September 2014. The L9 is an alliance of global label associations for the purposes of formulating polices and gathering strategic information in connection with global matters affecting the worldwide label industry. The current class structure includes 22 classes covering all the principal printing processes and markets. The results are listed in class order with the Winners announced first followed by the Honourable Mention (HM) awards. “The World Label Awards are seen as the technical Oscars of the global label industry with members of the L9 group showing off the best labels from their own ‘domestic’ competitions. Every year we see technically excellent labels from around the world which tend to reflect the technical advances within the international label industry. As judges we see “new” appl