Labelling Blog

Monadnock Paper Mills, Inc. (MPM), a family-owned manufacturer that delivers high-performance specialty papers for the technical, packaging and printing markets, today announced an innovation in high performance beverage labels. Monadnock Envi® Enhanced Barrier (EB) Label with EarthCoating® is now available in a 100 percent post-consumer-waste fiber, bright white, smooth stock and a virgin fiber, bright white, vellum stock. The next generation in wet label protection, these drop-in replacements for BOPP (Bi-Oriented Polypropylene) film laminated labels offer superior aesthetics, performance and sustainability for products that are subject to high-moisture conditions, such as white wines and craft beers.   Monadnock entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Smart Planet Technologies for use of its extruded EarthCoating technology for adhesive beverage labels in North America in December 2014.  With this coating, the high performance labels contain less plastic a...

After watching market trends and predicting the advent of a greater need for digital short run label printing demands, Gulf States Label proactively invested in Colordyne Technologies’ cutting edge 3600 Series Retrofit platform. With the help of the installation experts at Styers Equipment Company , the fully integrated 3600 Series Retrofit is propelling Gulf States into the digital era of modern label printing. “Exceeding our clients’ needs has always been one of the pillars supporting our company, and it became very obvious to us that entering the digital label printing marketplace before it arrived in full-force was in our best interest, especially if we were going to maintain this client-based foundation,” said Mike Williams, Owner at Gulf States Label. “There’s a rapidly growing market of small business owners who are in desperate need of affordable, short run, highly customizable labels for their products. This market is too small for most label printers, resulting in heavy ex...

Colordyne Technologies (Brookfield, Wis., USA) and Trojanlabel (Copenhagen, Denmark) have formed a partnership to bring together complementary industry insight and imagination with the launch of the Commercial Class 2600 Series Mini Press at EastPack 2015 in New York. As two of the pioneering Memjet OEMs, Colordyne and Trojanlabel are looking to change the vision of the digital printing industry through their dedication to sustainable innovation in a time where companies are continuously faced with the ever-growing consumer demand for brand connection. The need for scalable technology capable of providing new ways to cut costs on their labeling process without compromising their end-product is stronger than ever for brand owners. “It was an exciting time for Colordyne after the launch of our 3600 Series last fall, and now we have a full range of printing solutions with the introduction of the 2600 Series Mini Press ,” said Gary Falconbridge , CEO of Colordyne. “Our goal was to ...

FINAT, the European association of the self-adhesive labeling industry, recognized the industry’s most innovative products from the 2015 FINAT Label Competition and the 2014 World Label Awards at its congress held in Amsterdam on June 11. In spite of fierce competition, Schreiner Group was able to convince the judges at the 35th event with an innovative marking label that includes covert copying protection. Shareholder Helmut Schreiner (right) accepted the prize of the FINAT Label Competition and the World Label Award In the industrial end use group, the ‘Parts Marking Label with Authentication Features’ was recognized with the 1 st place award. The label rolls two benefits into one. First, it serves as a marking which is directly applied to a molded plastic part or a painted metal cover. In addition, it contains a covert BitSecure copying protection feature. This feature can be read with a smartphone, enabling reliable product authentication by inspectors, customs officials ...

ROTOCONTROL, a manufacturer of leading-edge finishing machines today announced the sale of two finishing machines to Italian converter Italgrafica . Ordered was a ROTOCONTROL RSC-series slitter/rewinder and a custom-built C-series high-quality slitting machine, for slitting non-adhesive material and finishing a range of blank and printed self-adhesive labels, serving a variety of industries. The ROTOCONTROL RSC-series slitter/rewinder The ROTOCONTROL RSC-series is a high-performance, compact, extremely robust machine designed to maximize operator efficiency in the finishing of labels. Available in a range of widths up to 640mm and operating speed up to 320M/m, the RSC offers a full suite of standard features necessary for immediate operation: 100% servo motor control including unwind, cartridge slitting system, vertical inspection zone, automatic tension control, S-Drive servo driven operation, job save and simple, functional controls. The RSC slitter/rewinder ordered by Italg...

In response to the success of their Data Transcripts market bulletins acquired last year, AWA Alexander Watson Associates announce the launch of a third monthly online updating service  – this time covering Labeling and Product Decoration Markets and Materials.  Up-to-the-minute market data Delivering current data from AWA’s own research on all the extant ‘label’ arenas --  including sleeving and in-mould labels as well as wet-glue and self-adhesive --  and additionally highlighting other news on market and material developments and innovations, Data Transcripts:  Labeling and Product Decoration Markets and Materials will launch in September on an annual subscription basis.   Says Corey Reardon, President and CEO of AWA Alexander Watson Associates:   ‘this is a resource that will be of real value to converters, suppliers, packagers, and brand owners who are looking for a quick and easy, user-friendly way to keep abreast of all aspects ...

FLEXcon , an innovator in adhesive coating and laminating, today announced the introduction of a new removable silicone adhesive product, FLEXcon ® SA1000. Unlike other products currently on the market, FLEXcon ® SA1000 offers clean removability, performance at temperatures as high as 400°F, and excellent clarity, making it ideal for electronic applications. The FLEXcon ® SA1000 adhesive can be used to affix films to smooth surfaces and provides consistent, clean, quiet removability. FLEXcon ® SA1000 adhesive can be provided on various films based on the application need to create individualized solutions. In some cases, the product can be re-applied or used more than one time.  As electronics are designed to be more compact they tend to get hotter, and their glass or glass-like surfaces need to be protected by an adhesive that can withstand extreme temperatures. Protection of glass and metals is also of significant importance both in the manufacturing process and in consu...

Package printing will be a core subject at Labelexpo Europe as the show prepares to return to Brussels this autumn. Set to be the biggest ever edition in its 35 year history, Labelexpo Europe 2015’s show floor and feature areas will firmly put the spotlight on the lucrative commercial opportunities package print production offers. Taking place at Brussels Expo in Belgium from 29 September to 2 October, the show is aimed at trade professionals including label and package printers, brand owners and designers. Visitors to the show will be able to see and source the latest label and package printing solutions from over 600 exhibitors. Leading industry suppliers will be there in force with exhibitor highlights including Soma Engineering showing a working press for the first time. Soma will display its mid web Optima CI press platform to present a completely new concept in flexographic printing presses to the label and package printing industry. More commonly perceived as a wide web pre...

The ninth AWA International Sleeve Label Conference and Exhibition 2015, held in Miami, Florida at the end of April, provided strong evidence that, in just a few short years, sleeve labeling has become a core technology for product decoration and identification.   Sleeving’s unique top-to-toe labeling capability, which provides additional tamper-evidence, plus its ability to protect the user from splinter injury due to breakage of glass or other rigid containers, deliver additional functionalities.   The different film substrates employed, plus the special shrink/stretch, sealing, and application processing equipment, come together with the printed sleeves to create a whole, dynamic industry. Opening the conference program on the first day, AWA’s Dr William Llewellyn set the sleeving market in the context of the global label market, by region, by demand, and by label format.   He highlighted growth trends;  and, he said, ‘although growth remains s...

Asahi Photoproducts has launched a new plate in the Pinning Top Dot Technology (PTD) family, the AFP™-TSP (Top Soft Pinning) for paper, folding carton and corrugated board applications, as well as for all flexible packaging such as aluminium or film substrates. PTD technology facilitates clean ink transfer and prevents ink accumulating on the plate surface and on shoulders in screen areas. This results in fewer stoppages for plate cleaning, reduced press downtime and improved machine OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness). AFP™-TSP plates allow the kiss-touch pressure setting, thus extending plate life and further reducing downtime and increasing margins. The new medium hard plate comes in four thicknesses with Shore A hardness ranging from 48 to 69, and complements the harder AFP™-TOP plates launched last year. AFP™-TSP plates are tailor-made for paper and higher quality corrugated board applications with water-based inks. They are also compatible with solvent and most UV-curable...

The Technology Transfer Office at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, has signed a patent pending, exclusive license agreement with FLEXcon, of Spencer, Massachusetts. This exclusive license allows FLEXcon and its affiliate, Blueshift International Materials Inc., to manufacture and market Glenn’s patent pending polyimide aerogels for many aerospace applications such as insulation for cryotanks and spacesuits, as well as more down-to-Earth uses in construction, refrigeration and pipe insulation. Winner of the 2013 NorTech award and a 2012 R&D 100 Award. Credits: NASA   “We are delighted to secure a licensing agreement for Glenn’s technology,” said Center Director Jim Free. “We have hundreds of technologies available for licensing at Glenn, and it is extremely gratifying when the private sector adapts NASA innovations so they can make an impact in the marketplace. By licensing the polyimide aerogel technology to FLEXcon, Glenn will gain a commercializ...

FINAT, the international association for the self-adhesive labelling industry, announces the winners of the 35th FINAT Label Award Competition. Welcoming several new contestants to the ever growing portfolio of high quality entrants, the number of entrants increased slightly over last year to 260 award entries from 45 companies representing 25 countries. A new group – Digital – was introduced this year to recognise the significant part that digital printing is playing in the narrow web industry. This group included three categories covering the main digital printing technologies: solvent toner, dry toner and inkjet.   The judging panel was chaired by industry expert Tony White, who was supported by regulars Steve Wood (UK), Murat Sipahioglu (Turkey), Rik Olthof (design expert from Cartils Branding & Packaging design agency in the Netherlands) and Prof. Dr. Efe Gencoglu (Vice Manager of Marmara University, Turkey and new chairman of the Turkish Label Competition). ...

FINAT, the international association for the self-adhesive labelling industry, announces Helf Etiketten (Austria) and Bel Leerdammer Cheese (Belgium) are the winners of the second FINAT Recycling Awards Competition. Both winners were honoured during an awards ceremony at the recent European Label Forum in Amsterdam. FINAT recycling consultant Jacques van Leeuwen chaired the jury, supported by Andreas Faul of INGEDE (Paper deinking industry) and Peter Sundt of EPRO (the European organisation of plastics recycling). "The second edition of our Recycling awards saw another strong field of contestants, with a number of returning participants putting in even stronger performances. We congratulate both winners and the other contenders with their accomplishments and look forward to the next edition of the FINAT recycling awards competition in 2016," commented Van Leeuwen. Converter Category winner – Helf Etiketten The converter category saw a number of entries and the winner ...

A line improvement programme undertaken by Sidel at Japan’s Kirin Distillery has resulted in a substantial saving in the use of electrical energy.  Sidel, the leading global provider of PET solutions for liquid packaging, carried out a modular upgrade of the production line and fitted its ECO lamps to the blow moulder on the water line at the distillery, providing a balance of cost and sustainability benefits. Sustainable production an increasing focus The whisky distillery, which currently holds the record for being the world’s largest, is located in the town of Gotemba at the foot of Japan’s iconic Mount Fuji.  The site was selected because it was felt that Gotemba has a climate most like that of Scotland, the birthplace of whisky.  With an average annual temperature of only 13°C, it is cooler and more humid than other parts of Japan - especially in summer.   The Kirin facility is one of 10 whisky distilleries in Japan and its production water is tak...

Colordyne Technologies and Styers Equipment Company recently teamed up to retrofit a 25-year-old inline flexo press with a new state-of-the-art digital print engine for Action Label Company. The reason for the retrofit conversion was to perform short run work more quickly and efficiently, said Andy Espinoza, vice president of Denver, Colorado-based Action Label. "We do a lot of short runs, but this existing flexo press didn't hold register to do four-color process that well," Espinoza said of the Allied inline press he's owned since 1990. "So when this opportunity came up to help us do our short runs, and it required no plates, we jumped at the opportunity to turn our outdated flexo into a profitable and flexible, short run, four-color process digital printing workhorse." Espinoza quickly moved to update his old press with a Colordyne 3600 Series Retrofit digital label and tag printing platform, which provides a combination of high print quality, fa...