Labelling Blog

  UPM Raflatac’s new food-safe PET Gloss White FTC 50 for the European market fulfils the needs of packaging designers and brand owners seeking legislatively compliant food labels with a premium level of shelf-appeal. “With the new topcoat, PET Gloss White FTC 50 supports quality print results with lasting resistance to rubbing, scratching and moisture. It’s ideal for labelling chilled, deep freeze and peel-and-reseal products with a loyalty enhancing brand experience,” says Jay Betton , Labelling Solutions Manager at UPM Raflatac EMEIA. “Higher temperature resistance than other films commonly used in the food industry also makes this PET-based label film a perfect match for labelling ‘cook in the bag’ products. Using plastic-identical labels on PET packaging additionally offers more opportunities for recycling.” Compliance to EU 10/2011 is a legal obligation which minimizes the risk of food contamination from packaging containing plastics. In addition to protecting con...

Xeikon, an innovator in digital color printing technology, is delighted to congratulate Dubai customer Kimoha Entrepreneurs Ltd on winning the new “Digital printing technology” category at the 35th FINAT Label Award Competition. Kimoha was established in 1988 as one of the first label printing companies in the UAE. Today it has more than 300 employees and specializes in self-adhesive labels, flexible packaging materials for numerous industries including cosmetics, pharmaceutical and food. A fresh approach Kimoha won the award thanks to the print quality it was able to achieve with its Xeikon 3300 digital label press with a DCoat 330 finishing unit in producing its project, ‘Ajmal Exclusive Room Freshener.’ The rich looking label printed on a sliver PP substrate incorporated a subtle blue arc to break up the background colors of red and gold. It also features a halftone screen that slightly subdues the brightness of the gold background. This label is designed to be used in qual...

T.H.E.M. (Technical Help in Engineering & Marketing), a leading provider of flexible packaging solutions, has been named the exclusive North American representative by FBR-ELPO for its aseptic bag-in-box (BIB) filling machines and aseptic processing equipment. The demand for aseptic packaging solutions is increasing in step with steadily growing consumer demand for natural food and beverage products. T.H.E.M. believes the timing is right to expand FBR-ELPO’s presence in the North American market. “We are excited to introduce FBR-ELPO’s aseptic packaging machines to our North American-based consumer packaged goods (CPG) customers,” said Neil Kozarsky, CEO and President of T.H.E.M. “The WEB Filler As-I-30 Aseptic Filling Machine represents an outstanding overall solution. The most notable feature is the machine’s flexibility to accommodate a broad range of sizes and types of products; a real differentiator from competitor machines.” The partnership brings FBR-ELPO closer to the No...

Calling climate change “an imminent global threat that demands urgent action from all segments of society,” Avery Dennison Corporation (NYSE: AVY) announced today that it has signed the American Business Act on Climate Pledge, a White House initiative to enlist U.S. companies in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. With this pledge, Avery Dennison is joining more than 140 companies who have voiced support for a strong outcome at the United Nations Climate Change Conference being held in Paris from November 30 to December 11 and have underscored their commitment to reducing emissions from their operations. “Signing the pledge was an easy decision because we’re already doing the things that the pledge asked of us,” said Dean Scarborough, Avery Dennison’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “We unequivocally support an agreement coming out of Paris that takes a strong step toward a low-carbon future. We are cutting our own carbon emissions and taking additional measures to tackle cli...

The leitmotif of next year's, as ever, eagerly awaited hubergroup calendar is 'Markets of the World'. Traditional markets from regions in which the printing-ink manufacturer hubergroup has local subsidiaries appear as motifs in this calendar and reflect the multi-coloured diversity of life. Flamboyant, highly detailed images, some of which were taken from a bird's eye view, create a powerful, in some cases graphic impact. Among the motifs are images of a flower market in Kolkata/India, a Dutch cheese market, a Mexican vegetable market and a floating market in Thailand. In keeping with the time of year, the December image depicts the picturesque setting of the Christmas market in Trier, situated on the Moselle river. The calendar has been printed using !NKREDIBLE MAXXIMA inks and finished with ACRYLAC HIGH GLOSS EXTRA S water-based coating from the hubergroup. The more than 15,000 copies will be distributed to clients and business partners. 

Leading Hungarian specialty label producer CODEX is the latest company to validate the business-winning benefits of the Xeikon CX3 digital label press. CODEX specializes in Extended Content Labels (ECL), often referred to as booklet labels; security and anti-counterfeit label solutions; and labels for food and pharmaceutical products. The company has an extensive production portfolio of offset, flexo, screen and digital printing solutions as well as extensive finishing capabilities. The Xeikon CX3 will enable this innovative €5 million turnover company to be even more competitive in its chosen market segments as well as position it to enter new markets, both locally and around the globe. ”Our Xeikon CX3 is already delivering big dividends,” says CODEX Chairman Károly Orbán. “Its incredibly fast production speeds and high quality have helped us increase both productivity and profitability. And thanks to its CHEETAH toner, we can supply the food, cosmetics and pharma industries with ...

The Atlanta site of Sidel in the US has now joined Sidel’s four main manufacturing sites in successfully passing a Sedex audit, again with 100% compliance in the key areas of labour standards, health & safety, the environment and business ethics.  This demonstrates Sidel’s focus on continuous sustainability improvement and is part of its commitment to contributing to sustainable partnerships with transparent exchange of information throughout the supply chain. Independent auditing of good practice A non-profit organisation, Sedex - the Supplier Ethical Data Exchange - is the largest collaborative platform for sharing ethical supply chain data.  The gaining of yet another perfect score in the Sedex audit, with its 100% compliance of critical non-conformities, underlines Sidel’s continuing commitment to engaging in open dialogue and information exchange. The company collaborates closely with its partners in order to contribute to the growth of a sustainable industry. ...

UPM Raflatac is sponsoring the Forest Stewardship Council ® by supplying FSC ® -certified label materials to promote the new FSC global brand Forests For All Forever ™. It highlights the benefits forests have on the environment, society and the global and local economy, in a way that is clear and consistent and represents the values of FSC. Paper-faced self-adhesive label stock for promotional labels was produced at UPM Raflatac’s factory in Changshu, China. Once printed, the labels are used to promote the new FSC brand throughout the Asia-Pacific region. UPM Raflatac has supplied FSC-certified products since 2008 and actively co-operates with the organization around the world. The aim is to increase the use of certified wood in the label production processes and to promote awareness of the forest certification and related responsibility issues. As the labelling industry frontrunner in ecodesign-driven product development, sustainable label materials production and solutions for re...

German multinational the Bosch Group ( www.Bosch.com ) hosted the ground breaking 1st International Coffee Processing and Packaging Round Table in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Friday. It featured representatives from United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), several industrial and agricultural institutions, big business, SMEs, farmers, civil society as well as local and international aid agencies in a strategic bid to enhance food security.  The discussion sought to increase localisation to enhance food security in the region while looking to improve the quality of life for citizens through stimulating economic growth in one of the country's key sectors. It further sought to bring key stakeholders together in a first step to increase local value addition and industrialisation. Ethiopia is believed to be the birthplace of coffee with one in every five citizens presently involved in the industry. The forum was held during the 3rd Annual Addis Agrofood Ex...

In order to deliver on the company’s customer promise to provide high-quality products and best-in-class service, UPM Raflatac has opened a new self-adhesive label stock slitting and distribution terminal in Chengdu, China. The terminal will supply both film and paper label materials to customers in the Southwest China region. The new Chengdu terminal is part of UPM Raflatac’s expansion program in Asia Pacific which targets to increase production capacity and expand the service network in the market. “The new terminal brings us closer to our customers in the southwest part of China, thus allowing us to offer a wide range of products with shorter lead times. It also strengthens our commitment to provide excellent customer service and technical support to the customers in the region”, says Jari Haavisto , Vice President for UPM Raflatac Greater China. In addition to the new slitting and distribution terminal in Chengdu, UPM Raflatac’s production and sales network in China co...

Xeikon is pleased to report that Colombia-based Topasa is the latest label specialist to acquire a  Xeikon CX3 and the first in Latin America to invest in Xeikon’s newest press based on Xeikon Cheetah technology. This decision is a critical element of Topasa’s growth strategy, which also includes a planned move to a new facility. These strategic investments will allow the company to produce 50% more square meters of labels per month. Following an intensive search for a press that would reduce costs while offering increased productivity, Topasa chose the Xeikon CX3. Luis Carlos Lopez, President and CEO of Topasa, explains, "We decided for the Xeikon CX3 because of its very high quality, high speed printing, and its ability to produce a wider range of products for our customers. These are characteristics that will make a difference when it comes to optimizing our workflow and offering better alternatives for our customers." Future proof to adapt to changing market ...

UPM Raflatac has launched a Korean version of its website. The local language site is designed to provide rich content and detailed product information to visitors in their native language. Korean users now have access, for example, to regionally specific product ranges through effective online search functions. “The labeling market in Korea is a very dynamic business environment. Local brand owners have Korean-specific label requirements, while the country also attracts multinational brand owners with global label specifications,” says Ted Qian , Sales Director, Japan and Korea, UPM Raflatac. “We are delighted to present our website in the local language, so we can further share our labeling expertise and knowledge with our Korean customers.” “The new website will become a resource for Korean printers and brand owners, who benefit from having information readily available to them at all times,” says Yeo-Sul Yoon , Sales and Marketing Manager, South Korea, UPM Raflatac. “Custo...

Schreiner ProTech has developed a plastic clip with a human-readable, laser-engraved code combined with two silver Color Laser Film (CLF) labels for the newly introduced Bosch QualityScan. As the leading producer of diesel injection systems, Bosch places great value on quality when it comes to repairs. With the QualityScan, Bosch now offers car repair shops and end consumers transparent documentation via Internet of repairs of common rail components carried out by authorized garages. Schreiner ProTech supplies the items necessary for the corresponding proof. The code of common rail injectors for certain utility vehicles is located on a plastic clip affixed to the component. Schreiner ProTech developed a laser engraving process including code and human-readable text for this clip. For the required marking of other components with ID labels a tried and tested Schreiner ProTech solution was used: Color Laser Film (CLF) silver. Schreiner ProTech produces and supplies the laser-engrave...

A subsidiary company of Germany's largest building society relies on digital printing with Xeikon: A Xeikon 8500 digital printing system with a five-color configuration has been in operation since July 2015 at Schwäbisch Hall Facility Management GmbH (SHF), a subsidiary of the Schwäbisch Hall building society. The company operates both the printing and mailing center for the building society as well as for external digital printing customers and is now able to use the press to cost-effectively produce versioned, and even personalized, print jobs in very high quality. The costly and time-consuming pre-printing of offset litho shells is now a thing of the past.  For SHF, the fundamental success factor for the innovative digital printing press is that it is firmly in tune with the times. Michael Köhler, Facility Manager of Central Printing at SHF, is a firm believer in the concept: "With its varied technological printing options, the Xeikon 8500 is the perfect response to ...

Xeikon, an innovator in digital color printing technology, will launch the Xeikon 3020 digital label press at Labelexpo Asia. The Xeikon 3020 is specifically designed to address the Chinese 10-inch market for self-adhesive labels. Labelexpo Asia will take place from December 1 to 4, 2015, at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre. Xeikon will be located in Hall E2, Booth G6 at the show and is the largest exhibitor at the show with digital printing offerings with 170 square meters of exhibit space. “Xeikon is totally committed to the Chinese market,” states Bent Serritslev, Managing Director Xeikon Asia Pacific (ASPAC): “We believe that the Chinese market for label printers is ready to adopt the top printing quality delivered by the Xeikon 3000 Series. We are looking forward to our discussions with visitors to our booth, learning more about their businesses and how Xeikon solutions can help them drive growth, adding new applications and revenue streams enabled by the digital la...

MPS Systems North America, Inc. (MPS) has announced Nosco has purchased and installed an MPS EF press for its Carrollton, Texas, facility. This is the second EF press Nosco has purchased in the past three years. Nosco is a full-service packaging solutions provider serving more than 350 customers in the pharmaceutical, medical device, contract manufacturing/packaging, animal health, natural health, biotech and over-the-counter markets. With more than 75 years of experience, the company brings business resources and technical expertise together to deliver customized solutions to its customers. (L to R): Buster Westrum, maintenance supervisor, Nosco; Kees Nijenhuis, vice president, MPS North America; BJ Taipalus, MPS press lead, Nosco; Brad Elledge, director of continuous improvement, Nosco, in front of Nosco's news MPS EF press. According to Denny McGee, president of MPS America, Nosco purchased a 17” eight-color EF press that includes an automatic unwind and rewind system f...

ROTOCON, a provider of consulting and service to South Africa label converters in the narrow web industry has confirmed the signing of a two-fold contract with Zimbabwean printer LabelCo for both MPS and Rotocontrol machines. Led by Patrick Aengenvoort, sales director of ROTOCON, the extensive order marks the first MPS flexo press and Rotocontrol slitter rewinder heading for Zimbabwe. Celebratory toast with LabelCo at Labelexpo Europe On order is a high-end MPS EF 430mm web width, 8 colour multi-substrate flexo printing press built with an automation package including job memory. Primary features of the Dutch press are GEW UV drying, die cutting, cold foiling unit, film to film lamination option, and Vetaphone Corona treating. Second part of the sale is an RSC slitter rewinder from German manufacturer Rotocontrol. The finishing machine will combine 100% servo motor control, cartridge slitting system, vertical inspection zone, automatic tension control, strobocope and an addi...

Flint Group has today announced the acquisition of Xeikon*, a leading digital solutions provider to the packaging and commercial printing markets. Headquartered in Eede in the Netherlands, with operations in Lier, Ieper and Heultje (Belgium), Xeikon, designs, develops and delivers high-end digital colour presses and consumables for the global commercial, document, label and packaging market segments, distributing its solutions through a worldwide sales and service network. Xeikon’s pioneering products and services will be the foundation of a newly created division to be called Flint Group Digital Printing Solutions. This new division of Flint Group will further broaden the group’s conventional and digital printing solutions, offering a unique proposition of equipment, consumables and services across its global markets. “This acquisition represents an excellent opportunity for Flint Group, propelling the organisation further into the digital solutions market, where we will contin...

Rotoflex, a world leader in inspection, slitting, rewinding and die cutting equipment has released the new HSI slitter rewinder designed for high volume label slitting, inspection and rewinding. Built with the extreme ruggedness and reliability as its flagship VSI vertical design series, the HSI offers label converters an operator-friendly horizontal configuration. Features of the new HSI include 330 and 440mm web widths, 1000 fpm running speed, extra-large inspection table, ergonomic 37 inch (940mm) high editing area, easily accessible slitting module, a straightforward web path and conveniently located finished roll rewind location. With end-to-end servo control design, the HSI also features the Rotoflex URC 2.0 proprietary control system with simple menus and an intuitive interface, giving operators the ability to monitor all functions from a single screen. New Rotoflex HSI slitter rewinder The small footprint HSI is configurable for a variety of vision inspection solution...

CHILI publish ( www.chili-publish.com ) announces the release of CHILI publisher 4.5. This new release builds on the solid technical foundation that was developed into CHILI publisher and gives users even more tools to enhance the way documents are created and published in any format, in any environment. “CHILI publisher is included in the workflows of hundreds of customers who work in a variety of markets around the world. Though their products and businesses are different, these customers use CHILI publisher to meet a common goal: provide their end users with a robust design and editing experience while ensuring that brand and design consistency are always maintained,” says Bram Verniest, Chief Operating Officer of CHILI publish. CHILI publisher 4.5 is available now, with new features that include: Optimised 3D try-out Customers of CHILI publisher have praised the way the software enables them to offer their users different versions of a document and to see how changes to one...

India’s largest producer of mustard oil is to differentiate its products from others in the market following the installation of the first ever Sidel complete PET bottling line for edible oil in the South East Asia Pacific region.  The Sidel line, including a Combi system, is producing bottles for B L Agro Oils, a company which has recognised the advantages that PET brings as a packaging material in terms of brand differentiation, customer experience, performance and sustainability. Government supports domestic production India is one of the world’s leading users of edible oil, with a per capita consumption of around 14.4kg per year in 2013-2014.  During the same period, domestic producers generated 7.6 million tonnes of edible oils from primary and secondary sources. One of those producers is B L Agro Oils, a company based in Bareilly in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, and which produces 50-60% of India’s total production of mustard oil. It has a total produ...

Established in 1924, Marschall GmbH & Co. KG began offering pressure-sensitive roll-fed labels in 1986. Since then, the company has focused on labels for technical applications, in short and medium run lengths. In such circumstances, many might have opted for a digital printing system – but, in December 2014, managing director of Marschall, Friedel Sellmann, invested in the Nilpeter FA-4* 6-colour flexo printing press instead. Managing Director Friedel Sellmann (right) from Marschall and Bernd Fiebig from Nilpeter GmbH The company employs 20 people and produces mainly labels for technical applications on five presses. Run lengths for these applications are typically between 10,000 to 250,000 labels; only in exceptional circumstances do they extend into the millions. At the moment, the majority of Marschall’s output is paper, but film composites and other speciality substrates generate the most value. Marschall has always produced these jobs by flexo. The large amount...

  Monadnock Paper Mills, Inc. (MPM), a family-owned manufacturer that delivers high-performance specialty papers for the technical, packaging and printing markets, today announced that their popular Envi Card, of which there are already two billion in the marketplace, is now available in a broader range of thickness. The sustainable gift card will now be available in 28, 24, 21, 18, 14 and 12 point calipers that are optimized for many print engines and card configurations including CR80 and M6. Envi Card offers many unique print and post-print embellishments not available on plastic cards, and accepts magnetic stripes, RFID, scratch and signature panels, holograms and embossing. Beyond those capabilities, the expanded offering will enable brands to craft a well-coordinated card and carrier package that will stand out in crowded gift card malls. The paper for Envi Card has been engineered to meet all of the demanding performance requirements for gift cards while replacing P...

Michelman, a global developer and manufacturer of environmentally friendly barrier and functional coatings, polymers, and surface modifiers has opened an online store on Alibaba, a business-to-business ecommerce platform designed specifically for the Chinese market. Michelman’s new online store can be found at http://michelman.1688.com . A selection of Michelman’s best-in-class products are now available for immediate purchase in drums or pails. These products represent the most popular solutions used by Michelman customers across the company’s Coatings, Printing & Packaging and Industrial Manufacturing business groups. Products found in the online store are marketed under the brands Michem ® Emulsion, Michem Guard, Licomer™, Michem Lube, Hydrosize™, HydraBan™, Coating X300™, VaporCoat™ and Michem Wood Release. According to Mr. Steven Wong, Michelman’s Vice President, Asia Pacific, “One of Michelman’s key strategic initiatives in Asia, and particularly in China, is t...