Taking place again at the Donald E. Stephens
Convention Center, Rosemont, Chicago, between 11-13 September, there are over
400 exhibitors taking part in this year’s Labelexpo Americas making it the
ideal place for label converters, brand owners, buyers and decision makers to
visit. Underlining the show’s importance to the label industry, the show’s
organizers have confirmed there are over 100 new product launches scheduled to
take place during the show’s three day run between 11-13 September.
Showcasing the latest in machinery and consumables,
label solution launch highlights include:
Avery Dennison (booth 119) is featuring a
wide variety of new products that have been developed to help converters
address an array of end-user market applications. New items include: Avery
Dennison Shrink PS which is a pressure-sensitive label for shrink wrap bags
utilized in the fresh and processed meat industries. It will also be showing a
selection of wash-off labels that easily peel away in the recycling process and
a new patent-pending durables film technology which has been created to
eliminate the need to combine rolls of facestock and overlaminate.
Dow Corning (booth 3511) will be unveiling
two new product lines. As the market continues to increase in demand for liner
performance in terms of release after die-cutting and label dispensing to avoid
web breaks, as well as the need for a very flat release profile release coating
while remaining cost-effective, Dow Corning has developed the Syl-Off SL 181
Coating and Syl-Off SL 581 Coating. These products will allow for a flat
release profile, robust cure at very low platinum levels, flexibility in
formulating and inhibitor choice. It will also introduce the Syl-Off EM 7934
Coating and Syl-Off EM 7935 Coating, which will enable printers to optimize
their release performance, lower costs and avoid the use of cleaning solvents.
Epson America (booth 5713) will be
demonstrating its SurePress L-4033AW – a seven-color inkjet digital label press
with white ink that makes high-quality, short-run label printing easier and
more efficient, even on metallic and clear substrates. Delivering exceptional
print quality on a wide variety of standard label substrates, the L-4033AW
enables label converters and commercial printers to expand their service
offering and improve profitability.
Esko (booth 5202) is participating at
Labelexpo Americas with its largest ever presence. On twelve workstations,
visitors will discover a wide array of software solutions addressing label and
tag artwork, management, design and prepress, color management, workflow
automation and process integration. With the release of Suite 12, Esko focuses
on adding value for the user by introducing new productivity and efficiency
benefits. This is done by closely integrating all flagship tools and engines,
by adding rich 3D functionality for a holistic experience, and by enabling
mobile collaboration and web-based packaging management.
Flint Group (booth 840) will be presenting
its next generation technologies in narrow web print technology. It will be
launching EkoCure, the first-ever UV LED ink technology designed for both UV
Flexo and UV Rotary Screen applications. In addition, the company will formally
launch CombiScreen, a UV Rotary Screen ink, with stunning color strength,
excellent printability and perfected for combination printing.
Fujifilm (booth 5621) is displaying its new
FLENEX DLE CTP system for flexo plates. The system is set to revolutionize the
flexo market, offering an incredibly simple and high quality method of
producing flexo plates. The combination of polymer plates and laser engraving
technology significantly reduces labor and consumable costs in comparison to
all current flexo plate technologies. It will also provide a much more
environmentally friendly solution than existing technologies. The show also
marks the launch of Fujifilm waterbase flexo inks which have optimized
viscosity and pour-and-print characteristics.
Gallus (booth 5803) will be unveiling several
new features such as automatic register control, hot-air drying and sheet
delivery to its Gallus ECS 340 following its highly successful launch in 2009.
In addition Gallus is collaborating with the Heidelberg Group companies CERM
and CSAT to showcase the job-optimized manufacture of labels in a hybrid
production environment, i.e. with digital and conventional machines and
specialized workflow products. The Gallus Print Shop concept will demonstrate
how digital and conventional printing processes can complement each other in
label printing. Crucial support is provided by corresponding software products that
are used to select the most suitable printing method for managing the entire
process.
HP Indigo (booth 3223) will demonstrate new
offerings for the industry’s best-selling digital labels and packaging
solution, the HP Indigo WS6600 Digital Press—a high-volume narrow web solution
for producing any kind of labels, sleeves, tags, flexible packaging, tubes, and
folding cartons with full flexibility. Using the new Enhanced Productivity
Mode, the press produces the vast majority of label jobs with the industry’s
new benchmark in quality at a record speed of 130 linear feet per minute,
delivering the industry’s highest digital crossover point versus flexo.
MACtac (booth 143) will be showing a number
of new products including a high performance prime paper, next generation
pressure-sensitive printing solutions, and FSC certified adhesives. Key industry leaders, from suppliers to
converters to printers, will partner with MACtac to unveil a variety of
advanced technologies and give attendees the chance to assess the performance
and quality of these cutting-edge developments.
Martin Automatic (booth 811) is exhibiting
the newest versions of two of its most popular machines, with running
demonstrations of the MBS splicer and the LRD rewinder. The MBS butt splicer,
the flagship of the Martin line of splicers for the label and narrow web
markets, is known for its versatility in running a wide variety of substrates.
The latest version comes standard with a package of features, including
ultrasonic sidelay sensors and spiral grooved rollers, for unwinding and
splicing many clear film structures. Its
updated LRD rewinder accommodates 800 mm diameter rolls in the standard model,
with larger diameter models available.
Enhancements to the in-line slitter package enable quicker set-up,
fine-tuning and change-over between jobs.
MPS (booth 927) is presenting four new
products for the first time including iStrip its new and tension controlled
stripping system. The iStrip technology allows the press to die-cut and strip
matrix at very high press speeds. Believing that today’s market place has an
intrinsic need to automate press settings in order to drive down the cost price
per 1,000 labels, especially for short runs, MPS has introduced Automated Print
Control (APC). APC stands for an automated servo control of all relevant press
settings. Thanks to APC, also the die-cutting pressure is set automatically, is
extremely easy to operate and replicated through job memory, resulting in
virtually no set up waste, including die-cuttings.
RotoMetrics (booth 129) will be introducing
multiple new products. Featured innovations include its AccuStar Flexible dies
for ultra-thin PET film liners. The new addition has been developed to respond
to the challenges of die cutting to 23 micron/.00092” PET liner material – and
even thinner (.00075”) films. It is also
launching a radically new capability to die cut and clear cavities with
diameters as small as 0.06" (1.5 mm).
The new Pin-Eject Solid Die gives converters new options to process
designs with small cavities and multiple cavities on the die where spring-eject
or vacuum solutions struggle. In
addition, the pin-eject technology solves internal part stripping problems
encountered with pressure sensitive applications.
Roger Pellow, Labelexpo managing director,
commented: “With so many product launches going on at this years’ Labelexpo
Americas it demonstrates again that it is vital for converters and printers to
attend the show to learn about and see first-hand the latest solutions
available to the market. There is nowhere better to see the newest technology
in action or meet key suppliers who can add true value to their business.”
