Xerox Partners with PrintReleaf to help customers reach sustainability goals

Xerox Managed Print Services (MPS) customers will have the opportunity to contribute to the reforestation of global forests through Xerox's new partnership with PrintReleaf. Based on a theme of "You print one, we'll plant one," PrintReleaf leverages paper usage reporting and equates the number of trees needed to reforest that usage on an equivalent basis into geographic areas of need.

Fujifilm to demonstrate the growing strength of its Acuity range at Fespa 2018

At Fespa 2018 Fujifilm will focus on two new high-end platforms, their Acuity B1 modular system and a ground-breaking new platform that will be announced in April 2018. Fujifilm will be exhibiting at the Global Print Expo 2018 where they will be presenting their new Acuity B1 modular system which was first previewed at Fespa 2017. The second will be a new platform that will be announced in April. As part of Fespa’s Digital Corrugated Experience and in combination with Inca Digital, Fujifilm will display the Onset X platform to produce corrugated displays and packaging in Hall 5.2, stand C30.

KBA-Asia Pacific expands sales team for flexo presses

The Koenig & Bauer Group is expanding its sales capacities further to meet increasing demand for flexo technology. Carina Shia has been appointed new sales manager for Southeast Asia. Together with the local KBA-Asia Pacific service team, she will support KBA-Flexotecnica with developing their market share in this region. Carina Shia has worked in the print industry for around 20 years and has collected a wealth of experience in pre-press gravure printing while working for a renowned gravure cylinder manufacturer.

Probo invests in Four Durst P5 Systems

Durst, a manufacturer of advanced digital printing and production technologies, has announced first sales successes for the recently launched P5 Series. Dutch print and fulfilment provider Probo is investing in four Durst P5 printing systems.

European Label Forum 2018 adds Young Managers’ Challenge to programme

A Young Managers Club (YMC) workshop has been added to the programme of this year’s Finat European Label Forum (ELF). The 4th edition of the annual ELF takes place in Dublin, from 6-8 June. The workshop comes 10 years after the YMC was established in 2008, at the occasion of Finat’s Golden Jubilee congress in Paris, to meet an increasing need for up-and-coming managers in small to medium-sized, and often family-run, enterprises. These young professionals wanted help in becoming tomorrow’s leaders and to expand their knowledge about self-adhesive labels. The club helps develop emerging management talent by providing needed educational and vocational opportunities. Taking place on Wednesday afternoon prior to the start of ELF, the workshop will include a competition that will see young versus old battle it out in a business simulation workshop, which should prove to be both educational and entertaining.

Esko WebCenter 18 brings packaging management closer to the one-day target

Esko announced a major new release of its packaging management solution, WebCenter. WebCenter 18 streamlines and speeds up the packaging development workflow by delivering extra features that give brand owners and converters more control and visibility of their packaging preproduction specification, approval and project life cycle.

Schawk Manchester receives FlexoExpert certification

Schawk Group, which is part of the Matthews International Corporation, is one of the biggest global brand deployment companies worldwide. With their many years of experience Schawk Manchester, one of the main plate making operations in the UK, support their customers with expertise in resourcing, workflow, imaging and color management and still finds their core strengths in the packaging market. At their annual print awards the European Flexographic Industry Association (EFIA) titled Schawk Manchester as “Repro Company of the Year”.

LSS showcases reliable labellers for the pharmaceutical industry

LSS Labelling Systems Scandinavia offers user-friendly and efficient solutions to meet the challenging demands of the pharmaceutical industry. At this year’s Achema (Frankfurt, Germany - June, 11-15, Hall 1.1 / E42), the labelling expert presents its machines for tamper evident labelling and for vial and bottle labelling. A demonstration of the machines will be given to the press at the booth on Tuesday, June 12.

Fifth drupa Global Trends Report reflects positive mood in printing industry

The 5th drupa Global Trends Report will be released end of April 2018. Printers and suppliers from the majority of market sectors reported growing confidence in their companies’ economic performance. This year, performance patterns were tracked over the years. Packaging remains the most dynamic market and there has been a steady improvement in confidence over the five years among commercial printers. For functional printers it is a similar situation but this market showed an increased lack of confidence in 2017 for both printers and suppliers. Publishing printers probably face the most challenging strategic changes and there is a decline in confidence despite the reduced threat from E-books. The full report in English can be purchased online at www.drupa.com, with the executive summary available in German, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Russian and Chinese free of charge.

Unboxing: This year's theme for International Packaging Design Competition PIDA

For the fourteenth consecutive year, BillerudKorsnäs organizes the international packaging design competition Packaging Impact Design Award (PIDA). Together with approximately 200 students from leading design universities in Sweden, Germany, France and England, the packaging phenomenon unboxing will be challenged.

Cron-ECRM to feature HDI Flexo CTP at InfoFlex 2018

Cron, the world’s largest manufacturer of CTP devices, will be exhibiting at InfoFlex 2018, to be held May 7-8, 2018 in Indianapolis, IN, in booth #237. The show focuses on innovations in the package printing and converting market, and Cron -ECRM, the master distributor for Cron in the Americas, will be promoting their HDI Flexo CTP product line.

United Caps acquires Spanish closure manufacturer Embalatap

United Caps, an international manufacturer of caps and closures, today announced it has acquired the Spanish closure manufacturer Embalatap. The acquisition acts to extend the United Caps product portfolio, especially as it relates to closures for edible oils typically used in the Southern European market. United Caps welcomes all Embalatap employees to the United Caps family and will maintain the existing manufacturing location.

Arets Graphics finds value for Czech market in waterless offset printing

Toray Graphics in the Czech Republic, a leading manufacturer of waterless offset plate technology, today reported that Arets Graphics a Czech-based supplier of high-quality, proven consumables for the printing industry, is distributing Toray IMPRIMA waterless offset plates in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The company was founded in 1993 and has been partnering with Toray for about seven years.

Wishing you all Happy Baisakhi

Baldwin to showcase FilmCylinderCleaning at NPE2018: The Plastics Show

Baldwin Technology Company Inc., a world leader in providing solutions for the plastic-sheet and film-production industry, is pleased to announce that it will exhibit its highly efficient Film Cylinder Cleaning system in booth W9410 at NPE2018: The Plastics Show, held from May 7 to 11, 2018, in Orlando, Florida. Ahlbrandt System GmbH, a Baldwin Technology company, also will be showcasing its versatile Corona surface treatment systems in the same booth at the show. Ahlbrandt was acquired by Baldwin in 2017.

The Baldwin Film Cylinder Cleaning system offers fully automatic chill cylinder cleaning that is performed during operation. This process maximizes productivity and safety by eliminating manual cleaning, while enhancing film quality, increasing machine equipment uptime and reducing waste.

GEW warns against potential patent infringements

GEW (EC) Limited, the manufacturer of UV curing systems for printing, coating and converting applications, today pronounced a stern warning against potential patent infringements.

“At GEW innovation has been the driving force ever since the company started over 25 years ago as a small enterprise in Surrey, England.” explains Malcolm Rae, GEW’s Managing Director, “We have invested significant resources in product design and our manufacturing facility, and the ability to create exciting new technologies has made GEW a front-runner in our industry.”

Bobst to highlight latest trends and innovations in film printing and converting at Chinaplas 2018

One of the world’s leading suppliers of equipment and services to packaging and label manufacturers in the folding carton, corrugated board and flexible materials industries, Bobst announced its participation at Chinaplas, in Shanghai, P.R. China, from 24 to 27 April 2018.

First Mark Andy Digital One installed in Mumbai’s Barcom Industries

Mumbai based Barcom Industries has become the first label manufacturing company to opt for Mark Andy Digital One label printing press in Asia. Installed at their factory close to Mumbai, the installation was done by Flexo Image Graphics (FIG), the distributor of Mark Andy presses in the Indian sub-continent.

New Harlequin RIP introduces PDF 2.0 - The industry’s fastest print engine for labels and packaging

A major new release of the Harlequin RIP, the print engine that drives the industry’s highest performing digital presses, is launched today by developers Global Graphics Software. It is the first major PDF RIP for production printing to offer compatibility with the PDF 2.0 standard, which was published in 2017 by the International Standards Organization and is billed as the first “post-Adobe” standard. Harlequin Version 12 also contains a wealth of features for high-speed digital printing, including Advanced Inkjet Screens™ that improve output quality, further additions for labels and packaging applications, and new features for wide format and envelope printing.

The Harlequin RIP is used by HP Indigo in its newly launched HP Production Pro for Indigo Labels and Packaging, driving five times faster RIP power compared to the previous DFE version. It is also used in Durst’s Symphony and Roland’s VersaWorks Dual RIP.

Komori to sponsor Paperboard Packaging Council (PPC) Conference

Komori America is sponsoring the Paperboard Packaging Council Spring Outlook and Strategies Conference held April 11-14 in Baltimore at the Baltimore Marriot Waterfront. The PPC is the leading trade association serving suppliers and converters of all forms of paperboard packaging. It provides its members with educational and information services on government regulations, statistics, safety, finance and technology.

Uflex launches new solvent based laminating adhesive for flexible packaging

Uflex has unveiled a general performance 2K solvent-based PU laminating adhesive under FlexBon Brand for food packaging and general applications. Reducing the use of solvents is the prime driver behind creating this product. Uflex's Chemicals Business launched this product commercially at its production unit, located in Noida (Uttar Pradesh, India).

Altrif Label speeds up production with Xeikon Cx500

Altrif Label, one of the leading companies in label printing in the Benelux and part of the St-Luc Labels & Packaging group, has increased its output with the Xeikon CX500. As the first beta-tester of the Xeikon CX500, Altrif Label aims to stay ahead at a technological level.

X-Rite and Flint Group announce global partnership

With increasing demands for colour equity across ever wider geographies and packaging substrates, it is essential that every provider from brand owner specifier, to print and packaging supplier, contribute to establish a consistent and robust colour communication workflow.

Idealliance launches revolutionary global packaging supply chain printer facility audit certification

Idealliance, a global thought leader in the graphic communications industry and a non-profit organization with 11 strategically located offices around the world, announces the release of the new global packaging supply chain printer facility audit certification called BrandQ Certified Supply Chain Facility.

Registration now open for Print & Packaging Legislative Summit 2018

Registration is now open for the Print & Packaging Legislative Summit 2018, coming June 19–20 to Washington, D.C. The Legislative Summit will bring printers, packaging converters, technology and consumable suppliers and allied interests together for public policy and political education, as well as direct interaction with members of Congress and the Administration to discuss hot-button policy issues.

Specialized formulation by Uflex renders barrier packaging for edible oil reprocessable

In a big boost to its commitment towards sustainability and circular economy, India’s largest multinational flexible packaging materials and solution company Uflex Limited has developed a customised formulation that renders barrier packaging for edible-oil re-processable.

Ovid Bell Press gets greener with PrintReleaf

Ovid Bell Press - a major producer of publications for the short- to mid-run market--is the latest printer to offer customers the PrintReleaf certified reforestation service.  PrintReleaf permits Ovid Bell Press customers to optionally plant trees equivalent to the paper used in their printing--thus decreasing the carbon footprint of their purchase.  Products printed with PrintReleaf Certification bear the PrintReleaf logo, which enables publishers and their readers to see details about the number and location of trees planted on their behalf. 

Color-Logic certifies HP Indigo 6900 Digital Press with Silver Ink

Color-Logic has certified the HP Indigo 6900 digital press with silver ink for label and packaging applications. Confirming the certification, Color-Logic Director of Sales and Marketing Mark Geeves said: "Silver ink on the HP Indigo 6900 press, when used with the Color-Logic Process Metallic Color System, yields great advantages for brands requiring labels or shrink film packaging. Combining the two technologies produces as many as 250 metallic colors and a virtually unlimited variety of decorative effects for enhancing and protecting products."

Paper-based packaging solution with integrated sealing functionality

In 2016, Sappi was the first manufacturer to launch an innovative packaging paper with integrated sealing functionality. This innovative and sustainable packaging solution generated a great deal of interest in the market and has gradually been developed further. Now Sappi is introducing Sappi Seal to the market, the second generation of this flexible packaging solution with improved sealing properties, which is also recyclable. It is designed to replace hot seal laminates made from plastic with materials containing a high proportion of renewable raw materials. Sappi Seal is single side coated and has been finished with a dispersion coating on the reverse side, which achieves good results with hot sealing.

Label Impressions, Inc. wins World Label Award and partners with Hybrid Software for innovative prepress tools

Label Impressions, Inc. a progressive label and packaging printer in Orange, California, has recently invested in a new prepress system with online customer collaboration and approval tools from Hybrid Software, reducing file preparation time and dramatically shortening the proofing cycle time for its customers.

Color-Logic certifies HP Indigo 6900 digital press with silver ink

Color-Logic has certified the HP Indigo 6900 digital press with silver ink for label and packaging applications.  Confirming the certification, Color-Logic Director of Sales and Marketing Mark Geeves said: "Silver ink on the HP Indigo 6900 press, when used with the Color-Logic Process Metallic Color System, yields great advantages for brands requiring labels or shrink film packaging.  Combining the two technologies produces as many as 250 metallic colors and a virtually unlimited variety of decorative effects for enhancing and protecting products."

Sanfaustino Label invests in Nilpeter MO-4 for production of superior, value-adding labels in Brescia

As part of the Italian Gruppo Sanfaustino, specialized in products and services related to the label and packaging sector. Sanfaustino Label has been providing solutions within the Wine & Spirits, Food Industry and Personal Care for over thirty years. The father of the five Frigoli brothers, who manage the company today, founded the company in 1957. Since 1999, Poligrafica San Faustino SPA is a Milan-listed company with an annual Group turnover of approx. 50M Euros.

Flex Films develops unique polyester film proving that "Soft is the New Strong"

Polymeric films with satin soft surface, yet strong and durable are a dichotomy. But not anymore! Flex Films - the global film manufacturing arm of Uflex has developed an innovative bi-axially oriented polyethylene terephthalate (BOPET) film with a unique velvety and luxurious surface at its manufacturing plant in Elizabethtown Kentucky in the United States. The new soft touch film FlexPet F-STF exhibits exceptional scratch, heat and scuff resistance which has been a serious need-gap in the industry for flexible substrates. The surface is self-healing from most scuffing and is optimally durable.

BST eltromat South East Asia at the first Labelexpo in South East Asia

BST eltromat South East Asia, a subsidiary of BST eltromat International, is proud to be showing their wide product range for quality assurance systems for web processing industries at the first Labelexpo South East Asia 2018. The exhibition will take place in Bangkok, Thailand, from May 10 to 12. Visitors are welcome to see a selection of products for the label market and can talk with specialists from BST eltromat South East Asia on booth F25.

The company will show the latest generation of web monitoring systems, the PowerScope 5000. This web monitoring system offers greatly improved image quality compared to previous solutions. It is a remarkably compact but powerful system, which provides the operator with clear, sharp images of the printed product. With multiple standard features and options such as a touch panel controller, dual-touch touchscreen and back flash lighting, the PowerScope 5000 offers true versatility and flexibility. The system is suitable for narrow or wide web applications and it is available in a manual or motorized camera versions.

Label Summit Latin America 2018 announces Mexico conference speakers

Well-known brands, key suppliers and top label and package industry stakeholders will gather for a comprehensive conference program hosted at Label Summit Latin America for its 2018 return to Guadalajara, Mexico. Hosted 24-25 April at Expo Guadalajara, the 2018 Label Summit is the region’s largest dedicated event for the label and package printing industry. The two-day conference program will arm visitors with the skills to improve productivity, create higher value products and retain a more robust workforce. 

Gallus Group integrates with Heidelberg USA to provide full product portfolio from single source

As of April 1, 2018, Gallus will be fully integrated with the Heidelberg USA team in order to increase market coverage and efficiency in sales and service. With this transition, Gallus customers will have access to the entire product and service portfolios of both companies from a single source. Customers will be able to retain their existing sales and service contacts with Gallus and continue to benefit from the specialist industry expertise, but they will also now have the comprehensive know-how of Heidelberg and the industry’s largest service network at their fingertips.

7th Annual InnoPack Pharma Confex 2018

7th Annual InnoPack Pharma Confex 2018

7th Annual InnoPack Pharma Confex 2018

7th InnoPack Pharma Confex

Pidilite Industries and Germany's Jowat SE enter into collaboration

Pidilite Industries Ltd, a leading manufacturer of adhesives in India, has entered into collaboration with Jowat SE, a German family-owned enterprise and one of the leading suppliers of industrial adhesives worldwide. As part of the collaboration, Pidilite will now exclusively handle sales and distribution of the entire range of Jowat adhesives in India and other neighbouring countries including Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal. In addition to this, the two companies have also entered into a technical collaboration encompassing the high growth, specialised category of Hot Melt adhesives. This will provide a comprehensive range of Thermoplastic Hot Melt adhesives for use in several industrial, and modular and other wooden furniture segments.

Mr. Bharat Puri, Managing Director, Pidilite Industries Limited, said, “The collaboration is in line with Pidilite’s ambitions to continuously improve its already strong market position in all the segments where it is present, and especially in adhesives. Pidilite’s leading presence in several consumer product segments, with hugely popular brands, is complemented by a large range of industrial products, developed and marketed to meet specific requirements in the country. The synergies between Jowat and Pidilite in terms of product range, customer segments served and technologies deployed are clear and visible. Both companies together are uniquely placed to capitalise on the healthy prospects for growth in the segments targeted.”

Mr. Klaus Kullmann, Member of the Board of Directors of Jowat SE, said, “We see a strong platform for sustained growth through collaboration with Pidilite. Jowat has pioneered the development of several high end adhesive products, and has constantly undertaken development work at the cutting edge of adhesive technology. The company’s core competence lies in innovation in both technology and R&D, and in delivering outstanding technical service to customers. There is an excellent value match between Pidilite and Jowat to meet the future needs of customers for quality products in all high-growth segments such as furniture, packaging, automotive, and textile, among others, where specialised adhesives are used.”

The collaboration is for the long term, and leverages the well-known strengths and capabilities of the two companies. It aims to provide best-in-class technology and products to customers, comprising of manufacturers of furniture and varied industrial products with requirement of adhesives.

Pidilite Industries Limited is a leading manufacturer of adhesives and sealants, construction chemicals, craftsmen products, DIY (Do-It-Yourself) products and polymer emulsions in India. The company’s product range also includes paint chemicals, automotive chemicals, art materials and stationery, fabric care, maintenance chemicals, industrial adhesives, industrial, textile resins and organic pigments & preparations. Most of the company’s products have been developed through strong in-house R&D. The company’s principal brand Fevicol has become synonymous with adhesives to millions in India. The brand is ranked amongst the most trusted brands in the country. Some of the company’s other major brands are M-Seal, Fevikwik, Fevistik, Roff, Dr. Fixit, Fevicryl, Motomax and Hobby Ideas. The company’s strong presence in several consumer product segments is matched by a focused presence in several important categories of industrial products.

Jowat SE with headquarters in Detmold is one of the leading suppliers of industrial adhesives. These are mainly used in woodworking and furniture manufacture, in the paper and packaging industry, for graphic arts, in the textile, automotive as well as in the electrical industry. The company was founded in 1919 and has manufacturing sites in Germany in Detmold and Elsteraue, plus four other producing subsidiaries, Jowat Corporation in the USA, Jowat Swiss AG, Jowat Manufacturing in Malaysia, and the Jowat Universal Adhesives Australia Pty. Ltd. in Australia. The supplier of all adhesive groups is manufacturing over 90,000 tons of adhesives per year, with around 1.100 employees. A global sales structure with 22 subsidiaries plus partner companies is guaranteeing local service with close customer contact.

Mark Andy hosts successful digital preview event

Building on the excitement of the recent Digital Series HD debut, Mark Andy is proud to announce a successful preview event of the hybrid label press in San Diego, California. The product showcase was held on March 14th at the company’s Digital Technology Center. The facility is the press manufacturer’s “digital hub”, where engineers who specialize in inkjet, workflow, and programming have been based the past 7 years to support new product development on the digital side of the business.

The attendee pool of the true hybrid press preview consisted of label business owners from the California area, as well as industry-members attending the annual TLMI Converter Meeting earlier in the week. Attendees received an exclusive sneak peek of the press prior to this week’s global launch and enjoyed networking opportunities with other converters and Mark Andy specialists.

The highlight of the event was a print demonstration led by Mark Andy’s West Coast Digital Sales Manager, Ralph Boer. Seasoned Print Technician, Joel Panhorst, ran 17 SKUs on 3 unique substrates- clear PP, white BOPP, and an estate paper in under 14 minutes. All jobs were printed at full speed of 240 fpm and used Extended Gamut printing at Mark Andy’s UV inkjet quality standard of 1200 dpi. Additionally, a job made use of a flexo station directly following the digital print engine to apply a metallic flexographic spot that cannot be reproduced digitally. Proving hybrid versatility, this deck was then used to apply a varnish to a subsequent job with rapid changeover.

Building off the success of its’ predecessor’s 2017 FTA Award Win, Digital Series HD is Mark Andy’s commercial approach to label production. Able to profitability support short to mid run lengths, Digital Series HD is highly configurable and versatile. The press is modular- built to support 5 through 8 digital print head options, as well as integrated in-line or near-line finishing configurations. This is made possible by Mark Andy’s future-proof converting platform.

Those interested in experiencing the new press - can request demos at the OEM’s global headquarters in Saint Louis, MO or at the San Diego Digital Technology Center. In regards to global reach, the press will also be available for demonstrations in Mark Andy’s Polish demo center in June. The machine will accompany the Performance Series, Digital One, Rotoflex finishing technologies, and other new innovations on stand at Labelexpo Americas 2018.

Joe Calmese, Vice President, Digital, Mark Andy reflects on the event’s success, providing “Digital Series HD isn’t Mark Andy’s first pass at digital. It’s built on years of success and our Engineering group’s expertise in UV inkjet. A lot of work went into this launch and i’m incredibly proud of where our digital business is to date.”

“Our digital footing is stronger than ever. We have over 90 hybrid presses in production, and anticipate that number to grow significantly as more members of the print community see the undeniable productivity gains of the technology.” concludes Calmese.