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Monday, November 21, 2011

Kodak Nexpress SX named ‘Most Innovative Technology’


The Kodak Nexpress SX Digital Production Color Platform with the long-sheet option has been honored with the German printing industry's prestigious Innovation Award 2011. The digital press scooped the coveted 'Most Innovative Technology' (Gold Award) in the Printing category. The awards are organized by the Deutscher Drucker Verlagsgesellschaft publishing house. The winners were chosen in an internet poll by readers of Deutscher Drucker and Grafische Palette, two leading German trade journals, and print.de, from a total of 30 technologies nominated by the publications' editors.

This latest award marks a hat trick of honors for Kodak. In 2009, the company won an Innovation Award for its unique Kodak Nexpress Dimensional Printing System, while last year Kodak walked away with two Innovation Awards-the first for its Kodak Trillian SP Thermal Plate in the Prepress category and the second for its Kodak Prosper 5000XL Press in the Printing category.

This year's awards ceremony was held on Nov. 10 at the PrintNight gala in Stuttgart, which was attended by hundreds of guests from the graphic communications world. Bernhard Niemela, Managing Director of Deutscher Drucker Verlagsgesellschaft and Editor in Chief of Deutscher Drucker, presented the awards to the proud winners.

"We're very honored to walk away with such a highly respected award for the third consecutive year," said Mark Clark, Regional General Manager & Vice President Digital Printing Solutions EAMER, Kodak. "The accolade is particularly satisfying because it was print professionals working on the frontline who voted for us. It underlines Kodak's track record of developing solutions that help print services providers overcome the challenges they face in the graphic communications industry."

The Nexpress SX Platform: top-quality digital printing with value-adding options
The Nexpress SX Platform offers superior print quality, excellent substrate flexibility, and numerous in-line coating and printing effects. The system helps print service providers across the world to differentiate their offering and drive revenue by enabling them to create unique, value-adding products.

New features of the Nexpress SX Platform include speeds of up to 131ppm, a longer sheet size (26"/660 mm), smaller ink particle size with the new Kodak Nexpress HD Dry Inks, new Kodak Nexpress Light Black HD Solution, and a new matte printing option. For an overview of the Spencer Lab Photographic Print Image Quality Study where Kodak captured highest rating, visit http://bit.ly/SpencerLabStudy.

The Kodak Nexpress Fifth Imaging Unit Solution offers a raft of options for value-added production, including watermarking, protection coating, glossing, MICR printing, gamut expansion, in-line Dimensional Printing that is unique in the industry, and red fluorescing ink for security and workflow applications.

Kodak is a global advisor and provider of integrated services to help companies transform and optimize their businesses. Through a network of service professionals in 120+ countries, Kodak provides technical, professional, consulting and managed services to enable customers to focus on growing their businesses, maximize productivity, and more effectively manage risks. All Kodak Products and Software are backed by Kodak Service and Support.

HP launches Print Excellence Awards


HP has issued a call for entries for the HP Print Excellence Awards, a new worldwide competition honoring graphic arts printing produced on HP Designjet, Indigo, Inkjet Web Press and Scitex systems.

An international panel of print experts will select winners in16 categories of commercial print, wide-format graphics and label and packaging applications. In addition to evaluating print quality, the HP Print Excellence Awards also will recognize innovative examples of environmentally responsible printing.

The HP Print Excellence Awards are free to enter. HP graphic arts customers can download entry details and forms at http://www.hp.com/go/printexcellenceawards. Entries are due by March 15, 2012. Winners will be announced at an invitation-only gala event held during drupa 2012 next May in Düsseldorf, Germany. Select entries will be on display at HP’s stand at drupa, in hall 4. The competition unifies several existing regional and worldwide HP print quality awards into a single, comprehensive program.

“The HP Print Excellence Awards will show how customers fully express their ingenuity, creativity and skill using HP solutions,” said Christopher Morgan, senior vice president, Graphics Solutions Business, HP. “We look forward to seeing how our customers are advancing the analog to digital transformation and achieving new levels of color quality and innovation.”

More information about HP graphic arts solutions is available at www.hp.com/go/gsb

Fujifilm completes wind turbine power generation project project at its Tilburg plate manufacturing site


The installation of five wind turbines at Fujifilm Europe’s manufacturing and R&D site in Tilburg, The Netherlands, developed in partnership with Eneco, has been completed with all turbines now fully operational. The five Vestas V90 wind turbines, each able to generate a maximum of two megawatts, are together capable of generating approximately 20 percent of the total energy used by the 63 hectare Tilburg site. This development is part of an ambitious target set by Fujifilm Manufacturing Europe to become a carbon neutral site, with the wind turbines alone likely to reduce CO2 emissions by 12,000 tonnes per year.

The company has also installed a water recycling facility, consisting of two large water purification units, on site. With these and other sustainability measures in place, Fujifilm Manufacturing Europe estimates that it currently reuses 13 percent of the waste it produces, recycles 68 percent, regenerates 18 percent and so is left with less than 1 percent of the total site waste to dispose of.

To supplement these initiatives, however, Fujifilm is also investigating the possibility of cleaning some of the waste water the site generates for reuse within the production process, as well as the option of constructing a complete waste water treatment system on site, in collaboration with three neighboring companies. In addition, a feasibility study is also in progress for replacing the natural gas used in production with bio-gas, with the results of this study due to be available at the end of 2011.

Ryuta Masui, senior vice president, Fujifilm Europe, said: ‘Fujifilm has always been committed to the environment as we feel that we have a responsibility to reduce our burden on the planet as much as possible. With the last of our five windmills now in production¸ we are proud to be able to generate 20 percent of the energy we consume at our Tilburg manufacturing site through wind power.

‘It’s not only the way in which we manufacture our products that is important but also the products themselves. We aim to manufacture both processless and low-chemistry offset plates at this site, and are also in the process of developing other exciting products for sustainable applications in other areas of our business here at Tilburg.’

The company also confirmed that its third offset plate manufacturing line (PS-10) is close to completion. The new PS-10 line has been designed to be able to manufacture Fujifilm’s ‘lo-chem’ range of plates, alongside Fujifilm’s most advanced printing plate to date, the recently launched Brillia HD PRO-T3.

Reborn with retrofit: Vetaphone launches corona retrofit module


Vetaphone has launched a plug and play retrofit module, revitalising older narrow web presses that were born without corona. There are several thousands of them, out there on the factory floors, several thousands of well-proven, durable and stable narrow web presses still printing strong, even for years to come. But their limitation to printing only on paper-based substances is rapidly outpacing them, as the market turns to plastic.

Now corona supplier Vetaphone supplies the solution. A simple and compact, plug and play, corona retrofit module brings new life to narrow web presses that were built without corona, but built to last. Mounted in-line the module takes up virtually no space at all, and requires only a few cables and an ozone extraction hose.

Seamless integration
Our engineers spend a lot of time on the factory floors of our clients. For quite some time it was obvious for them that a lot of the narrow web presses out there are becoming obsolete, due to the demand for plastic-based labels. This is a shame, as most of them are not at all close to being worn out. So we decided to come up with a solution, states Mr. Jan Eisby, Sales Director at Vetaphone. Vetaphone says the in-line module takes up ‘virtually no space’ and requires only a few cables and an ozone extraction hose. He continues: We succeeded in fitting everything in one compact module. Even the generator, which is usually placed elsewhere, is seamlessly integrated. It was quite a challenge at first, but we believe the potential is substantial and worth the effort.

A quick change
Almosst needless to say the new retrofit module from Vetaphone comes with the Quick Change cartridge that is the hallmark of the Danes and allows lightning quick and easy cleaning of the electrodes – and even makes it possible to print on materials of various thicknesses. The retrofit module from Vetaphone can be designed to fit almost any narrow web press. Already available are modules for Nilpeter FA 2400, FA 2500, FA 3000 and FA 3300.

ETI Converting launches 1st industrial liner less applicator for any shape of labels


The first industrial liner less applicator will be installed at an important household product manufacturer in Montreal, Canada. This allows a significant change in the conception of the liner less labelling. Up  until  now,  this  economical  and  ecological  way  to  make  labels  was marginal because label printers were limited to square or rectangular label shapes and to the tie points.

This new labelling method does not bring limits to the shape of labels nor to their application speed. This  process  allows  big  label  users  to  access  the  liner  less  mode  without any   marketing   compromise   and   without   major   modifications   of   their production lines. A dozen of brand owners are already interested in this process. Many  label  printers  around  the  world  are  ready  to  take  up  the  liner  less challenge with the ETI COHESIO technology. 

According  to  Francois  Bayzelon, "The  liner  less,  we  have  been  hearing about for years, will finally see the light of day and people in the industry will realize  that  it  does  not  make  sense  to  waste  50%  of  the material  used  to make a pressure sensitive label.”

Avery Dennison opens adhesives research center


Avery Dennison has opened its new Adhesives Center of Excellence research center in Mill Hall, Pennsylvania, USA. The 24,500-square foot facility expands the space currently devoted in Mill Hall to research and development of adhesives, one of the company’s core technologies, and brings its adhesives researchers under one roof in state-of-the-art facilities.

‘Our company was founded on an innovative use of adhesives, and we’re dedicated to remaining the innovation leader in this space,’ said Dave Edwards, vice president and chief technology officer for Avery Dennison. ‘Bringing our full team together in Mill Hall will facilitate collaboration and cross-pollination, and enable us to work faster and smarter to meet the needs of our converter customers and end users for more specialized, higher-performance and more sustainable adhesives.’

Avery Dennison was founded in 1935 by R. Stanton Avery, who produced the first pressure-sensitive labels for retailers as a removable alternative to traditional glue-applied labels.  Inventors at the company have since been granted more than 900 domestic and international patents for label materials and constructions, many of which involve adhesives. Among the company’s inventions are water-resistant adhesives, repulpable adhesives that allow the recycling of paper that contains stickers, multi-layer adhesives that can be removed from surfaces without leaving any residue, and adhesives that allow labels to be easily washed away from the surface they cover.

‘Our goal for the center is to create a new generation of products that offer new functionality and value to our customers and enable Avery Dennison to offer new applications while also being more sustainable,’ said Don Nolan, group vice president, Label and Packaging Materials. ‘For example, based on our leadership position in controlled architecture polymerization technology, we are commercializing new pressure-sensitive adhesives that can be used in structural applications and enable customers to simplify their design and manufacturing processes.’

In addition to serving as a corporate research center, Mill Hall will continue to serve as one of the company’s main adhesives manufacturing centers.

FlexiPrint Reservoir Chamber Doctor Blade System from Tresu


Danish flexo press and printing ancillary product manufacturer Tresu Group has launched a new closed chamber doctor blade system, specifically for narrow-web water- and UV-flexo presses. The FlexiPrint Reservoir Chamber Doctor Blade eliminates splashing, requires no ink pump, facilitates fast, tool-free colour- and blade exchange. It also ensures uniform ink coverage on the anilox roll, boosting yields even when volume requirements are as low as 0.2 litres.

With no moving parts, this lightweight, cassette-format system is situated at right angles to the anilox roll, with point-of-contact either in the three o’clock or nine o’clock positions, enabling even ink transfer without suction.  Fast, effortless changeover is possible by sliding and locking the chamber with ease into any position in the printing sequence of the press. Reservoir levels are topped up manually, and human eye judgment is enough to determine when to replenish the reservoir. Alternatively, a float with a sensor can indicate when more ink is needed. The system also features the company’s E-Line doctor-blade changing system for safe blade change in less than one minute.

The chamber is a perfect closure thanks to the patented rubber fast seal-change system, eliminating the risk of leakage or spillage, even at speeds of up to 300 m/min. It is also airtight, allowing leftover ink to be stored for long periods, without evaporation or deterioration in quality.

“The FlexiPrint Reservoir system provides a clean method of ink transfer, ideal for maintaining maximum productivity, without compromising quality standards,” commented Henrik Kristensen, TRESU Ancillary sales manager.

Tresu Group has partnerships with several of the world’s leading flexo and offset OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturers), developing  a wide range of auxiliary products for narrow, mid- and wide-web printing and coating situations.  It collaborated with Nilpeter to develop an adapted version of the chamber system, exclusively for the Danish narrow-web press manufacturer’s FB and FA flexo, and MO offset, lines, known as  the CLeanINKING system.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Fujifilm launches most advanced printing plate ever – Brillia HD PRO-T3

Fujifilm Europe recently announced the launch of its most advanced printing plate ever – Brillia HD PRO-T3. This new plate features all the advantages of its predecessor, but adds unique new Fine Particle Dispersion (FPD) technology that dramatically improves on-press performance.

The demands on commercial printers, in terms of improving efficiency and reducing costs in order to stay competitive, are ever increasing. These factors, combined with the growing impact of digital print technologies, mean many commercial printers have to look for ways to improve efficiencies in order to maximise the utilisation of their offset presses. As a result, PRO-T3 provides the perfect opportunity to streamline production.

Brillia HD PRO-T3 is a processless plate that eliminates the processor, chemistry, gum and water used in the conventional plate production process, the plate being taken straight from the platesetter onto the press. PRO-T3 is also unique (amongst competitive plate production systems that reduce chemistry) in that platesetter productivity and quality are not compromised, being rated at 1-99% resolution and capable of 20µm FM screening. This means PRO-T3 represents the fastest way of getting a plate on-press, and all the variables associated with processors and finishing units, including the time and labour involved with their maintenance, are eliminated.

But the latest version of this groundbreaking processless plate represents Fujifilm’s most advanced printing plate to date, featuring three high performance technologies designed to optimise performance.  The first is a special new Multi Grain (MGV) technology.  This new micro-graining process applied to the surface of the aluminium guarantees the widest possible latitude in terms of ink/water balance on-press.  The second is a multi-layer coating unique to Fujifilm which provides different functionalities within ultra-thin layers. These include an over-coat layer that controls the diffusion of oxygen, ensuring optimum plate stability and a long shelf life, along with a photosensitive layer that contributes to the plate’s high sensitivity and productivity. Finally, PRO-T3 also features a new layer incorporating the company’s unique new Fine Particle Dispersion (FPD) technology that dramatically improves on-press performance. The combination of these technologies means the plate exhibits higher ink receptivity with much faster development on press, and a much wider tolerance of different press conditions.

“Since the original PRO-T plate was launched in 2005, we have helped many printers in Europe introduce processless plate technology into their production environments” says Ryuta Masui, senior vice-president, Graphic Systems Business Domain, FUJIFILM Europe. “This new improved version is set to have an even greater impact, thanks to its unique combination of features. We are confident that PRO-T3 can improve the efficiency of the offset print process even further and help commercial printers maximise quality while minimising their lead times.”

Brillia HD PRO-T3 is available immediately.

Saturday, November 19, 2011

AWA Foreacast continuing growth in glue applied label technologies


The worldwide market for glue applied labels is the subject of a new, second edition of a market study from specialist researchers AWA Alexander Watson Associates.   The Global Glue Applied Label Market and Technology Review 2011provides an in-depth update of market and material data for this leading labeling format.

Still leading the field
With 41% of the world market share in labels, the glue applied technology remains the preferred choice.   Embracing both cold (wet) glue applied labels and hot-melt, wrap-around glue applied labels, it grew overall by 4% in 2010, and is forecast to continue to grow in every region in the medium term, with Asia Pacific enjoying the most dynamic activity.   Most glue applied labels are destined for the beverage market – which takes a 70% share of usage – and are based on papers.

Current and future status
The Global Glue Applied Label Market and Technology Review 2011 provides a timely market overview that will be of value for label converters, laminators, material suppliers, and users in evaluating current status and threats, and future opportunities in this leading labeling market – set in the context of today’s competing product decoration technologies.   It examines the market structure and value chain;  market segmentation by end-use, geographies, and material choice;  and evaluates in depth the world’s four main regions – Europe, North Americas, Asia Pacific, and South America.   Technology trends in both material choice and imaging are highlighted and, looking to the future, the effects of globalization and environmental issues are considered.   The report ends with a company directory.

Full details of The Global Glue Applied Label Market and Technology Review 2011 are available via AWA Alexander Watson Associates’ website, www.awa-bv.com, where it is also possible to order the report online.

Nazdar named Color-Logic screen printing technology partner


Nazdar, manufacturer of ultraviolet, water-based, and solvent-based wide-format digital, screen printing, and flexographic inks has been named a technology partner by Color-Logic. Announcing the supply partnership, Color-Logic Director of Sales and Marketing Mark Geeves commented: “Color-Logic has worked extensively with Nazdar in their development of UV inks that complement our Process Metallic Color System and enable screen printers to take full advantage of Color-Logic features. At the recent SGIA show in New Orleans, Nazdar showed samples printed with their inks to crowds that were amazed by the metallic images and special effects that can be produced. Among the Nazdar UV inks approved for the Color-Logic process are the Nazdar PowerPrint 1600 Series, Nazdar NFX20 Graphic Transparent Inks, and Nazdar First Down Chrome Inks. Nazdar Consulting Services can provide education and training on the Color-Logic process and are available to assist screen printers in effortlessly achieving beautiful metallics.”

Nazdar manufactures the most comprehensive selection of UV, water-based, and solvent-based wide-format digital, screen printing, and flexographic inks obtainable from a single source. Nazdar inks are primarily used by printers in the point-of-purchase, banner, container, industrial, metal, nameplate-membrane switch, roll label, sign, and textile decorating markets. For more information, log on towww.nazdar.com.

Color-Logic develops color communication systems and software tool sets for a variety of special effect printing applications. Color-Logic provides brand owners, product managers, corporations, and their advertising agencies the ability to differentiate themselves and their clients with a simple print production process that yields dramatic results. Color-Logic special effects utilize the existing workflows of printers and designers, yielding dynamic results without the use of special equipment. Color-Logic supports the value of print and works with designers and printers to enhance their printed media

Atlantic Zeiser highlighted various opportunities for its modular and highly versatile system solutions at CARTES 2011


From printing and personalization through management and mailing, Atlantic Zeiser is the one-stop solution provider for efficient, high quality and cost-effective card personalization, card finishing, card mailing and secure process data management. Atlantic Zeiser Group, a global technology leader in card personalization, demonstrated a fully integrated approach to card personalization, card management and fulfillment at Cartes 2011, Paris, from November 15th to 17th, in Hall 3 on Stand E055. This one-stop shop approach for card manufacturers offers flexibility, exceptional support and the ability to easily expand and grow with easy to install new to market applications.

Specifically, Atlantic Zeiser presented the following systems at CARTES 2011
·         PERSOLINE - this innovative high performance system for ID card personalization  will be on live demonstration.
·         NEW PERSOMAIL - a card mailing system that combines flexibility of application and absolute processing security for mid-range production volumes.
·         VERSAMAIL – a solution that meets customer requirements for high volume card mailings.
·         Software Suite PMP, including PMP-production, PMP-instant and PMP-lifecycle - a comprehensive, powerful and highly secure software-platform for the efficient management of card production, personalization and mailing. The platform can be expanded with modules allowing both instant issuance and card lifecycle management.

“As a solutions provider we are pleased to share our full line of card personalization, mailing and management solutions with Cartes 2011 participants,” said Carl-Michael Heüveldop, Vice President Card Systems Atlantic Zeiser. “These integrated systems demonstrate the flexibility of our modular approach. They range from Atlantic Zeiser’s innovative and high performance Persoline system for ID card personalization, the Versamail for versatile, compact and cost efficient solution for automated card mailing in the middle performance segment and the Versamail system for high-volume card mailings up to the software suite PMP, a comprehensive, powerful and highly secure software-platform for the efficient management of card production, personalization and mailing. This advanced software suite can be expanded on demand with modules enabling both instant issuance and card lifecycle management. This approach of a one-stop shop will change the way card manufacturers think about their options to handle both new and existing business opportunities.

“We expect our visitors will be as excited as we are about the new business opportunities and efficiencies these advances will provide.” added Heüveldop.

Atlantic Zeiser’s Persoline is a powerful and versatile platform that can be easily configured with a wide range of system modules to handle specific applications. The advanced high speed solution offers significantly lower costs for consumables using innovative DoD Inkjet printing technology for full face edge-to-edge card surface printing and personalization. Persoline provides more versatility by integration of various module options in combination with different perso technologies. Varnishing with a UV curable protective layer for superior abrasion and scratch resistance increases the quality of each produced card. With the CoolShield lamination module a high level of security and flexibility in the choice of card materials is guaranteed.

New Persomail is a versatile, compact and cost efficient solution for automated card mailing in the middle performance segment. The innovative solution can process all common card types, reaching speeds of up to 3,000 cards per hour. Personalized cards can be fed by up to 4 feeders at random as an integrated printer personalizes the card carriers on demand. Cut sheet printers with several paper trays allow for selective draw-off of different forms. After card attaching, the inserting unit folds the card carriers (Z-, C- and V-fold), accumulates multi-page sets and selectively adds up to six enclosures. Finally, the mail pieces are inserted into envelopes. Using the Atlantic Zeiser new control and production software, operations become very easy. The software is based on MS Windows 7 and appears in a uniform graphical user interface (GUI). The integration of a new camera based verification system VeriCam E guarantees the highest level of production security and integrity.

Versamail is a modular and cost efficient finishing and mailing system for a wide variety of applications ranging from simple card attaching up to more complex attach & match or attach & personalize jobs required for promotion card packaging or envelope-less loyalty card mailing. Versamail offers a running speed of up to 28,000 products per hour while still allowing a high degree of flexibility and a low cost of ownership through short setup times and simple operation. High attach precisions are achieved using special Atlantic Zeiser designed pivotable Pick & Place feeders. Versamail offers various folding options and allows inline high quality carrier printing of variable data like numbers, barcodes and addresses. The Versamail provides Card Fulfillment Perso Bureaus with new service opportunities and enables them to cost-effectively boost their productivity in the booming markets for card packaging and card mailing.

Atlantic Zeiser’s PMP Software Platform – Going beyond data management
The comprehensive, powerful and highly secure software suite PMP enables card production, instant issuance, enrollment and lifecycle management. The suite’s modular concept allows users to choose different PMP features for their specific requirements. In addition, PMP Software can be used in conjunction with diverse existing manufacturers’ production systems. The suite comprises PMP-Production, PMP-Instant and PMP-Lifecycle, and is based on a modular platform that enables users to add different PMP features to their infrastructure as their business evolves. The PMP Software Suite has been developed in accordance with the card market’s strict security regulations and meets international standards.

Rotocontrol expands with appointment of agents In New Zealand, Australia and Brazil

Ralph Beier, Rotocontrol International Sales Manager, recently announced the expansion of its distribution network with the appointment of three Agents. Rotocontrol leading edge inspection, slitting, rewinding and die cutting finishing machines are now locally represented in New Zealand, Australia and Brazil.
 
In New Zealand, an agreement was made with Mr. Matthew Richardson of Converting Technology NZ Ltd. Ralph Beier initially met with Mr. Richardson and local Converters earlier this year during an invited visit to New Zealand. With numerous years of narrow web experience, Converting Technology also represents Gallus in addition to Windmöller & Hölscher, elexis AG, and CTM Systems.

Mr. Andrew Maxwell, Partner of All Print Technologies, signed an agreement to represent Rotocontrol in Australia. With over 25 years experience in the printing industry, All Print Technologies supplies and supports many leading machinery and consumable brands including Comexi, Eltromat, SDI, Apex, 3M, Tesa, Ake Boose, Recyl , Miller, Randolph Austin and Rotec. Earlier this year, Rotocontrol shipped its first machine into Australia and has received numerous inquiries for additional finishing machines.

Mr. Marcelo Zandomenico, owner of MZ Maquinas, is now the Rotocontrol Agent for Brazil. With a significant background in the graphics industry, Mr. Zandomenico is also the local Gallus representative and is well-known throughout the Brazilian narrow web market from his career experience with Heidelberg and Gallus. Three Rotocontrol RSC Slitter Rewinder machines are installed in Brazil at Baumgarten, Grafimax and recently Ral Print. 

"Each of these companies approached Rotocontrol with an interest in locally representing our finishing technology" states Ralph Beier. "With a significant growth opportunity in New Zealand, Australia and Brazil, Rotocontrol is now well- positioned with local sales and technical support by reputable companies. We look forward to mutually successful relationships with all three new Agents."

Rotocontrol designs and manufactures leading edge inspection, slitting, rewinding and die cutting finishing machines for the narrow web industry.  Available globally, Rotocontrol offers machines from smaller basic rewinders to feature rich, sophisticated models with multiple options. All utilize S-Drive Servo Technology enabling maximum web control for the most delicate film and foil materials.  Headquartered in Ahrensburg (Hamburg), Germany Rotocontrol maintains the highest level of product quality through ease of use, absolute control and flexibility. Rotocontrol is the partner of choice in the finishing of label products

Friday, November 18, 2011

Teknek’s ultimate cleaning solutions to be showcased at Labelexpo Asia 2011


The Teknek (stand D8) will be unveiling EcoFilm, its latest innovation in contact cleaning technology, at Labelexpo Asia. The Teknek contact cleaning process uses sheeted adhesive rolls, which once consumed, have to be disposed of.  After extensive research and testing Teknek has released its new EcoFilm adhesive rolls. The EcoFilm product is the first Oxydegradable clean machine adhesive roll to be available on the market. It retains all the benefits of the Teknek Nanocleen+ adhesive roll (silicone free, static dissipation, extra wide format, slant cut) plus the added advantage of being “green”.

Ultracleen rollers when combined with Teknek’s new patent-pending* EcoFilm adhesive rolls, provide an ideal cleaning core for use on modern thin film label stocks.

Shanghai prepares for Labelexpo Asia 2011


Labelexpo Asia 2011 returns to the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC) from November 29 to December 2. With over 250 exhibitors and countless live machinery demonstrations, the show aims to beat 2009’s record of 16,601 visitors.

Complementing the exhibition, Labelexpo Asia 2011 also features an educational conference program where visitors will hear from high profile speakers, key suppliers and learn from a series of customer case studies.

The keynote presentation, including an overview of latest developments and market forecasts, will be made by Jouko Lähepelto, senior vice president, Americas and Asia Pacific at UPM Raflatac. Dean Scarborough, chairman of Avery Dennison, will look at next generation materials and future trends in China, while Christian Menegon, business development manager at Hewlett-Packard, will focus on the value of digital technology.

Peter Wang, regional sales manager, Asia Pacific at DuPont, will highlight customer case studies where long-term anti-counterfeiting systems have been developed. Dr Zhangshui Gong, chief engineer at Hangzhou Toka Ink Chemical Co, will explore the technical trends for inks in China and Federico d’Annunzio, managing director of Gidue, will examine the opportunities for label printers in package printing.

Roger Pellow, Labelexpo managing director, said: ‘As the third biggest player in the global market, the Chinese label industry is continuing to go from strength to strength. As the region’s largest event, we’re certain we can build on the success of 2009’s exhibition with even higher visitor and exhibitor figures. With the Asian industry experiencing such vigorous growth and diversification, it is pivotal that we again provide printers and manufacturers with the perfect platform to do business, learn about the latest advances in technology and applications and hear about ways in which they can maximize profits while driving down costs.’

Nissha signs exclusive agreement with Applied DNA

Nissha Printing, a label and packaging printer and a half-billion-dollar company based in Japan, will use APDN technology in a project to protect the brands of highly valued fish and other products, recently victims of rampant counterfeiting. The new printing system uses ‘DNA ink’, derived from plant DNA, to mark and authenticate labels on high-value fish and other food products.

The company signed an exclusive agreement with APDN on October 31, becoming the sole provider of DNA ink products in publications and foods (fish and fruit) in Asia. APDN is already recognizing sales revenue from its relationship with Nissha and is looking forward to a stronger presence in Asia. This agreement compliments the existing agreement between Nissha and APDN and further strengthens the relationship between the two companies.      

Using the new printing system, foods can be instantly verified as genuine in the field, using a special handheld detector to identify the anti-counterfeiting ink.  This could happen at the point of sale, or at any point along the supply chain. As is typical of APDN DNA markers, a second, forensic level of authentication is also available by sending the suspect product to a secure lab. 

The system is safe and non-invasive; foods are not altered.

Branded foods from particular and often well-known waters off Japan, and sometimes preserved with traditional, labor-intensive methods, are becoming popular, profitable and necessary in Asia.  For example, sushi bars have become ever more discriminating, while ocean contamination and other issues beset the fishing industry.

Counterfeiters and diverters have moved in with force, selling common foods as the high-value brand, destroying markets and reputation of the real item. 

Nissha identified APDN's technology as a suitable product authentication solution, stating its determination that DNA, as a trusted forensic form of authentication in courts around the world, provides the highest security for high value food and other products.

And Nissha views DNA protection of food as just the beginning. ‘No product is safe from the threat of counterfeiting, and this threatens public health and safety, especially in relation to food and other consumer products,’ commented Takao Hashimoto, director and chief technology officer of Nissha.

The new system, developed by Nissha in conjunction with APDN, can also package a wide variety of products with its forgery-proof, high security layer. The anti-counterfeiting DNA ink on labels can be delivered by various printing technologies, such as offset, gravure and inkjet printing.

Headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, Nissha has more than 4,000 employees, 11 locations in Japan and 27 bases located throughout Asia, North America and Europe.

GEW to showcase new UV lamp head at Labelexpo Asia 2011


GEW (stand F17) will feature the latest version of its VCP UV lamp head at Labelexpo Asia. The VCP will be featured with an infra-red (IR) cassette system for water-based inks.

As well as UV inks, the label printing industry widely uses water-based formulations and varnishes that require hot air dryers to evaporate water content. This means that printing presses may need to accommodate both UV and water-based print jobs. On certain presses this means re-webbing when switching between water-based and UV printing and in some cases, removing the hot air dryers. The GEW IR cassette system is designed to simplify the process and simply slides into the lamp housing in place of the UV cassette. The GEW touch screen automatically recognises if it is UV or IR.

Further enhancements have been made to the company’s e-Brick, electronic power supplies with the addition of a new standalone system. The new power supply will be featured for the first time in Asia and is claimed to be the smallest available on the market for multi UV lamp applications.

Also featuring will be GEW’s integrated on-line UV monitoring system that ensures continued UV performance by providing a method to determine the onset of any deterioration in curing. This permits appropriate maintenance and spare parts planning and avoids premature lamps replacement.

Flex Films breaks ground at US plant

Flex Films, the global films business division of India-based Uflex Group, launched construction activities at the site of its proposed US greenfield facility at Elizabethtown, Hardin County, Kentucky, with a traditional Indian ceremony on October 28. The Honorable Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Steven Beshear, was the guest of honor at the ceremony at which many prominent local dignitaries and other guests were also present, including former Kentucky Senator Joe Prather, Secretary of the Cabinet for Economic Development for Kentucky Larry Hayes, and Elizabethtown Mayor Tim Walker.

Governor Beshear and Messrs. Hayes and Walker actively participated in the event and sat cross-legged on cushions while the hour-long ceremony was in progress after which they gathered on stage to address the gathering. Speaking on the occasion, the former Senator for the State of Kentucky Mr. Joe Prather said, “This is a real milestone for us in the Elizabethtown/Hardin County community”, while Mayor Walker remarked that, “It’s a win-win situation for both us, Flex Films and Elizabethtown.” Mr. Pradeep Tyle - CEO, Flex Films – and Mr. Anant Shree Chaturvedi – Director of Flex Films USA – also addressed the audience and emphasised the importance of this operation in the UFLEX scheme of things and to their core philosophy of locating themselves as close as possible to their customers to provide them freshly produced films just in time so that they could keep their money in their banks and not in their warehouses. The new plant will enable Flex Films to ship freshly made film supplies at 7 days’ notice to American film users.

The new plant will enable Flex Films to ship freshly made film supplies at seven days’ notice to American film users. Flex Films will invest around USD $90 million in each of two phases, the first of which will see the setting up of a 180,000 square foot facility that will house an 8.7 meter wide, 500 meters per minute biaxially oriented polyester (BOPET) film line, and a plasma-enhanced high-barrier metallizer that will be commissioned by the end of 2012. With an annual capacity of over 30,000 MT (about 67 million lbs) of film, this line will be larger than any other film line presently operating in the USA, says the company, and will create about 125 new jobs. Capacity will be doubled and 125 more new jobs created soon after the first line is started up.

Flex Films is a producer of packaging films (plain, coated and metallized BOPET/BOPP/CPP films and holographic materials) and is claimed to be the world’s largest supplier of polyester films for packaging applications. It has an extensive global footprint and its products are used in over 110 countries. It operates manufacturing facilities in India, Dubai, Mexico and Egypt. New facilities are being constructed in Poland and the USA, which will be commissioned in 2012. More international facilities are being planned and it expects to be operating out of at least 12 countries by 2020.

The Uflex Group is a global leader in flexible packaging with annual revenues of about USD $1.2 billion. A vertically integrated conglomerate in the flexible packaging business, its other products include packaging laminates, bags and pouches, PET resins, inks, coatings, adhesives, rotogravure cylinders, flexographic plates, packaging machinery and conversion equipment.

Memjet honored with a popular science 2011 "Best of What's New" Award for Computing Innovation



Memjet, the global leader in color printing technologies that provide remarkable speeds and affordability, today announced it has been awarded the prestigious 2011 "Best of What's New" Award in the Computing category by Popular Science magazine. One of the top technology innovations of 2011, Memjet stands out as the global leader in color printing technologies and is featured in the publication's December issue on newsstands now.

"We're honored and privileged to cap off what has been an impressive year for Memjet with this recognition from Popular Science, an industry leader in science and technology reporting," said Len Lauer, president and CEO of Memjet. "Having the opportunity to work these past months with some of the world's leading brands including LG, Lenovo and our other solutions partners, we look forward to 2012 and our continued strong growth in the printing industry by offering disruptive technologies to fuel a new category of fast, affordable color printing powered by Memjet."

The Memjet reference color office printer honored by Popular Science means incredibly fast color productivity, cost efficiency, and high impact documents for less money. The magazine describes how Memjet printers crank out photo-quality pages in a record-setting one page per second, four times the rate of the average laser model and much more quickly than your standard inkjet: "The 8.77-inch fixed print head covers the width of a letter-size sheet of paper. As the paper passes underneath, 70,400 nozzles-17 times as many as in an inkjet-deposit 774 million dots of ink per second."

"As much as we enjoy looking to the future, our favorite aspect of Best of What's New is that these technologies are real, and improving our world right now," said Mark Jannot, Editor-in-Chief of Popular Science. "Every one of these innovations would once have seemed impossible, and we're as thrilled as our readers will be to see them come to life."

Through its partners, Memjet is bringing its revolutionary technologies to office, industrial, commercial and consumer markets to help change the way people print. Memjet-powered office printers print high-quality color at incredibly fast speeds of 60 pages per minute (the fastest desktop printer speed in the world), while consuming considerably less energy than competing technologies of inkjet and laser. Around the world, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) use Memjet technologies to power printers and printing solutions far beyond what traditional markets have come to know and expect. In addition to the office market, Memjet provides technologies and components to OEMs and partners in the labels, wide format and photo markets. The companyĚs technologies are protected by more than 3,000 global patents, with another 2,000 pending.

Each year, the editors of Popular Science review thousands of products in search of the top 100 tech innovations of the year; breakthrough products and technologies that represent a significant leap in their categories. The winners - the Best of What's New - are awarded inclusion in the much-anticipated December issue of Popular Science, the most widely read issue of the year since the debut of Best of What's New in 1987. Best of What's New awards are presented to 100 new products and technologies in 11 categories: Automotive, Aviation & Space, Computing, Engineering, Gadgets, Green Tech, Home Entertainment, Security, Home Tech, Health and Recreation.

Memjet is the global leader in color printing technologies that provide remarkable speeds and affordability. The company supplies technologies and components to OEM partners across the printing industry. Memjet maintains its corporate office in San Diego, and has offices in Dublin, Sydney, Taipei, Singapore and Boise, Idaho. The company is privately held. For more information, please visit www.memjet.com

Alliance Packaging severs links with Alliance Packaging Hong Kong

Effective immediately, Alliance Packaging Ltd, registered and based in the UK, has severed all business links with Alliance Packaging Group Hong Kong. Alliance Packaging Ltd also confirmed in a statement that it is not involved in the tripartite relationship formed by Shiner International Inc, Treofan Group and Alliance Packaging Group Hong Kong.

Concurrently, Alliance Packaging Ltd announced that it has been appointed the exclusive European Agent of the specialist films producer Guangdong Decro Package Films Co Ltd. Alliance Packaging Ltd also has sales rights in respect of DECRO films in the North American market.

Decro's range encompasses many patented new products, including:
  • A low density Polyolefin TD shrink sleeving film with easy recyclability and excellent performance characteristics, which is already being harnessed by Coca-Cola in the Asean region.
  • A biaxially oriented polyethylene film, claimed to be unique in its genre, offering exceptional clarity and gloss, and which through its tensile strength, impact resistance and yield/thickness attributes is an alternative for thicker gauge polyethylenes in complexes, as well as in its own right. It additionally offers ‘conformability’ for pressure-sensitive labeling applications.
  • A film for glueless lamination that is free from Volatile Organic Compounds and which offers durable lamination bonds and an excellent final clarity.  

Alliance Packaging Ltd additionally represents other companies manufacturing PET, CPET, and CPP, and anticipates that further exclusive agencies will follow in the near future.

IST to showcase energy efficient UV system at Labelexpo Asia 2011

IST (stand E18) is presenting a special UV curing system for the narrow web market: The MBS-5. A quantum jump in UV printing because of the most economical use of energy in the UV curing process!

Energy costs represent a considerable part of the production costs associated with label printing. As worldwide energy consumption, and therefore energy costs, continue to increase, it is necessary to develop intelligent solutions to curb excessive rises in production costs or, better still, to reduce them. Developments in reflector geometry and integrated URS technology mean that the MBS-5 can produce curing results using low power UV lamps, which could previously only be achieved with higher powered UV systems. The energy saved has a direct impact on the energy bill.

The MBS-5 System has been designed to reduce press downtime to a minimum for high efficiency UV technology for label printing. The user-friendly design and easy access to parts mean that all service work, whether to change lamps or clean the unit, can be carried out quickly - therefore saving time and money. The totally new design of the MBS-5 UV system is based on the latest innovations in UV technology. These include URS reflectors, ELC electronic power supply units and FLC fast change lamps, which all lead to a notable reduction in operating costs and therefore more cost effective production for a comparatively low investment. It goes without saying that there have been no compromises in quality or productivity.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

iSys Label proudly announced Gulman as Australia/New Zealand Distributor


iSys Label is proud to announce Gulmen Engineering as our newest distributer covering Australia and New Zealand. Gulmen Engineering will provide customers with superior quality and service with iSys Label printer solutions for short to mid run label production.

“We chose iSys because of the print quality we observed at LabelExpo in Brussels. The footprint of the machine makes it easily accessible to all areas of a print room. The team at iSys Label is ever so nice and keen to work with us as the Distributor in Australia and New Zealand. We are pleased to be working with some really talented and friendly people, “said Ali Rezaki, Gulmen Engineering’s, Sales and Marketing Manager.

“iSys is truly pleased to add Gulmen as a distributor,” said Mark Hopkins, President, iSys Label. “We are confident Gulmen Engineering will enhance customer care, protect customer's machines in the field and increase our efficiency.”

Established in 2001, Gulmen Engineering Pty Ltd began servicing Sheet fed and Narrow web Printing Machinery for companies based in Metropolitan Melbourne. Since the beginning, our team and expertise have grown with our client base, we have been actively involved in the sales and of servicing all types of machinery from pre-press to finishing and specializing in rotary printing machines and ancillary equipment. For more information please visit Gulmen at: www.gulmenengineering.com.au or email: ali@gulmen.com.au.

iSys Label is the innovative developer and manufacturer of short to mid run digital label presses that deliver production quality labels print after print. Our focus is on developing customized product configurations to fit our customers’ needs and provide effective solutions that meet their highest expectations.

Mondi Uncoated Fine Paper sponsors the European Marketing Dynamics Summit


4IT Group, organizer of the European Marketing Dynamics Summit announced today that Mondi has signed on as one of the conference sponsors. The event is scheduled for 24-25 November 2011 in Brussels, Belgium.

The European Marketing Dynamics Summit is an educational forum for Print Service Providers and their customers to network, brainstorm, and share ideas about new challenges related to digital printing and cross media marketing. The agenda includes strategies, techniques and tools for integrating print media into vertical market specific communications campaigns aimed at Financial Services, Insurance/Healthcare, Automotive, Retail, Education, Not for profit, Entertainment/Travel.

“In such a difficult economical scenario Print Service Providers need to be supported in moving forward and adapting to marketing techniques which have significantly changed,” said Johannes Klumpp, Marketing and Sales Director Mondi Uncoated Fine Paper Europe & International. “Mondi strongly believes in education and in the value of teaming up with printers to make the market grow for the benefit of all the players.”

Mondi Uncoated Fine Paper is a business unit of Mondi, a leading international paper and packaging company. In 4 paper mills in Austria, Slovakia, Russia and South Africa, Mondi Uncoated Fine Paper produces office and professional printing papers with a focus on sustainability. It complies with the strictest international certification standards and regularly earns recognition for this policy such as the #1 position in WWF’s 2010 Paper Company Environmental Index and the 2010 PPI Award for Mondi SCP Mill’s Environmental Strategy of the Year.

Its renowned brands such as Color Copy, DNS®, IQ,  MAESTRO®, NAUTILUS®, BIO TOP 3® or Snegurochka are used in office environments on laser or inkjet printers and by professional printers on digital or offset presses to create brochures, transactional material, folders, invitations, business cards, letterheads or other high-impact communication.

“We are pleased to have Mondi supporting the European Marketing Dynamics Summit,” commented Enrico Barboglio, President of 4IT Group. “Their knowledge and expertise will enhance the content that the Summit has to offer for our attendees.”

During the 2-day event, marketers, advertisers, service providers and their clients will learn about the challenges related to print and new media, changes in consumer behavior, and the market environment.

For more information on the event, visit www.emdsummit.eu

Self-Adhesive Labels: The functional advantages for transport and logistics applications

For the warehouse or transport manager, a self-adhesive label can create a multi-functional solution that will both simplify accurate workflow and product throughput using the most advanced 21st-century systems, and provide an invaluable additional level of product authentication, to protect both the consumer and the brand. In the light of much of the media coverage of adulteration/falsification of drinks - baby milk and other beverages (including wine), foods, and pharmaceuticals - the responsible brand owner today can choose to use one simple path to success, across all his required functionalities: a self-adhesive label.

Around 50% of all self-adhesive label usage is in the broad area of transport and logistics labelling, according to FINAT, the European association for the self-adhesive label industry. This dramatic statistic underlines the fact that, across all the end-use market segments - including food, drinks, pharmaceuticals, and retailing - self-adhesive labels have established an unmatched reputation for reliability, coupled with versatility, in every respect. They are a preferred choice because of the extremely stable nature of the self-adhesive ‘sandwich’ - a laminate of printable face stock, adhesive, and the release liner which carries it along the press. The advanced reel-fed label presses used for self-adhesive label print are ideal partners: they combine high-quality print options (many different print processes); label diecutting and finishing (varnishing, etc); waste stripping, and rewinding into reels ready for application.
 
The physical demands
In transport and logistics applications, the demands on the physical qualities of a label are stringent: these are functional labels which must perform in a variety of environments to meet users’ needs. After all, the actual substrate to which they will be applied may vary from wood to rough card, plastic (films or containers), glass, and even such specific items as tyres. Self-adhesive labels offer a choice of adhesives delivering reliable adhesion to a variety of different substrates, or - for critical applications -- substrate-specific adhesives. 
 
But that is only part of the story. The label’s face stock - its printable surface - must be able to conform to the pack to which it is applied. On flat surfaces, this is no challenge - but the situation is very different when it comes to curved packaging or ‘difficult’ surfaces such as apolar plastics which repel standard adhesives. Storage conditions - wet, damp, in particular - will also effect face stock choice.
 
Additionally, although visual aesthetics are not normally associated with transport and logistics labelling, clear readability is essential (either by the naked eye, or with scanners). The imaging methods used for such labels also, therefore, make demands on the choice of label face stock. With self-adhesive labels, the ability to choose a preferred or special-purpose face stock and combine it with a preferred adhesive, and a release liner ideally suited to the label application method employed is a considerable benefit.
 
Applying the label
The actual application of a logistics label to a pack may be accomplished, according to the application concerned, manually; with a hand-operated labeller; or automatically via special self-adhesive dispensing equipment. For highly-sensitive products such as ethical pharmaceuticals, specially-constructed secure tracking systems can create a track-and-trace continuum through the entire supply and distribution chain, from manufacturer through distributor and transport company, to the dispensing pharmacy.
 
A variety of roles
Setting aside the physical requirements, logistics labels also undertake a variety of important roles. They identify single items at the retail point of sale, in catchweight applications, particularly for foods. Here, the label’s dual readability role - correctly identifying the contents for the consumer and enabling the sales assistant to successfully scan the item at the checkout - is critical. In warehousing and other inventory situations - at single item or pallet level - labels are key players in stock control, both at single item and pallet level. They can also perform a major function in product authentication and tamper-evidence - often at the leading edge of today’s security labelling technology.   Using a self-adhesive label as a carrier of security solutions can be a cost-effective solution for brand owners, and converters active in the self-adhesive label production market are contributing extensively in this market. 
 
Self-adhesive labels, whether pre-printed or not, can employ all the types of variable information print (VIP) required to perform these different functions. They will often combine alphanumeric (product name or code) identifiers, for reading with the human eye, with digital identifiers such as barcodes, for use with special readers employed in the track-and trace technologies. Automated stock control makes tough demands on labels;  and as well as dependable adhesive technology, the labels must feature a face material - usually paper but, today, also film - that delivers high-quality print by a variety of VIP technologies.
 
The barcode
Barcodes as product identifiers are today’s most ubiquitous track-and-trace technology. They have been around for nearly half a century, but they still play a key role in supply chain management in many different ways, securing and documenting a variety of information from unique product identifier to production location, batch number, and expiry date. The simple one-dimensional barcode has been joined today by two-dimensional barcodes and, based on the 2D technology, even three-dimensional barcodes. Self-adhesive labels can accommodate even the most advanced barcode technologies - even those associated with today’s product authentication technologies.
 
Variable information print technologies
In all its transport and logistics applications, a barcode is often applied to a product via a simple label, sometimes pre-printed with a logo or other message, often in partnership with other variable information print. The image today can be created by the direct thermal, thermal transfer, inkjet (including flatbed), and laser print processes. Barcodes may also be applied as unique identifiers on primary product labels via digital print units in modular narrow-web press configurations, or via the standalone reel-to-reel digital label presses.
 
The mature direct thermal technology, which creates images using heat on a heat-sensitive substrate,  primarily serves the retail market, particularly for catchweight food labelling. It offers ease and reliability of use for short-life applications, and delivers relatively low-cost quality barcodes at reasonable print speeds. These characteristics also make direct thermal an obvious choice for transit product identification and tracking labels, eg for parcel distribution, as well as for outer case and pallet markings.
It is worth noting that traditionally self-adhesive Bisphenol-A (BPA) has been used in thermal papers as the standard image developer - but current concerns around its possible toxicity have led the manufacturers of self-adhesive thermal labelstocks to offer non-BPA alternatives. 
 
Thermal transfer, using ink ribbons with a thermal printhead,  is one of the most flexible variable information print technologies, due to the variety of ribbons and printable receiver label materials (many UL approved) available, and its ability to print in colour. Image quality and durability can be very high, so thermal transfer has been an ideal choice for industrial label applications such as chemical drum labels and durable component markings for electronic, automotive, or white goods.
 
Barcode reading 
From what was originally a ‘professionals only’ operation, barcode reading has also become an option for the world’s camera cell phone owners, for whom another ‘app’ is available:   the ability to use their phone to read a 2D barcode via a QR (Quick Response) code on a label, and connect via wifi to retrieve product information and traceability. This technology is now finding  favour  as an alternative to ‘specialist’ readers across the professional logistics and track-and-trace market, and adds another dimension to the available options with self-adhesive labels.
 
International standards for the many available barcode system platforms are now resident within the global GS1 supply chain management standards association. They include EAN/UPC, ITF-14, and GS1  DataBar   and DataMatrix, as well as the EPCglobal standards for RFID implementation. 
 
RFID labels
While standard barcodes require line-of-sight ‘reading’, RFID (radio frequency identification) does not. Indeed, as prices for RFID tags have come down, the technology has been adopted in many key application areas - particularly in the retail environment, for item-level stock management as well as security. RFID has proved a highly-flexible technology, regularly partnered with self-adhesive labels,  and it continues to develop new functionalities. RFID ‘smart labels’ - consisting of a chip and antenna - are usually applied to a pack or product contained within the self-adhesive label laminate, which offers the option of additional print on the label face. Both passive (generally read-only), or active tags (tag data can be modified or rewritten, and can be transmitted over a longer distance), can be accommodated in self-adhesive labels, for reading either with a handheld device  or via a computer portal. Tags may be overt - visible on the package - or covert, according to requirements.  
 
Adding security
The number of levels at which authentication, tamper-evident, and track-and-trace elements can be added to products has grown exponentially. The devices may be overt or covert, to provide the broadest possible umbrella of protection for everything from ethical pharmaceuticals, foods and beverages, and medical devices to legal documents, designer handbags, automotive and aerospace parts, toys, CDs, and consumer electronic goods.
 
Security and track-and-trace solutions are often layered on item-level packaging in customer-unique (and even product-unique) applications, especially for high-value goods. They will combine overt and covert options. Many of these options are incorporated in the stock-in-trade of the self-adhesive label converting companies who provide pre-printed logistics labels or rolls of label ‘blanks’, to meet product manufacturers’ increasing needs for authentication. Security features such as customer-exclusive ‘watermarks’; UV- or IR-light-detectable fibres; and chemical taggants can be engineered into a self-adhesive label substrate. The label converter can also add visible and invisible features, on press, at a number of levels, using, for example, ‘sympathetic’ inks (reactive to changes in light or temperature) and varnishes, or special diecuts to create product-unique identifiers.
 
The opportunities
All in all, the self-adhesive label offers an unmatched flexibility and versatility in both straightforward day-to-day inventory labelling, and in advanced options. Self-adhesive label converters around Europe, and their labelstock suppliers, are both an excellent source of information on the extensive opportunities available to brand owners and other companies transporting goods across increasingly-wide geographies. Whether transport and logistics label volumes are large or small; simple or complex; and whichever imaging processes they utilise;  it is worth talking to a self-adhesive label converter to learn how any specific track-and-trace labelling challenge can, successfully and cost-effectively, be met today.



by Jules Lejeune, Managing Director FINAT