Wishing all our readers and industry members "Shubh Dhanteras"

The festival of wealth, Dhanteras - also called Dhantrayodashi, marks the beginning of five day Diwali festivities. An important and auspicious day to all Indians and especially hindus, no matter in what part of the world they may be in set up their new businesses and new projects on this day. Also, the Goddess of Wealth “Lakshmi” is worshipped to usher in prosperity and wealth. 

PC Industries to showcase the Guardian PQV 100% Print Defect Detection System

PC Industries will showcase the Guardian PQV 100% Print Defect Detection System and the Guardian OLP Off-line PDF Proofing System at Labelexpo India. The combination of the Guardian technologies provides complete print quality process control from artwork creation to shipped product. The Guardian Inspection System provides true 100% print quality verification, and can be installed on any type of printing press or inspection rewinder. The Guardian PQV is designed for "One-Touch" master image training to provide quick and easy setup of new jobs.

The Guardian PQV product features include "Defect Queue" that displays the down web position of defects. It has a PDF master input option alongwith Multiple zones with independent sensitivity settings, Web/Street skew correction (web quide not required), Zero speed and variable speed inspection, Warn tolerances alert operator prior to defects, Uninterrupted inspection while presenting/displaying defects as well as Unlimited defect image storage while presenting defects.The Graphic-vision RX Series web viewers will also be on display and now includes ultra high resolution digital cameras and flat panel LCD monitors as standard.

Teknek to reveal world beating web cleaning range at Labelexpo India

Teknek, the global leader in yield improvement technology, will be unveiling a new world beating suite of products for the web cleaning sector with the launch of no fewer than four new contact cleaning machines. The new line up offers the best possible yield improvement technology for webs ranging from 150mm to 2500mm and includes:

 

XWCH – a top of the range machine for wide web cleaning up to 2500mm.  Robust yet still lightweight, it has been designed to fit a wide range of lines even where space is at a premium.  A patented slide system allows quick and easy access to replenish rollers and adhesive rolls.  A brand new control system means integration times are reduced and up time improved.  This range is complemented by the new Nanocleen Plus adhesive which not only introduces static dissipating function to the adhesive roll but is now available in widths up to 2,200mm – an industry first.

 

SL and MWC – low profile cleaning range.  Designed for the narrow web industry, these new machines have the lowest possible profile offering a wider range of lower cost integration options.  Widths available range from 150mm to 1,100mm and each machine is compatible with the full range of Teknek’s unique cleaning rollers and adhesive rolls including Nanocleen Plus.  The MWC is available in both single and doubled sided versions and features full pull out side access for easy replacement of rollers and adhesive rolls.

 

TCH – this is a compact entry level machine offering superb value for money.  It is designed for a wide range of single sided applications from 200mm to 1500mm and is clean room compatible.  Capable of operating at web speeds up to 150 mtrs/min it is an excellent “mid-range” solution for many cleaning applications.

 

Stephen Mitchell, managing director of Teknek, said: “With the introduction of the new range Teknek will be able to offer the label and converting sector the most comprehensive selection of yield improvement solutions from any manufacturer worldwide.”

 

He added: “Teknek pioneered the development of contact cleaning over 20 years ago and we have continued to innovate and develop the products to remain at the forefront of yield improvement.  We are now the supplier of choice for the label and converting industries globally.”

 

Contact cleaning equipment is employed world-wide in a variety of industries from label and converting to electronics and printing to improve yields and reduce wastage by removing contamination in critical production processes.  The company pioneered the development of contact cleaning equipment over 20 years ago and is now the global market leader in this field with over 16,000 “clean machines” installed in the field.  It is estimated that the company’s technology has saved customers in excess of $2bn.

Portuguese firm Digitalpack picks Xeikon and MOSS Pail Decorating Process

Digitalpack, Portugal, is one of the first European operations to invest in the Digital Decorating System jointly developed by Xeikon, a division of Punch Graphix, and Italy-based Moss, a leader in container decorating technologies. “We think this technology will be the future in pail decoration systems,” says Digitalpack’s João Vidal, of the digital heat transfer solution. “Quality, short delivery times, competitive prices and no pre-press costs were the main reasons for choosing the equipment,” he adds.

Perfect Pail Solution

“This solution is perfect for companies like Digitalpack which are increasingly being asked to produce price competitive shorter runs,” says Filip Weymans, Business Development Manager Labels & Packaging, Punch Graphix International. “The high quality of the print and the fact work can be turned around quickly creates highly flexible industrial production capabilities.”

Franco Venturi, Moss Sales Manager, adds: “This is a highly-flexible system. In fact at a recent open house in Belgium we took a picture of all the people attending at 11.30 and by 1pm we gave everyone a bucket with their image printed on it. For customers like Digitalpack this enables them to be much more responsive to the exacting requirements of their customers.”

The Digital Decorating System produces fast and cost efficient decoration of round, conical, rectangular and square pails and containers, even in very short runs. It delivers a high quality, flexible and cost effective alternative to in-mold labeling and direct screen or direct offset print for short to medium runs. There are no setup or plate costs involved. It also offers a much higher quality compared to the direct print technology, both in terms of image quality (1200 dpi) and a more opaque white.

Simple Steps

The first stage in the easy two-step process is Xeikon’s web press printing the exact number of transfers required for the decorating effort. Using the Xeikon press enables the printing of self-adhesive labels as well as heat transfer labels. In the next step the roll of printed transfers is fed into the MOSS Digital Decorating System to perfectly apply transfers to seamless tubes using a heat transfer process. The high quality, digitally printed and applied decoration is scratch and water resistant. Excited by the potential the system offers, Weymans adds: “It provides our customers with the capability to print a wide variety of products cost effectively, helping broaden their market presence.”

Xeikon, a division of Punch Graphix, and Italy-based MOSS, are displaying the business-winning potential of the Digital Decorating System at K-Messe, Hall 04/ E21, from October 27 to November 3.

Wintek Flexo Prints, Seljegat, Letra Graphics, Numex Blocks, Pinmark, and others honoured

Recently packaging and label specialists from the Asia Pacific region were recognised and awarded for their flexographic prowess at the recently held 3rd Asia Pacific Cyrel Grand Prix awards ceremony that took place at the Grand ballroom of the Hyatt on the bund in Shanghai. Putting India on the Specialists Map of flexographic packaging and label printers from the Asia Pacific region were eighteen printers from India who won various awards at this event.

Wintek Flexo Prints, Seljegat, Letra Graphix, Pragati Flexo, ICM-Amartara, Bilcare, Uflex, Betts India, Numex Blocks, Pinmark, Veepee Graphics Solutions and Unique Photo Offset Services are some of the notable winners. The awards ceremony hosted by Dupont saw over 200 attendees including customers, industry partners, academia and print buyers participated in the event that was spread over 14-15 Oct ‘10.

The Jury panel for the 3rd Cyrel Grand Prix-Asia Pacific met at the DuPont Packaging Graphics, Customer Technology Center in Shanghai on the 26-27th August 2010 to select the winners from 422 entries spread over 11 categories.  After two days of intense deliberation, the jury panel compromising of print buyers, printing gurus and noted print media professionals chose the winners for the 3rd Asia Pacific Cyrel Grand Prix awards.

Members of the jury panel included Mr. Gautam Bhattacharjee,  the Technology Director of Packaging & Development Asia Printing & Substrate Capability from P&G Technology (Beijing) Co.Ltd.; Mr. Guido Bambagioni, the Group Manager Packaging & Design from Nestle R&D Centre Beijing Ltd.; Mrs. Xiaoxia Wan, the Dean Prof. of School of Printing and Packaging Engineering from Wuhan University; Mr. Xu Wencai, Assistant President, Prof. Beijing Institute of Graphic Communication from Beijing Institute of Graphic Communication; Mr. Wolfgang Klos-Geiger, the Publisher and Editor of Flexo & Gravure Asia from G&K TechMedia GmbH.

Talking about the quality of the entries, Gautam Bhattacharjee said “The entries were very high quality, especially for a region like Asia where high quality flexography is relatively new.  We had a tough time selecting the winners.”

“I was impressed by the overall quality and the printing capability flexography has achieved, especially in the tag & label segment.  We can see the fantastic quality and effect flexography is able to deliver with the combination of various other processes and effects,” said Guido Bambagioni.

Vijay Ramachandran, marketing manager, DuPont Packaging Graphics-Asia Pacific, added, “It was an exciting two days.  It is clear that flexography is now breaking new horizons in Asia and you can see great quality from across the region. The quality of flexography coming from India, China & ASEAN is now world class, we are happy to be a part of this exciting industry and process”.

Also launched at the sidelines of the event was a forum for Asia-Pacific - Flexo4all. The six founding members including Dupoint, EskoArtwork, Seigwerk Inks, Comexi, Windmoller & Holscher and Tesa Tapes signed a MoU confirming the formation of the strategic alliance. These companies were also partners and sponsors of the awards event. Jagdish Kumar, regional director at DuPont Packaging Graphics, Asia Pacific called on the industry to unite together under the banner and jointly take flexography to newer heights in the region.

The Grand Prix Cyrel is designed and developed to be a powerful engine to promote the growth of flexography within the printing packaging industry. It is more than just an exhibition and more than a demonstration of packaging technologies and techniques. It is intended to provoke strategic thoughts in the minds of the packaging experts across the globe.

Prior to the event, the participants spent the day in an industry seminar titled “The Printpack Congress.” The congress discussed both technical and new developments in the industry. There was also a panel discussion consisting of print buyers and converters as well as industry partners to debate and discuss on a number of topics including sustainability.

DuPont Packaging Graphics is the world’s leading supplier of flexographic printing systems in digital and conventional formats; including Cyrel brand photopolymer plates, Cyrel Fast processing equipment, Cyrel round sleeves, mounting and finishing products. 

Inkstream to launch UVMOON series Flexo inks for narrow web industry at Labelexpo India

Inkstream - one of the leading manufacturer of high performance water based flexo inks for labels and tags printed with Narrow Web Flexo Machines is all set to launch the UVMOON series of Flexo inks for narrow web industry at the forthcoming Labelexpo India show at New Delhi in December. According to Chinmay Samanta, "UVMOON is a UV energy curable ink system for Narrow Label Flexo presses. As the UVMOON series of Flexo Inks are thin and pourable, it offers faster cure, higher strength and work on paper and film labels. Higher strength refers to the ability of the ink to print with fine anilox rolls 300-1200 lpi corresponding to a volume from 7.5 to 0.8 bcm. Inks are Benzophenone free and cures at web speeds up to 1000 fpm with medium pressure mercury vapor lamp set at 300-600 watts per inch."

BST Sayona to unveil G-4 label inspection rewinder at Labelexpo India

BST Sayona Automations Pvt. Ltd.  has developed a new range of narrow web inspection slitter / rewinder by the brand name Perfecto for the label industry. Systems from BST Sayona are known for their durability, “State of the Art” capabilities and the modular features that allow clients to add to the machines as their business diversifies.

Perfecto LabelSpect Slitter/ rewinder are complimented with Shark 4000 LEX, 100% defect detection system. As BST manufacturers both, the Inspection machine as well as The Inspection Camera, integration of both the systems is incredibly well tuned to ensure precise and synchronized stopping of defective labels on the splicing table. The who’s who in the Indian Label manufacturing circuit have recognized BST Sayona’s capability and have awarded BST Sayona with number of orders.

A & A labels, Inter Labels, Shree Ganesh Graphics, Gujarat Print Pack, R.A Labels are some of the few companies who placed orders with BST Sayona. The machine is aptly named Perfecto as according to Mr. Tappan Patel, Managing Director, BST Sayona. “It is the perfect synchronization between our Shark 4000 LeX which is a 100% defect detection system and our slitter rewinder. Everything on the Perfecto has been designed with the single most objective to hone our Shark 4000 camera further and to bring the performance to a whole new level.”

“We are extremely proud of our association with Interlabels, Gujarat Print Pack, A & A Labels etc and it gives us great joy that the christening of our new endeavor for the domestic market has been done by these companies. We could not have asked for a better platform in the label industry to show the market our zeal and sincerity to provide the labeling industry a unique and a world class solution” Mr. Patel added.

The Perfecto inspection rewinder is available in models such as the Perfecto LabelSpect and Perfecto LabelSlit, it can also be customized as per the requirements of the customer. Our Generation Next (G4) Label Inspection rewinder will be launched at Labelexpo India 2010. Watch out!!

The pharmaceutical industry has to do a lot more in tackling counterfeit medicines says IHMA

The trade body representing the global holographic industry says the pharmaceutical industry has to do a lot more in tackling counterfeit medicines. The International Hologram Manufacturers Association (IHMA) was commenting on a joint survey by the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) and Pfizer which highlighted concerns among pharmacists over the global problem of counterfeit medicines. It revealed almost two thirds (63%) of 2,000 community, retail and hospital pharmacists surveyed in Europe, the US and Australia believe current policies and technology are insufficient to deal with counterfeit medicines. Sixty one per cent of those surveyed also said that the prevalence of counterfeit medication is a serious issue in their country.

The IHMA says that statistics paint an alarming picture when it comes to pharmaceutical counterfeiting not only in developing markets but also mature sectors. The World Health Organisation estimates that up to 25% of the medicines consumed in some developing countries are counterfeit or substandard and that annual earnings from the global sales of fake and substandard medicines are over $32 billion.

Ian Lancaster, IHMA general secretary

Ian Lancaster, IHMA general secretary, said that counterfeiting is not only a serious threat to the pharmaceutical industry but puts people’s lives and health at risk and more has to be done to tackle the problem.

“The survey clearly shows that pharmacists feel more has to be done about tackling the counterfeiters and ensuring patients receive safe, effective and bonafide medicines. One of the key challenges is for manufacturers and producers to stay ahead of the counterfeiters and here holograms can, and indeed are, playing a key role in combating criminal activity.”

Holograms offer huge security value and IHMA members have dedicated considerable resources in developing optically variable security features incorporating advanced holographic technology.

Ian Lancaster added: “Holograms work best where the packaging remains with the unit dose - almost everywhere except the US - and when they are regionalised for a specific market. (In the US pharmacists don’t usually have access to the original unit-dose packaging and the bulk packs they purchase almost never have holograms.)

Holograms can now combine authentication overt features with covert elements and forensic and track and trace elements to provide a highly effective weapon in the fight against illicit products, said Ian Lancaster. And they can be used as seals, labels or as the foil in a blister pack. He added that there are examples of how holograms provide a successful and vital detection function in pharmaceutical anti-counterfeiting strategies.

Many branded medicines have a hologram on the pack or in the blister pack, and a few years ago Malaysia introduced its Meditag serialised hologram label to be found on all registered medicines - traditional and western - which has helped the Ministry of Health inspectors to detect unauthorised and counterfeit product.

“The evolving anti-counterfeiting role of holograms lies in their ability to combine authentication with detection,” said Ian Lancaster. “And sometimes pack enhancement, as Rodotex GmbH has shown with its packaging for Vitamin C+Kollagen in Indonesia. This is why the more enlightened pharmaceuticals companies and enforcement agencies continue to make them an integral part of modern anti-counterfeiting strategies,” added Ian.

MOET & CHANDON ‘CRAVATE’ LABELS GET CHAMPAGNE TREATMENT WITH FASSON LABELSTOCK

With a specially- engineered solution, Avery Dennison has helped Moët Hennessy to solve one of the most difficult challenges in wine labelling. The result is, according to the customer,   attractive and truly functional neck labels around the foil cap wrappings on the company’s leading champagne brand, Moët & Chandon, and all their premium champagnes. Neck labels for champagne bottles make stringent technical demands on self-adhesive labelstock  that include exceptional holding power round the tight mandrel and compound curves of the bottle neck, and adhesive properties that will enable the label to hold to the foil wrap, and at the same time ‘tie’ itself to the glass without creasing.    

The key differentiator:  superior aesthetic qualities

For the Moët Hennessy bottles, achieving a smooth and elegant result is particularly difficult.  According to Moët Hennessy Process Engineer Gilles Cateau: ‘The shape of the Moët & Chandon “cravate” is very special. It is extremely precisely and finely cut out, with two sharp black points facing downwards.   It’s a unique expression of the marque.’ 

Solving the technical challenges

A special Fasson self-adhesive labelstock was proposed by Avery Dennison for the task, which offered the benefits of a strong film facestock and a high-performance adhesive.   It combined Fasson PE150, a top-coated 150 micron white polyethylene film, with a solvent acrylic adhesive, Fasson S700, carried on a white glassine release liner.   This laminate gave Moët Hennesy’s printers the opportunity to demonstrate their skills at printing and converting film labelstock, and at the same time provided stable, accurately-positioned  high-speed label dispensing on the packaging line. 

‘A real qualitative improvement’

Says M Cateau:  ‘The Fasson labelstock we are using for our champagne bottle “cravates” is perfectly suited for use on our production line and also delivers the high quality of presentation which we strive for on our champagnes. ‘The Fasson adhesive gives a finish that is much superior to the wet-glue solution we used before, which left visible traces of glue on the glassware. We have experienced a real qualitative improvement since we have been using the Fasson solution. Our “cravates” remain intact, and stick fast, on our bottles – a critical requirement, since they are the primary symbol, and key identifier, of the Moet & Chandon brand around the world.’ 

SEVERAL NEW LAUNCHINGS BY LABEL PLANET AT LABELEXPO INDIA

With only a month to go before Labelexpo India takes place at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi, the industry is already gearing up for the biggest labeling event in India this year. And naturally Label Planet is also favoring Labelexpo India to be the event where they are planning to launch their new products. Label Planet is all gearing to have more machinery and live demonstrations than ever before as they will be launching for the first time not one or two but three different presses, creating a record of sorts.

The Reflex from Focus UK will be launched in a grand manner for the first time. A full servo press with re-register system to carry out the converting jobs for Pre-Printed web from Digital press or conventional press, this press has 1 station overprint/ varnish/ coating station, lamination, rotary die cutting, slitting, an option of sheeter and stacker conveyor and cold foiling can also be added.

The second in the list includes a CSL3030 Hybrid Unit Press from Orthotec Taiwan. A combi press - it has Letterpress and Flexo in one station with the choice of operating any function as you like with option of Rotary Hot Foil stamping with foil saver, varnish, Rotary Die cutting with variable base and slitter rewinder in Intermittent mode with over 50 metres per minute speed . A Full Servo press it has integrated Ink kneading control and ink mixing through touch panel.

Miyakoshi Japan is also exhibiting for the first time in association with Label Planet and is all set to introduce their most appreciated Wet Offset Press with on line converting facility. Joining this bandwagon is Cartes Italy who is also exhibiting for the first time in association with Label Planet and will be sharing information of their Laser cutting technology.

Label Planet is exhibiting at Stand F/15 at the show.