Daco Solutions appoints Printers Supply Co. as agent for Indian sub-continent

Daco Solutions recently appointed Printers Supply Co. as agent for Indian sub-continent Daco Solutions, a leading British manufacturer of innovative slitter re-winder machinery, inspection re-winders, rotary die cutting solutions and converting equipment to the narrow web, label printing and converting industry, are pleased to appoint Printers Supply Co. as their agents to serve their growing customer base in the Indian sub-continent.

As a leading global manufacturer of narrow web converting equipment, Daco have long been associated with high quality and unquestioned reliability.  Daco Solutions has become known throughout the industry for their rugged durability, state of the art converting capabilities, and modular features that allow clients to reconfigure the machine as their business requirements diversify.

The equipment is simple where simplicity is sufficient, yet complex and technically innovative where additional control and capability is needed. Daco’s technological capabilities are current with where our industry is going not where it has been.

Daco’s  range of high quality slitter re-winder machinery and rotary die cutting equipment includes entry level machinery and high speed high volume equipment,  including high speed re-register rotary die cutters for digital print finishing and the unique Daco Combi turret rewinder.

Daco Solutions takes pride in building bespoke slitting and rewinding machinery, die cutting and converting equipment for specific customer applications when the standard range of equipment is not suitable. Daco have their own in house design team, project managers, machine shop, electronic technicians, assembly and installation teams.

Printers Supply Company are a leading part of the Indian print industry since 1948 and  are now increasingly involved with the narrow web industry after their recent appointment as distributors for Edale narrow web flexo presses and  DuPont photopolymer plates, with a young and energetic team of support engineers.

Dotrix digital inkjet press offers best of both worlds: flexibility of flexo presses with advantages of digital printing.

Agfa Graphics will debut its most advanced packaging technologies at Interpack 2011 in Düsseldorf, Germany, 12-18 May (Hall 13 Stand A82). Agfa Graphics' offerings include the :Dotrix digital inkjet press—a system that was built in cooperation with flexo-press manufacturer Edale—giving packaging producers the ease and flexibility of a flexo press with the quality and productivity advantages of a digital inkjet press. Agfa is also displaying its :Agora Ink technology. These new generation UV inkjet inks were developed specifically for the newest Kyocera KJ4A high speed heads and can print at extreme speeds on any substrate with no compromise in quality.

:Dotrix Modular Digital Press

The :Dotrix Modular is the only digital inkjet press built specifically for industrial applications. It was developed to provide packaging print service providers with a solution for short and medium runs where high quality and high productivity are a must. Because the :Dotrix Modular uses the dimensions and coil width of a medium web press chassis, it can be quickly and easily integrated with all the commonly available units for varnishing, slitting, kiss die-cutting and sheeting. It is easily configured with any combination of tooling units, cold foiling, lamination, etc. The heart of the system is the single pass inkjet colour engine (SPICE) which houses a high-speed and high-quality UV inkjet system. The inks are low migration, low odour and come in either the standard CMYK 4-colour set, or in a 6-colour configuration with the addition of orange and violet inks for a greater colour gamut.

The :Dotrix is fast, turning out over 1200m² per hour at full speed. Several jobs can be run, one after the other, without ever stopping the press unless a new coil of substrate is needed.

:Agora UV Inks

:Agora inks are UV cured giving users low odour, solvent-free inks that can be applied in one pass. They are highly sensitive so they are cured instantly and therefore can be used on the widest array of printing substrates: from foils and laminates, coated paper, PET, industrial film, PVC, PE, PP, BOPP, folding carton to very heavy stocks. :Agora inks have good jet-ability and accurate dot placement, they have been designed for perfect compatibility with the popular Kyocera KJ4A print heads at speeds of up to 100m/min. :Agora UV inks have rich vivid colours that other printing processes simply cannot match. They are extremely tough - the most durable of inks, resistant to scuffs and scratches, making them the ideal choice for packaging applications—especially those that require complex converting processes. :Agora inks are the only UV inks that are curable by LED light at all available wavelengths and come with a 12-month shelf life from the date of manufacture. The ink pigments have been carefully selected to have good balance for outdoor light fastness with a huge colour gamut.

All Printing Resources Named Color-Logic Dealer for Flexographic Market

All Printing Resources has been named a Color-Logic dealer for the flexographic market. Announcing the appointment, Color-Logic Director of Sales and Marketing Mark Geeves commented: “All Printing Resources is a highly regarded supplier to the flexographic printing market, providing equipment, consumables, software and consulting services to label printers and converters across a broad portion of the United States. Their expertise and knowledge of flexography make them a logical choice to distribute the Color-Logic Process Metallic Color System, which is finding broad application in pressure sensitive labels and packaging.”

David Nieman, All Printing Resources President and CEO, has this to say about the appointment: “All Printing Resources is pleased to represent Color-Logic—one of the most innovative and productive products to enter the flexographic market space in the last few years. We are already finding exceptional interest in the Color-Logic software and metallic ink. We look forward to a long and mutually productive relationship.

All Printing Resources offers the flexographic marketplace a complete range of solution-oriented products from proven and respected industry manufacturers. Cost reductions and time savings are key elements of the All Printing Resources offerings, which are based on dependable service and unsurpassed technical support from a team of flexographic industry professionals.

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. 

Labelworld Dublin Invests in Xeikon 3300 Digital Printing Press

Labelworld Dublin has completed its latest investment with the purchase and installation of a new Xeikon 3300 digital label press. The new press which is currently being commissioned will give Labelworld the fastest and most productive digital label printing capability in Ireland.

Commenting on the sale of the press, Greg Neesham, Sales Director of Xeikon in the UK, said: “Labelworld has made a statement of confidence not only in the label printing market but also in the Irish economy by purchasing a high capacity, high speed Xeikon 3300 digital label press. This installation sends out a clear message that label printing in Ireland has a digital future, and a very bright future.”

Declan O’Rourke, Managing Director of Labelworld commented: “We are always striving to be at the forefront of business and technology with regard to label production solutions. Recently we have invested heavily in both a digital print department and also a graphics studio to help deliver a superior quality of service to our customers in terms of both product and cost. With the purchase of this Xeikon 3300 Labelworld can now boast the fastest and most productive digital label press in Ireland. The Xeikon 3300 is unique in that it offers unequalled 1200 x 3600 dpi print quality and has the highest productivity of any digital press currently on the market, as it is a full rotary printer independent of the number of colours or the repeat length of the job.”

Labelworld is now able to offer customers the benefits of short to medium production runs with shorter turnaround times, and without the need for plates and their associated creation costs.

“A fully resourced graphic design studio allows us to make amendments to customers artwork at the last minute and design either a single label or a complete product range if needed. With the graphics studio on site we are able to offer tremendous flexibility compared to other labelling companies. Our experienced in-house design team will provide direction and advice to customers every step of the way. We are confident that with our investment in the Xeikon 3300 that we can offer our customers head turning quality at realistic prices and with an even more efficient turnaround time,” added Declan O’Rourke

Live machine demonstrations is the focus on new show grounds at ICE Europe

Seven months before ICE Europe 2011 opens its doors from 8-10 November 2011 at its new show grounds, Munich Trade Fair Centre, the exhibition is set to build upon the huge success of the previous event. To date, 320 exhibitors from 20 countries have already booked their stand space. In comparison, ICE Europe 2009 featured a total of 330 exhibitors from 21 countries; and with 5,350 visitors from 63 countries, the show was the biggest ever.

During the previous show, the paper, film and foil converting industry could already feel the first signs of an upwards trend after the global economic crisis. Today, the converting sector is well positioned again, compared with other industry sectors; however, it has to continuously face new challenges. It is important to recognise trends early enough in order to be competitive on a global scale with innovative solutions and targeted products.

“Shortage of raw materials and increasing energy costs are currently influencing the manufacturing processes; film and paper packaging has to comply at the same time with environmental regulations and with health and safety standards; and regarding export opportunities, we see that markets are continuously shifting,” explains Nicola Hamann, Exhibition Director ICE Europe, on behalf of the organisers Mack Brooks Exhibitions.

“The leading international trade show for the converting industry, ICE Europe, is this year’s key platform for everyone involved in the converting of flexible web materials. The exhibition will give a comprehensive overview on the latest industry trends and technical innovations. From the first information we have received from our exhibitors about their products and services on display at ICE Europe 2011, we know that visitors will be able to discover a wide spectrum of cutting-edge technology and practical solutions. This year’s main topics will focus on new materials, sustainable production as well as enhanced manufacturing and control processes,” says Nicola Hamann.

A large number of the new and enhanced products and systems will be demonstrated live at the exhibition. Exhibitors at ICE Europe 2011 have already booked 15% more stand space than the total exhibition space in 2009; visitors can therefore look forward to seeing even more live machines on display than ever before.

“With the new venue for ICE Europe 2011, the Munich Trade Fair Centre, we have found the ideal exhibition site for the leading international exhibition for the converting industry. The show grounds have an excellent infrastructure and the modern exhibition halls are tailor-made for machinery shows,” explains Nicola Hamann.

ICE Europe 2011 will take place in halls B5 and B6 of the Munich Trade Fair Centre, accessible via entrance East which is directly connected to Munich’s underground railway system. The trade fair centre can easily be reached from the city centre as well as from the international airport. During the exhibition there will be a regular shuttle-bus connection between the trade fair centre and the airport.

The exhibition profile of ICE Europe 2011 includes machines, accessories and systems for coating and laminating, drying/curing, treatment, slitting/rewinding and finishing. For this year’s show, the range of exhibits has been extended to include flexographic / rotogravure printing to complete the exhibition profile. Materials, software, retrofits, factory equipment as well as consulting and toll converting services will also be on display.

Flint Group announces more price increases for packaging and narrow web inks

Due to the continued raw material cost pressure Flint Group has to further increase prices of all packaging and narrow web inks in North America effective 1 May 2011. In light of the repetitive and continuing raw material cost increases since January, it is necessary to increase the price of inks and coatings.  Water and solvent based products will increase 8%, with the exception of white which increases 10%.  All energy cured products will increase 5%.  Violet 23 continues to be in short supply with rising costs.  It will be addressed on a customer by customer basis.  We will continue to communicate with our customers individually regarding the overall impact of the price increases on their specific product portfolio.

The ink industry has found the last two years, and particularly the last six months, very challenging.  Material shortages, government policies, environmental concerns, decreased feedstock availability, and competition from other industries for available materials have come together to push costs to unprecedented levels.

Susan Kuchta, vice president North American Packaging and Narrow Web commented, "Raw materials increased significantly in the last half of 2010, again in January 2011, and still again in the last 30 days.  During the last few months we have seen multiple increases on individual items and continuing tight supply.  Our first responsibility to our customers is to focus on continuity of supply and to produce high quality products. We have worked closely in the past, and will continue to work closely in the future, with our customers as we minimize the impact of these increases with alternative raw materials, replacement products where relevant and our ongoing focus on productivity and cost containment initiatives."

EskoArtwork highlights its packaging design lifecycle management solutions at Interpack 2011

EskoArtwork will present its portfolio of integrated packaging design, pre-production, collaboration and workflow automation solutions at Interpack 2011, which takes place at the Messe Dusseldorf, Germany from 12 to 18 May, 2011. Packaging professionals and brand owners visiting the show will get the opportunity to understand why EskoArtwork has become the worldwide market leader in packaging design lifecycle management solutions. Faster time-to-market, increased shelf impact, reduced costs and streamlined communication between all players in the packaging supply chain are just some of the competitive advantages. EskoArtwork will exhibit in Hall 7a / B28, just in front of the Innovation Parc Packaging stand.

“At Interpack 2011, we look forward to greet our global corporate customers specialized in packaging that also exhibit on the show. Besides that, we especially want to welcome the many brand owners who will be attending the show, " says Dieter Janout, Vice President Global Business Group of EskoArtwork. "Successful brand owners realize that real competitive advantages can be achieved by integrating their own product lifecycle systems with their success-critical packaging design processes. Live demonstrations of EskoArtwork’s unique packaging lifecycle management solutions will clearly illustrate why 9 out of 10 major brands have put their trust in EskoArtwork solutions.”

New ways to increase innovation, quality and speed to market

Brand owners recognize that innovation, quality and time-to-market are key success factors in achieving market leadership in the consumer market. After visiting the EskoArtwork stand they will have a much better understanding of how EskoArtwork’s integrated portfolio of packaging design and pre-production tools can help them on all three fronts. Visitors can also see firsthand how packaging design has gone 3D.

Full integration between a brand owner’s product lifecycle management system and packaging supply chain processes is what sets EskoArtwork’s solutions apart. This integration enables standardization and streamlines the entire end-to-end process – simplifying file transfers, approval processes and ensuring quality is maintained every step of the way.

Design and collaboration goes 3D

At the beginning of the process, EskoArtwork’s design tools enable packaging designers to work in a 3D environment. Creative packaging ideas are shared with clients early in the process using 3D collaboration tools. These allow them to gain feedback quickly and effectively. And because of the close integration of structural and graphic design, changes at any point in the design process can be viewed on the final structure in complete 3D. Virtual mock-ups are communicated the same way saving both time and the costs of expensive physical prototypes. All these features help to get to the right design quality faster. They reduce the development time and cost for the brand owner drastically.

Quality control: an intrinsic part of the process

A reduction of lead times for new product development means little time for additional control, double-checking and rework. EskoArtwork’s solutions make quality control an intrinsic part of the process. Workflows are streamlined and many rudimentary processes automated, reducing the risk of errors and costly rework. A consistent level of quality is delivered in the shortest amount of time enabling new products to be taken to market faster with a higher, more consistent level of quality – crucial in maintaining brand equity.

Get hands on with EskoArtwork’s solutions

A full range of EskoArtwork’s solutions will be demonstrated during Interpack. These will include tools for structural design, graphic design, virtual prototyping, real prototyping and online collaboration. The highlights of the show will be:

• WebCenter: a 24/7 global communication, secure internet-based view and approval service that allows information to be stored centrally and shared globally.
• Dynamic Content for Adobe Illustrator: links an Adobe Illustrator CS text object directly to a source created by the information owner and separates it from the design.
• Studio: a plug-in for Adobe Illustrator that brings interactive 3D packaging design to life.
• Studio Visualizer that creates realistic digital mock-ups including print effects such as embossing, hotfoil, metalized inks and different substrates.

Participate at the Live Packaging Development Survey !

Visitors are invited to participate in EskoArtwork’s innovative interactive survey on packaging development. Since years EskoArtwork keeps track of unique market data on packaging design, prepress and pre-production, and holds its development plans against the light of the detected trends in that area. When participating to this survey, visitors may expect interactive feedback and will be able to acquire valuable insights in the way other packaging professionals manage their proper packaging supply chain.

EskoArtwork is a global supplier of integrated solutions for packaging, sign and display finishing, commercial printing and professional publishing. Its products and services help customers raise productivity, reduce time-to-market, lower costs and expand business. EskoArtwork is the worldwide market leader with software for artwork creation, pre-production, automation, quality assurance and collaboration targeted at brand owners, retailers, designers and packaging manufacturers. The CDI flexo computer-to-plate imagers, Kongsberg short-run converting and signage finishing systems complete the portfolio for the packaging, label, signage and display industries. The company provides a range of workflow, automation and quality assurance solutions for the commercial printing and publishing market. For graphic designers and print production professionals there’s also the Enfocus suite of PDF tools.

Employees strike at UPM ended..

The salaried employees’ two-week strike, which started in UPM’s operations in Finland from 6 April has ended on a good note albeit, without a resolution. Around 1,000 salaried employees working, among others, within production, supply chain, finance and HR participated in the strike. The Finnish Forest Industries Federation and the trade union Pro continued their negotiations led by the National Conciliator yesterday without a resolution. The negotiations will continue again on Tuesday 26 April.

"The cost impact of the strike was around one million euros, which is smaller than anticipated. Thanks to large special arrangements and the flexibility of other employees we managed to secure our customer deliveries and keep production lines running except one paper machine at our Tervasaari mill. Unfortunately, resulting from the strike, delays in UPM’s payment traffic will continue for weeks," says Jyrki Ovaska, President of UPM’s Paper Business Group.

Pro has announced that it is expanding the salaried paper industry employees’ strike to Stora Enso, Metsäliitto and Myllykoski Paper for a two-week period starting on Wednesday 27 April. The planned strike does not include UPM.

Flint Group Flexographic Products announces price increases for printing plates..

The printing and packaging industry has had to withstand significant and constant pressure since the economic collapse at the end of 2008.     De-stocking of raw materials to this industry has resulted in unprecedented raw material prices, while the price of energy continues to rise towards the record levels. Additionally the chemical industry has consolidated heavily in the last few years, limiting the available global capacities. Serious shortages and unrelenting cost increases are still evolving along with an increasing demand.

These ongoing pressures are now beginning to severely impact on many of the raw materials used in the manufacture of Flint Group's plate manifold components. As a consequence of this, Flint Group Flexographic Products has now began the process of imposing price increases on average by 5% for nyloflex printing plates and by 10% for nyloprint printing plates, depending on the product type - with immediate effect.

"We are aware that the printing industry is being exposed to a high cost pressure" explains Mario Busshoff, President Flint Group Flexographic Products, "and have been working hard to mitigate price increases through various cost containment initiatives, but now we have reached a point where we can no longer absorb the increases and need to adapt the prices for our printing plates." Mr. Busshoff concludes: "We will however continue to challenge our own processes and suppliers to keep the price adjustments as low as possible."

Quality, reliability and service by Ritrama now in Colombia..

In line with the strategy of increasing market share in Latin America and strengthening its service network, Ritrama has opened a new slitting and logistics center, Ritrama Colombia. This investment evidences Ritrama’s attention to this market which will benefit from shorter delivery times and a wider range of products from our production centers in Europe and Chile, with the goal of offering solutions and an alternative to different local application needs.

Ritrama Colombia is located in the strategic location of Medellin, capital of the Antioquia Department. This center will be managed by Mr. Cesar A. Cardona Vera, who has more than 14 years of experience in industrial sales, both locally and internationally, including working experience in the self-adhesive markets in segments such as lithography and flexography. Moreover, Ritrama Colombia will benefit from the direction by Mrs. Olga Lucia Botero, with a vast knowledge of self-adhesive materials gained from 16 years of working experience in Colombia and seven years in Central America as Managing Director of Ritrama Costa Rica and Ritrama Guatemala. The new Ritrama Colombia, together with Ritrama Costa Rica, Ritrama Guatemala, Ritrama Mexico and Ritrama Chile, clearly confirm Ritrama’s expansion policy and growing interest in the Latin American markets. Our best wishes to them on this new business challenge.