10.04.11
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Multi-Color Corporation has agreed to acquire 100 percent ownership of York Label Group, which has operations in North America and Chile. The approximate purchase price is $356 million, payable in debt assumed, Multi-Color stock and cash. The closing was expected to have taken place around October 3.
The combined company is expected to have annual revenues of approximately $640 million at closing. This makes Multi-Color Corporation the largest label company in the United States, and the fastest growing globally with revenues more than tripling since the beginning of 2008.
York Label Group (owned by Adhesion Holdings Inc.), is headquartered in Omaha, NE, USA, and is privately held by Diamond Castle Holdings. York’s revenues for 2010 were approximately $240 million, including 100 percent of its joint venture in Chile, which is also being fully acquired as part of this transaction. The majority of York’s revenues are in the pressure sensitive label markets for home and personal care, food and beverage, wine and spirits, and healthcare. York has 12 plants across the US, Canada and Chile, with approximately 1,200 employees.
Nigel Vinecombe, Multi-Color’s president and CEO, will continue as president and CEO of the combined company. Diamond Castle representatives Ari Benacerraf and Lee Wright will join the Multi-Color board of directors upon closing of the transaction.
“Our customers will benefit from increased product offerings, greater flexibility and contingency, more investments in technology, increased access to innovation and greater consistency in quality and service as we take the best resources from both businesses and create higher overall performance standards,” Vinecombe says. “The strong strategic fit extends to common technology platforms and raw materials. It also brings further diversity to our customer base and the opportunity to grow with a broader range of customers.”
“We are committed to adding value to our shareholders and have very experienced management teams in the label industry with successful track records in effective integration, and York Label Group is in many ways a replica group of businesses for Multi-Color,” he adds. “This acquisition comes at a time when our existing businesses are performing well and ready for this natural progression. We continue to apply a consistent strategy of investing in consumer product staples, in this case with strong synergy benefits.”
Multi-Color Corporation has secured financing with a revised five-year $500 million credit facility, plus $100 million accordion that provides room for future acquisitions.
Based in Cincinnati, OH, USA, Multi-Color is a public company (NASDAQ: LABL). The company has 18 operations (prior to the York transaction) in North, Central and South America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and China, and employs about 1,650 people.
ID Images launches e-commerce site
I.D. Images has launched a new ecommerce website in an effort to ease the label ordering process for its customers. The website features searchable products, order tracking information, an address book feature that can hold as many billing and shipping destinations as desired, recently viewed products for quick reordering, and a one page checkout. The web address is www.idimages.com/store.
Though the website is ready for orders, the company said that its ecommerce website will be an ongoing project. “This isn’t just a set it and forget it solution. As we receive feedback from customers, we will continually work to improve our website to make the ordering process easier and improve the overall customer experience,” said Scott Wohlwend, developer of the ecommerce website.
As an added incentive for ordering through the website, I.D. Images has stated that it will offer its customers best-column pricing when ordering label products online. Customers can log on to the ecommerce website to set up an account and begin placing their orders online.
Brunswick, OH, USA-based I.D. Images is a manufacturer of converted label media that specializes in providing products for supply chain management and brand protection.
Pragati Pack installs an Omet Varyflex
Pragati Pack, a print packaging producer in India, has installed an Omet Varyflex, an inline folding carton press. The press is a flexographic platform machine with the ability to install a rotogravure, cold foil and silk screen cassette at every position of the press. According to Pragati Pack, this will allow them to print high added value jobs that would otherwise require several off-line passes to be completed all in one pass.
“We’re excited about the wide range of substrates that can be printed on the press, from 12 micron all the way up to 600,” says Hemanth Paruchuri of Pagati Pack. “We’re excited at what opportunities this’ll bring to us in the carton side of business. There are a lot of avenues we can target.”
The sale of this equipment has been handled by New Delhi-based Weldon Celloplast Limited, exclusive agents of Omet in India and surrounding countries. According to Pawandeep Sahni, director at Weldon, “Pragati is a very serious printing company with exacting demands. It is a feather in our cap that a printer of such caliber has approved and bought the Omet Varyflex.”
Pragati Pack, based in Hyderabad, India, has been family-owned for three generations. The company received the Sappi Elephant award in 2006, 2008 and again in 2010. Lecco, Italy-based Omet designs and produces high-technology equipment and lines to print and fold tissue paper products, self-adhesive labels, folding cartons and flexible packaging. Weldon Celloplast is a certified ISO: 9001: 2000 company based in New Delhi, India.
New Schreiner label fights drug counterfeiting Schreiner MediPharm, a provider of specialty pharmaceutical labeling solutions for 60 years, has developed a new label with integrated covert inscriptions, designed to help eliminate the illegal practice of empty vials being refilled with fake drugs and resold.The new Pharma-Comb Void label prevents the reuse of authentic packaging components by counterfeiters and thus increases the product safety of medications while protecting patients against the administration of ineffective or harmful counterfeit drugs. Used vials bearing conventional labels, even when they are equipped with overt security features like holograms or color-shifting inks, can be filled a second time and sold as originals without this being detectable. To counteract the practice of refilling previously used vials, Schreiner developed a solution consisting of a multi-part product label with integrated security features. The Pharma-Comb Void label is functionally destroyed during its initial use. When the label’s tear strip – which also runs around the closure cap – is removed, the inscriptions “Opened” and “Used” appear in the film’s two indicator fields. This makes the undetected reuse of a glass container with an original label virtually impossible. The label also offers a valuable added benefit for healthcare personnel: When the label is opened, a detachable part is released that serves to mark the syringe accordingly. The Pharma-Comb Void label provides brand security for drug manufacturers and, more important, an increased level of safety for patients,” says Gene Dul, president of Schreiner MediPharm US. “We hope this product helps sharply decrease the dangerous and illegal practice of drug counterfeiting.” Schreiner MediPharm, a business unit of Schreiner Group, is based in Oberschleissheim, Germany. Its US facility is located in Blauvelt, NY. |
RotoMetrics expands flexible die production in Asia
RotoMetrics has announced that it has begun producing AccuFlex flexible dies at its Melbourne, Australia facility. The company will also manufacture the full range of Gerhardt-brand flexible dies, including the laser-hardened 5* flexible die, in Melbourne beginning September 1.
AccuFlex flexible dies feature acute blade angles, razor sharp high-precision cutting edges and total plate height tolerance of ± .0001” (2.50 microns).The 5* flexible die is laser hardened for increased durability and offers enhanced die life for a wide range of applications, including abrasive materials.
Michael Bryant, RotoMetrics’ CEO says, “As the only domestic die tooling manufacturer in Australia and Thailand, we are making strategic investments in flexible die technology and expanded local manufacturing capacity to offer the full range of rotary solutions to our key customers in the fast-growing Asia Pacific region.”
RotoMetrics also announced the appointment of Shaun Pullen as sales director for the Asia-Pacific market. Pullen will be based in the company’s regional headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand, and will direct sales offices in Australia, India and China, as well as agent networks throughout Southeast Asia. “With new flexible die and hot foil products now available with unbeatable lead times and local service and support, we are delighted to be adding resources to our team under Shaun’s leadership,” says Karen Moreland, RotoMetrics’ vice president of sales.
RotoMetrics, headquartered in St. Louis, MO, USA, is a leader in precision rotary tooling for the printing and converting industries. The company has operations in eight countries, with Asia-Pacific headquarters in Bangkok and manufacturing facilities in the US, UK, Denmark, Australia, and Thailand.
Harper passes 4th ISO audit
Anilox roll supplier Harper Corporation reports that its Charlotte, NC, USA, location passed its six month ISO surveillance audit that was conducted on August 26. This marks the fourth consecutive ISO surveillance audit that the location has passed without any findings over the course of the review.
“Having passed four consecutive ISO audits without any findings is something that the Charlotte location should be exceedingly proud of,” says Lee Kluttz, Harper’s vice president of manufacturing operations. “This accomplishment further exemplifies the dedication that Harper Corporation has to providing the best flexographic resources to its clients.”
PAC, Channeled Resources unite in matrix recycling
Converting equipment manufacturer Precision AirConvey (PAC) of Newark, DE, USA, and pressure sensitive label rollstock supplier Channeled Resources Group of Chicago, IL, USA, have formed a joint venture that offers a sustainable approach to label matrix waste management. The goal of the program is to divert cumbersome material from the waste stream and convert it to energy.
Developed to help label converters, printers, mail houses and other label matrix waste generators eliminate disposal costs for landfilling and/or incineration, the eco-friendly strategy begins by capturing the label matrix waste at the press and conveying it to a baler via an automated label waste handling system. The baled material is then collected and hauled to a nearby Greenwood Fuels waste to energy processing plant for use as feedstock.
“The logistics involved in collecting and hauling waste is usually what prevents recycling and waste to energy programs from being cost-efficient,” says Precision AirConvey CEO Tom Embley. “Our systems corral the waste in one place and Channeled Resources knows how to streamline logistics on a global scale so we’re very confident in the future of this partnership.”
This joint venture is to operate as a viable operation without government subsidies. A modest fee will be earned from the waste generators for this service. According to a joint statement made by the companies, this service is will enable companies to substantially save on their recurring disposal fees.
Greenwood Fuels converts label and other waste to combustible pellets, which then are sold to energy producers to replace coal. Greenwood’s one active plant is in Green Bay, WI, USA. The company plans to open a second in Dayton, OH, USA, next year. At least one Ohio label converter is supplying waste, and Greenwood has customers for the pellets. A third plant is reportedly on the drawing board.
Precision AirConvey Corporation designs, manufactures, and installs automated trim and scrap removal systems for some of the world’s largest corporations. Channeled Resources Group is in the field of reprocessed specialty paper and film; their mission is to channel cost effective and environmentally responsible solutions to their global customers and suppliers.
Masterpiece Graphix to partner with 3M
Masterpiece Graphix, a digital material manufacturer and treatment center, has partnered with 3M Commercial Graphics to treat and distribute 3M’s digitally printable materials. The relationship will give Masterpiece Graphix’s customers access to digitally-treated roll and sheet materials from 3M Commercial Graphics, including films used for walls, floors, windows, and almost any other types of space branding applications.
“MGX is extremely excited to partner with 3M Commercial Graphics,” says Dan Lawellin, national sales manager of Masterpiece Graphix. “Through this relationship, our companies can now jointly offer sheet and roll substrates that weren’t previously available to the digital press industry.”
“3M Commercial Graphics is an innovator in technologies that make graphic material installations easier,” says Adam Larson, marketing supervisor at 3M. “We are excited to bring these technologies to the narrow web market for the emerging trend of space branding and other applications where a novice installer may have to lay down graphics. We feel that MGX’s insight and experience into coating a wide variety of materials will only increase the speed at which 3M Commercial Graphics enters the narrow format market.”
Masterpiece Graphix will be able to offer stocked products as well as proprietary custom constructions to HP Indigo, Xerox iGen, Kodak Nexpress, and other digital press users. Masterpiece Graphix will also toll-coat products for 3M Commercial Graphics under this agreement.
Fenton, MO-based Masterpiece Graphix is a digital substrate manufacturer, providing products for liquid toner, dry toner, and inkjet digital press technologies. 3M Commercial Graphics, which is based in St. Paul, MN, USA, manufactures and markets 3M products used to produce graphics for the large-format.
Xeikon reports strong mid-year results Xeikon International BV tripled its net profit from €1.7 million ($2.4 million) in the first half of 2010 to €5.9 million ($8.2 million) during the same period in 2011. The group’s operational cash flow (EBITDA) rose 16 percent, from €12.2 million ($17 million) in the first half of 2010 to €14.2 million ($19.9 million) during the same period in 2011. The company says that the results can be mainly attributed to the revenue growth of Xeikon’s digital printing product line, especially in the USA. Wim Maes, CEO of Xeikon International, says, “Our success depends on the success of our customers. We follow the mantra of customer intimacy and are committed to understanding our customers’ requirements and delivering solutions that meet or exceed those requirements. This impressive growth in our revenues simply means that more customers are printing more labels and document/commercial applications on our technology, thereby leveraging the higher productivity, image quality, flexibility and sustainability of our presses. “Another reason for this success is Xeikon’s focused approach towards the industrial and document printing markets. The company has dedicated its product portfolio as well as its sales and marketing efforts towards these two markets. Xeikon’s toner development efforts – focusing on FDA compliancy and light fastness for industrial applications, and higher speed, improved color gamut and deinkability for document printing applications – are a testament to this approach. In the US, Xeikon organizes Executive Communication Exchange events, which bring label printers directly into contact with industry experts, opinion leaders and fellow printers in an intimate and casual setting. As a result, label printers can gain information on the latest trends and technologies as well as learn about brand owner requirements. This initiative will be further extended in the US and elsewhere. In addition, the company has set up Xeikon Cafés at numerous locations in Europe and Turkey for the retail and personal banking sectors. Xeikon Cafés are seminars at which printers and communication specialists working for end users examine new marketing ideas together. The focus is on new trends in cross-sector product communication, and hence on supporting innovative marketing. |
Luther Erlund named Label Traxx VP
Luther Erlund has been hired as vice president of sales and operations for Label Traxx, the print management software for label converters produced by Tailored Solutions, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
“Luther Erlund brings to Label Traxx some 35 years of experience in the printing industry, most of which has involved the sales and support of print business management systems,” says Ken Meinhardt, Label Traxx president. “Luther is highly regarded throughout the printing industry, where he is known for his prompt attention to customer needs. His specific experience in the label printing and converting area harks back to the early days of Programmed Solutions, and includes a brief period with Label
Traxx nearly 10 years ago. Please join me in welcoming him to Label Traxx.”
Label Traxx provides automated job management software for the printing industry. The company was formed as Tailored Solutions in 1993 by Ken Meinhardt and David Porter, both of whom remain active in the business.
UPM Raflatac introduces polyolefin adhesive
UPM Raflatac has announced the release of RP75, a new adhesive for the Americas market designed for immediate application on fresh-blown, semi-squeezable and rigid polyolefin bottles. According to the company, fresh-blown bottle manufacturers have already tested this permanent adhesive against others available in the market and many have found that RP75 is their choice for delivering smooth finished labels – without any bubbling or darting – when applied to fresh-blown bottles.
RP75 aims to solve one of the packaging industry’s major problems: the need to remove fresh-blown bottles from an assembly line, cool them for 24 to 72 hours and then reload them onto label applicators; or else develop cumbersome workaround processes that increase staff labor. According to the company, RP75 allows packagers to decorate in-line, automating key processes and optimizing their operational efficiency. In its experience working with RP75, leading plastic bottle producer Silgan Plastics found that RP75 produced zero defects on its labeled bottles as compared to the bubbling or darting the company says occurs on up to 8 percent of all labeled polyolefin bottles sold in the marketplace today.
“With UPM Raflatac’s RP75 adhesive, Silgan Plastics has significantly streamlined its labeling processes and ended the material failures we experienced with other adhesives,” says Timothy Monacella, manager of decorating and intellectual property at Silgan Plastics. “RP75’s quality provides benefits to everyone in the value chain: from the manufacturers and converters who design packaging for world-renowned brands, to the global brand owners who seek products that present flawlessly on retail shelves.”
“RP75 is a true game-changer for the fresh-blown bottling industry,” says Patrick Goss, prime business director, UPM Raflatac Americas. “RP75 allows packagers to add value by decorating fresh-blown bottles in-line, while boosting their productivity and profitability.”
Tampere, Finland-based UPM Raflatac, part of UPM’s Engineered Materials business group, is one of the world’s leading suppliers of self-adhesive label materials.
GEW unveils IR curing unit
GEW has introduced the latest version of its VCP UV lamp head, which includes an infrared (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 touch screen automatically recognizes if the print requires UV or IR.
Further enhancements have been made to the company’s e-Brick electronic power supplies with the addition of a new stand alone system. The new power supply will be exhibited for the first time and is claimed to be the smallest available on the market for multi UV lamp applications.
Meech updates tornado web cleaning system
Meech International has released updated version of its Tornado contact system. Designed for label, digital and carton printers, the Tornado is available in F4 and F5 versions. Version F4 features compact extraction and F5 features fan extraction. According to the company, F4 is capable of single-sided cleaning of webs up to 1650 mm wide and double-sided cleaning of webs up to 750 mm wide. The F5 is able to clean single- and double-sided webs up to 3900 mm.
“We are delighted to have a new version of the Tornado on stand,” says Adam Battrick, business unit director, cleaning systems at Meech. “We are confident that the enhancements we have made will be advantageous to our customers, and look forward to discussing this with them at the show.”
The company’s ShearClean system is suitable for sectors ranging from narrow web label printing, including litho, gravure and flexo, as well as converting, food packaging and pharmaceutical applications where contact cleaning systems are not feasible due to scratch-prone surfaces such as special coatings or decorative labels for premium consumer goods. According to the company, ShearClean is also highly effective in applications involving coating.
The 977CM Pulsed DC controller has been installed in over 4500 systems in the printing, packaging, converting and plastic industries, the company said. This number includes several systems for RFID tag production. According to the company, the 977CM has proved especially popular due to its combination of precise static control and advanced self-monitoring features. It continuously monitors output from the ionizing bars and automatically adjusts the input voltage to compensate for the adverse effects of contamination.
Bilnet installs HP Indigo press
Bilnet has announced the installation an HP Indigo WS6000 digital press. The company’s 17,000 square meter facility already includes an HP Indigo 5500 press, as well as 50 sheetfed offset units, four web offset units, 35 flexo units and 13 letterpress units.
“We are always looking for ways to enhance our service offering,” says Cem Ozturk, president of Bilnet, Istanbul, Turkey. “From our experience with the HP Indigo press 5500, we knew the creative possibilities provided by digital print technology and wanted to bring these opportunities to customers of our label products.
“In order to meet short production deadlines, deliver shorter print runs while also ensuring the same high-quality output as delivered by our existing equipment, we knew we had to install another HP Indigo press. The HP Indigo WS6000 seemed the obvious solution,” Ozturk says.
Meech International is based in Oxforshire, UK.
Supa Stik Labels Win PICA WA Print Awards
Supa Stik Labels has announced the receipt of Gold & Silver awards in the blue ribbon “Offset - Wine & Spirits” category at the Printing Industries Craftmanship Awards of Western Australia, held at the Intercontinental Perth Burswood Hotel on August 27.
Both awards were won for wine labels designed by Dan McKeating from Studio Lost & Found, for Margaret River wine producer Chalice Bridge.These labels will be automatically entered into the National Print Awards later in the year.
“Supa Stik are definitely our preferred label printer. Not only are they competitive with price, but the service is always outstanding” McKeating says. “From a designers point of view, we really appreciate that Supa Stik get excited about our work, and go the extra mile to ensure the print production is of the highest quality. We are always made to feel welcome at press checks, and are allowed all the time we need to check the job, and make adjustments as required. We love working with people that share our passion for craftsmanship, and were thrilled to learn that Supa Stik won Gold and Silver at the 2011 Print Industry Craftsmanship Awards for the printing of two of our wine labels. We highly recommend Supa Stik to all of our clients.”
Supa Stik CEO Pete Holywell added: “We feel very fortunate that the efforts of our team were recognised by the judges, and it’s a great reflection on the commitment our team has to producing exceptional results. It’s also quite astounding that Chalice Bridge, working with designer Dan McKeating from Studio Lost & Found, have taken out both the Gold & Silver in the blue-ribbon category with two completely different labels from their portfolio. I think these awards demonstrate what can be achieved when a clear branding vision, extrordinary design skills and a committed print team come together.”
Balcatta, Western Australia-based Supa Stik Labels is an ISO accreditated manufacturer of self-adhesive labels and other roll-fed products, such as tickets.
AWA: Sleeve labels are a strong growth market Sleeve labels – particularly heat shrink sleeves – continue to take market share around the world from traditional labeling technologies: glue-applied and pressure sensitive. A new AWAreness Report from AWA Alexander Watson Associates, “Global Sleeve Label Market and Technology Review”, provides a focused analysis of current market status and technology, and the opportunities sleeving presents for sleeve label producers, material suppliers, and users. The new study analyzes current demand for sleeves in the labeling arena. Their present 12 percent share of the world labeling market is estimated to grow at an annual 4.5 to 5 percent CAGR to 2015. This is the highest projected growth rate for all labeling types, and places the technology as a prime competitor to pressure sensitive labels in premium product labeling applications. Heat shrink sleeve formats dominate usage, with 76 percnt of the market. The AWA report examines the technology and materials base prevalent across the various sleeving methods. Globally, PVC remains the most-favored material, but with materials such as PET-G, OPS, and developments in film co-extrusions, as well as environmentally acceptable materials such as PLA, the field is broadening. The study reports on regional market developments in Europe, North America, Asia, South America, and the rest of the world, by technology: heat shrink, stretch sleeve, and RFS/ROSO/MD shrink sleeves. It then drives down into material, printing and conversion, and application trends, and pinpoints future directions. It concludes with a directory of printers, labeling machines, and consumables. |
EskoArtwork releases Automation Engine 10.1
EskoArtwork has announced the release of Automation Engine 10.1, a new version of its popular prepress workflow software. The new version introduces functionality formerly only available on the Nexus platform.
Among the new aspects of Version 10.1 are the following:
Fewer manual tasks, greater workflow efficiency with new processor module, allowing customers to fully automate tasks that are normally carried out manually in the ArtPro editor, saving time and reducing errors. This includes trapping, distortion, and screening parameters.
Updated PDF technologies: Automation Engine 10.1 has the latest Enfocus PitStop preflighting tools on board.
Integration with entry level business systems: For some time, customers have been able to automatically receive job data and metadata in JDF/JMF format from MIS and ERP systems. Through XML they can now automatically draw job data from non-JDF compliant business systems such as FileMaker Pro, Excel or homemade software solutions. No manual entry or rekeying is required, allowing automated job integration without additional investment.
Tighter integration with output devices: Bi-directional communication and status feedback is now possible with HP’s industrial presses for labels and packaging and with the EskoArtwork CDI flexo platesetter. Operators can now monitor status and receive feedback from output devices directly within Automation Engine.
Simplified user interface: Additional workflow logic has been included to reduce human interaction with the workflow, making operator error far less likely.
“Automation Engine 10.1 will be of particular interest to our Nexus users, who can now use it for everything they had in Nexus while taking advantage of the substantial amount of features only Automation Engine can do,” says Dries Vandenbussche, EskoArtwork’s product manager automation engine. “The enhancements we have made with version 10.1 mark another big step towards ‘lights-out’ automation, and that means that our customers can expect to achieve even lower overall prepress costs.”
Ahlstrom to launch news release paper technology
Ahlstrom, a global high performance materials company, has launched Acti-V, a new generation of release papers for silicone coating. Acti-V will enable silicone coaters and PSA materials producers to increase their manufacturing speed and capacity, to save catalyst and energy costs, and simultaneously improve the product reliability, according to a statement by Ahlstrom.
The technology transforms an inert carrier paper into an active player in the silicone curing and anchorage process. With Ahlstrom Acti-V release papers, silicone curing happens faster and requires less catalyst (platinum) and energy, the company says, adding that silicone anchorage is stronger and more durable.
“This new technology is the result of several years of research, focused on the operational challenges of our customers,” says Daniele Borlatto, executive vice president, label and processing. “The outcome is highly innovative: It will enable our customers to greatly improve the productivity of their silicone coaters and to reduce the total cost of ownership of their product. Our customers will free the full potential of their equipment, gain in flexibility and increase their process efficiency in ways they never thought possible.”
Ahlstrom operates five release liners production sites located in Europe and South America.
Brushfoil expands manufacturing plant
Brushfoil – a producer of metallized, brushed films – has nearly completed the 8,000 square-foot plant expansion that commenced early this year. The company says that the installation of new brushing equipment, which should take place this month, will help to reduce lead times and produce films up to 72” (1,828 mm) wide. The expansion will bring the plant’s total size to 25,000 square feet and will result in an increase in plant employment.
Due to proprietary concerns, the specific details of the new machinery are not being disclosed. However, Brushfoil said in a statement that the new line will feature “the widest-width machine of its kind and include a combination of next generation electronics, automation and versatility.”
Brushfoil, which is owned by Transilwrap Company of Franklin Park, IL, USA, is an ISO 9001:2008 certified company. The company recently introduced two new brushed patterns, Cross-hatch and Tru-Stainless, for use in package design, appliance and furniture manufacturing, and automotive and point-of-purchase production.
Smart Papers announces RIT certification
Smart Papers has announced that its Kromekote Label 60-lb. IN-fusion premium lightweight cast-coated label and packaging papers are now RIT certified to run on HP Indigo WS4050, WS4500 and WS6000 label and packaging presses.
Kromekote cast gloss is the first lightweight cast-coated paper to be performance certified by RIT for use on HP Indigo narrow web presses. The newly certified products are Kromekote Label for cut and stack glue-applied labels as well as Kromekote Label Converting for pressure-sensitive label applications.
“The results were very good and this is a very good product for specialty label and packaging printers,” said Tim Richardson, digital printing technologist at RIT and the chief tester of Kromekote Label. “There are no concerns with this product on any front.”
“In addition to providing a new option for label and packaging printers, this development is important for pressure-sensitive label converters,” explained Paul Simpson, executive vice president for Smart Papers. “HP Indigo paired with Kromekote IN-fusion produces a compelling label solution for label and packaging printers, converters and distributors.”
Hamilton, OH, USA-based Smart Papers is North America’s largest manufacturer and marketer of environmentally responsible, premium cast-coated and matte-coated papers Kromekote Label coated one-side (C1S) applications include standard cut and stack label, wrap or packaging applications and pressure-sensitive labelstock.
Flint introduces UV flexo renewable ink system Flint Group has introduced a renewable ink system for UV curable flexographic inks. BioCure F has been introduced worldwide, the company reports, in response to market demands for an ink system developed with bio-renewable raw materials that also maintains key properties available in other UV flexo ink systems. “We have been asked by leading converters, who in turn have been asked by consumer product companies, to develop a UV flexo ink that rivals robust UV flexo technology but that is also developed with bio-renewable materials,”says Tom Hammer, product manager of Flint Group Narrow Web. “We feel that BioCure F shows Flint Group’s ongoing commitment to develop greener, more sustainable products to help support the market’s environmental requirements.” Hammer says that BioCure F has been tested at multiple customer sites with positive feedback, including: “Adhesion is great on all colors on various recycled films,” and “Press performance and stability are excellent.” Flint Group says that the new ink system offers “excellent viscosity, which provides very good run ability and overall ease of use; high color strength, which leads to low ink usage and cost savings; consistent density; excellent adhesion to multiple substrates; and low foaming and minimal plate swell. BioCure F is available in the four color process set and Pantone. |
Belmark to install Muller Martini press
Belmark Inc., a De Pere, WI, USA-based packing manufacturer, has announced its plans to install a second Muller Martini variable sleeve offset printing (VSOP) press by the end of this year. The press will be equipped with both offset and flexo capabilities, along with an automatic splicer, auto register control, EB curing, and inline diecutting.
“This is our second VSOP,” says Karl Schmitt, Belmark’s president. “We’ve been very happy with the performance of the one we already have, and that’s given us the confidence to purchase an additional one. We’re very confident in Muller Martini and their ability to service us and this equipment.”
According to the company, the Muller Martini VSOP press is designed for flexible packaging and folding carton markets that require simple and rapid size changes. Using sleeve technology, print sizes can be changed without having to exchange the entire printing insert, which can be cost effective for print lengths that change frequently. In addition to flexible packaging printing, the VSOP can be used for label printing, including wet-glue labels, paper or film roll labels, self-adhesive labels, in-mold labels and shrink films.
MGX certified for Color-Logic stocks on Xeikon presses
Masterpiece Graphix (MGX), a digital material manufacturer and treatment center in Fenton, MO, USA, has been named a Certified Color-Logic Partner for digital metalized substrates. Masterpiece Graphix now can provide substrates for Xeikon and other digital presses to produce metallic and special effects with Color-Logic’s Process Metallic Color System.
“Masterpiece Graphix and Color-Logic have worked together to ensure that Masterpiece Graphix Brilliant Metalized Paper/Perm/40# (R1361) provides the best possible image quality results on the Xeikon 3000 Series of digital label presses,” says Mark Geeves, Color-Logic’s director of sales and marketing.“As a result, Masterpiece Graphix becomes the first Color-Logic technology partner to qualify substrate for use on Xeikon equipment.Our collaboration ensures that Masterpiece Graphix is familiar with the Color-Logic Process Metallic Color System, and stands ready to assist Xeikon users who wish to print on metalized paper to achieve the dramatic Color-Logic effects.”
PRPflexo introduces new plates
PRPflexo, a prepress services and flexographic printing plate provider, has announced the development of Thermal ExSpect, a flat-top-dot plate technology designed to work with thermally produced plates.
“We’ve always had a strong focus on R&D at PRPflexo,” says Chris Green, general manager. “It is an integral part of our culture and what has contributed to our significant growth over the past several years. We recognized the benefits of thermal processing early on, with no solvent or drying requirements, it became the choice of many printers seeking faster production times and ‘greener’ processing. Unfortunately, the print quality was never able to compete with flat-top dot plate technology, so printers had to decide between print quality and overall speed, until now. In trials to date we have seen thermally processed flat-top dot results rival solvent produced plates.”
Thermal ExSpect printing plates are available in both digital and analog formats of any thermally processed materials. “We never found it to be a good business practice to impose restrictions on our customers. Many printers we work with have a preference for certain types of photopolymer they feel works well with the substrates they use, so by developing a process internally that works with any sheet material, they can continue to use what works best for them,” says Green.
Green adds that the company is considering licensing its technology to the market, so companies who’ve already invested in expensive equipment will not have to write it off, giving the printer the best of both worlds. “By creating a product that was not dependent on certain types of photopolymer or certain types of equipment, we feel we have given our customers the most flexibility available, and in the current tough economy, that is a key consideration for people looking to maximize their investments,” he says.
PRPflexo, who first marketed flat-top dot plate technology in 2004, is based in Beech Grove, IN, USA.
CCL announces $30 million expansion plan CCL Industries Inc. has announced plans to invest $30 million during 2011 and 2012 to expand its CCL Label division’s operations in emerging markets. The company will build three greenfield plants and invest in additional capacity at some existing facilities. “Emerging market revenues now represent approximately 20 percent of the company’s total sales and we expect growth to accelerate at a premium to the developed world in the coming years as our customers invest to drive improvement in consumers’ lives in these regions,” says Geoffrey Martin, CEO. “It therefore makes both strategic and shareholder value sense to allocate a higher portion of capital to these geographies. Despite this investment, we do not expect overall expenditures to exceed depreciation company-wide in either 2011 or 2012.” The company plans to build a third plant in Bangkok, Thailand, expand its both its Vinhedo and Criciuma facilities in Brazil, and open a new plant in Saudi Arabia. In a statement, the company says that the Bangkok plant will provide increased capacity and new technologies to support home and personal care and beverage customers in Southeast Asia. CCL expects its Asian operations to approach 10 percent of global label revenues in 2012. Construction has already commenced on the new pressure sensitive label facility in Vinhedo. The new site will more than double the size of existing operations and support home and personal care and healthcare customers in Brazil. Additional converting capacity will be added to the Brazilian sleeve plant in Criciuma to support rapid growth in the food and beverage sector. The Jeddah, Saudi Arabia plant is a joint venture between Pacman and CCL. The plant will open this fall and aims to expand the company’s footprint in the Middle East. With headquarters in Toronto, CCL employs approximately 6,000 people and currently operates 63 production facilities globally. CCL Label is a converter of pressure sensitive and film materials for customers in the consumer packaging, healthcare and consumer durable segments. |
New offset press introduced by DG Press Services
DG Press Services, based in Eerbeek, the Netherlands, has developed a new narrow web offset press. The Vi-SOP is based on the Drent Vision press and has a width of 520 mm (20”). The company says it provides for short changeover times while maintaining all the abilities of a high speed printing press.
The Vi-SOP uses conventional offset printing plates, and its servo- driven impression cylinders are separately driven from the plate and blanket cylinders. Web tension between the printing units is arranged in such a way that even print on thinner foils results in 100 percent register printing, says the company.
Vi-SOP is available as an upgrade packaging for existing Vision presses, enabling the Vision to be utilized as packaging press. It is possible to convert the existing three cylinder groups so that the impression cylinder is driven separately in order to be able to print on high quality films in the existing formats.
Industry People
APEX NORTH AMERICA, Donora, PA, USA – Apex has announced the appointment of a husband and wife sales team, Tommy and Robin Harpster (1). Tommy has been named technical sales manager of the Midwest; Robin’s new roles include customer service, inside sales and marketing support.
BROOKFIELD ENGINEERING LABORATORIES, Middleboro, MA, USA – Marc St. Georges has been named the new international printing market manager.
FLXON INC., Charlotte, NC, USA – FLXON has announced the addition of Ed Mora (2) to the newly created position of business manager for Latin America.
GMG AMERICAS, Hingham, MA, USA – GMG has announced several changes and additions to its American operations. Joe Varone has been appointed vice president of sales in North America. Marc Welch is the new director of strategic accounts. Birgit Plautz, newly appointed manager of technical services, and Juergen Roesch, manager of business development and solutions architecture, have recently relocated from GMG Europe. Paulo Monteiro, business manager of GMG Latin America, has moved his offices to Kissimmee, FL, USA.
GPA, McCook, IL, USA – Jules Gonzales (3) has joined GPA as a territory sales manager in Minnesota, with focus on the greater Twin Cities region. Gonzales was formerly a production systems specialist and major account executive at IKON Office Solutions.
LABEL TRAXX, Milwaukee, WI, USA – Label Traxx has retained Maciej Matejczuk (4) as a sales agent; he will market Label Traxx products to printers and flexographic converters throughout Central and Eastern Europe. He is based in Bialystok, Poland, and speaks fluent Polish, French and English. Luther Erland (5) has been named vice president of sales and operations. He was previously employed at Label Traxx nearly 10 years ago.
POLYONICS, Westmoreland, NH, USA – Polyonlics has announced the appointment of Kevin Young as chief operating officer. Young was most recently a partner with ArchPoint Consulting of Boston.
ROTOMETRICS, Eureka, MO, USA – Shaun Pullen has been appointed sales director for the Asia-Pacific market. He will be based in the company’s regional headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand, and will direct sales offices in Australia, India and China, as well as agent networks throughout South East Asia.
SATO, Tokyo – Sato has announced the appointment of Kazuo Matsuyama as president and chief executive officer, effective October 3. Current company president Koichi Nishida will step down and assume the new role of chairman.
XENNIA, Hertfordshire, UK – Xennia has announced the appointment of Laurie Geldenhuys (6) as commercial director. Geldenhuys is the former global business director of SunJet, the digital division of Sun Chemical.LNW