Ceepackaging

The PrintCity Alliance completed a successful first Graphic Industry Supply Chain Workshop on the subject Carbon Footprint & Energy Efficiency during February 2010 in Munich.

DuPont Packaging Graphics EMEA presented its 2009 New Horizon award jointly to Wipak UK Ltd. and PPP Digital Imaging Ltd.

Flint Group has announced the world introduction of Flexocure FORCE – a development in UV Flexo technology that could enable printers to take another step in print quality, possibly improved mileage and potentially press performance. Theoretically, with much easier handling due to lower viscosity and no foaming, some adhesion to a wider range of substrates and claimed improved performance on many variable printing techniques - Flexocure FORCE covers possibly some things a label and narrow web printer could need today.

Innovative applications with improved can design and a new production technology with environmental benefits were the hallmark of this year’s “World Aluminum Aerosol Can Award” competition organised by the International Organization of Aluminum Aerosol Container Manufacturers (AEROBAL). The panel of judges consisted of eleven leading international trade journals for packaging and cosmetics.

At Labelexpo Europe 2009 on 23 September, the Gallus Group launched the Gallus ECS 340. The press is based on a robust core of technical granite.

Since film manufacturers announced that special films for security plate making will no longer be available, the security printers are forced to search for alternative technologies to image their letterpress plates. An efficient option is the mask ablation of digital plates. The technology is already established in the flexo and letterpress market for many years. The digital plates are masked with a black layer which is imaged by a diode, YAG or fibre-laser at a resolution of up to 10,000 dpi. This technology not only eliminates the film processing and the disadvantages of the image transfer via film, it also offers significant quality improvements for the security printers.

Martina Kremlova of the Brno trade fair explains how the organisers of Embax Print are responding to the slowdown and how focus is being put on digital printing for packaging.

MTC Pharma Center specializes in the production of high quality foil packaging solutions for the pharmaceutical industry. The company is owned by Austria-based MTC Holding, an international group with production sites also located in Croatia, Slovenia, Romania and Serbia, and works in partnership with Constantia Verpackungen AG Group.

The smartGPS Beta version amazed the flexo world at Drupa 2008, and in the months following the exhibition, it was tested both at customer sites under production conditions and at the Fischer & Krecke facilities with customer’s printing forms, adapters, and sleeves. In January 2009 it was released for production: FISCHER & KRECKE’s smartGPS (Graphic Positioning System) now represents a new milestone in flexo printing technology.

Rexam and Amstel have been working closely to bring a new can design to the market. The new can uses two of Rexam’s added value techniques to give a contemporary and innovative feel, whilst not compromising on convenience for Amstel’s loyal beer consumers.

At a joint stand of KBA-Polska (Poland) and KBA-Grafitec s.r.o. (Czech Republic), KBA-Metronic (Germany) demonstrated its presence at the well visited printing exhibition in Poland. At its stand, the printing industry specialist was able to talk to expert printers about the benefits of small, waterless printing systems. With the aid of numerous examples of applications and print patterns, interested visitors found out how interesting niche products such as lenticular and 3D-images could be printed on special plastic films or on adhesion or magnetic foils with the Genius 52UV sheet-fed press. Plastic materials such as PVC, PET, ABS, PS and PC etc., as well as special papers and cartons with predominantly non-absorbing surfaces are exactly what the Genius 52UV was built for. Up to a format of 36 x 52 cm and a maximum printing material thickness of 0.8 mm it can therefore print on materials that rarely stand a chance with conventional offset printing. That is exactly the reason why it is already a permanent fixture with so many users worldwide. With the Genius 52UV, printing companies can set themselves apart from their competitors and move into niches previously reserved for screen printing or expensive digital printing systems.

Atlantic Zeiser, innovator and technology supplier for digital narrow printing processes, is planning a major rollout of its high-resolution digital UV ink and coding solutions at Graphitec / Convertec 2009 held 09-12 June, 2009 in Porte de Versailles, Paris.

Atlantic Zeiser, innovator and technology supplier for digital narrow printing processes, is planning a major rollout of its high-resolution digital UV ink and coding solutions at Hispack, held 11-15 May in Barcelona. Atlantic Zeiser will demonstrate a lineup of future-oriented solutions for digital narrow printing processes.

Atlantic Zeiser, supplier of digital printing and coding systems, announces the introduction of BRAILLE VISION, a new inline camera control system for its BRAILLEJET™ high quality printing solution for Braille. This latest technical advancement from Atlantic Zeiser enables BRAILLEJET to provide a complete and innovative digital printing solution for Braille, the touchable font for blind people.

The recession, which began in 2008, triggered a sudden drop in demand for label printing machines due to reduced consumption, especially in the USA, and in particular because of a high level of uncertainty amongst customers regarding the development of the global economy. The business with national and global customers, particularly for highly productive and versatile label printing machines, had a stabilising effect. Early as well as flexible capacity adjustments and ongoing investments in innovation strengthen the competitive position of the Gallus Group in a tougher environment.

The most important trade fair for the graphics and printing industry, Print2009, took place recently at the fair grounds of Kistamässan in Stockholm / Sweden. For the first time, KBA-Metronic was represented by its Scandinavian dealer, Schneidler Grafiska AB from Sweden. In a very attractive atmosphere many visitors enjoyed the absolutely highlight of the exhibition - Genius 52UV. The UV offset printing machine with waterless and keyless short inking units in the 36 x 52 cm format was simply an eye-catcher. The different applications on varied substrates were demonstrated to the interested audience. The displayed Genius 52UV had the optional varnishing unit for high gloss surfaces. The system has been installed at LSG Plastic Printing AB in Motala after the show. This continues the trend to success of the short inking technology manufactured by KBA-Metronic and convince more and more printing companies.

DuPont Packaging Graphics and EskoArtwork, two of the leading suppliers in the flexographic and packaging industries, report excellent attendance at Emballage 2008, the International Packaging Exhibition which took place in Paris, France, Nov. 17 – 21. DuPont and EskoArtwork, building on their successful long-term collaboration, presented solutions for a packaging value chain focused on environmental sustainability in package design, print and production.

Amcor Flexibles has received a Gold award for Best Print at the recent 2008 FlexoTech International Print & Innovations Awards. Amcor won the award in the category "Flexible packaging over 50 cms – process" for the film used to pack Allinson's HiBran brown bread. The entry was recognized for its overall print quality and the excellent choice of film and ink used.

The financial crisis is impacting severely on Germany’s export-driven engineering industry, and Koenig & Bauer AG (KBA) is no exception. As the third-quarter figures issued on 14 November revealed, tumbling demand in key export markets caused the volume of new orders for sheetfed presses to fall 15.8% below the equivalent figure for 2007, while orders for web and special presses were 9.1% down on a weak prior year. The volume of orders on hand shrank by €160m to €721.6m, and this has caused major fluctuations in plant utilisation since the beginning of October. As a countermeasure, overtime and holiday accounts are being run down at KBA’s web press production plants, and the Christmas closure extended. As was also announced on 14 November, KBA’s sheetfed facility, which officially introduced short-time work at the beginning of November, is having to trim its payroll by 400.

Atlantic Zeiser, supplier of dedicated personalization and coding systems, concluded Emballage 2008 on a successful note, with very positive response to its new OMEGA 72i high-resolution inkjet printing system and the SMARTCURE 72i LED UV curing device. During the show, held November 17- 21st, 2008 in Paris, Atlantic Zeiser organized well-attended live demonstrations that featured a complete web-to-web-system for narrow web applications as well as high resolution digital printing and coding on various packaging materials. The demonstrations showcased the OMEGA 72i, the OMEGA 36HD, a digital inkjet printer featuring drop-on-demand array jet technology for optimal print quality, and the new eco-friendly SMARTCURE 72i LED UV curing device. The new BRAILLEJET high quality printing system for Braille, the touchable font for blind people, was a major technology highlight during the show.

The major international flexographic printing plate production company Nu-Maber, based in Roncade (Treviso), has recently purchased two new Concept 505 XP DW. The units are built by Degraf, the leader in the development and design of equipment for the production of flexographic printing plates, and are to replace two large-format washers already in use at Nu-Maber's premises.

Windmöller & Hölscher (W&H) introduced the EASY-COL system at drupa - a new system reducing make-ready times and improving ink correction quality on printing presses. The EASY-COL system allows the press operator to make fast and reliable color matches.

The deep expertise and know-how in the printing sector of Matjaz Mramor, Managing Director of Simark, Slovenian distributor of printing presses, are strongly contributing the fulfilment of excellent results since the beginning of the co-operation with GIDUE.

Three new reseller agreements have been signed up at drupa by EskoArtwork in order to meet demand in the Eastern European display and packaging markets, where its revenues are increasing annually by 30 to 60 percent. The company's Kongsberg cutting tables will now be offered by Romanian companies ProPrint SRL and Grup Transilvae, both of Transylvania, and Croatian distributor Fortuna Komers, in this region.

The weekend prior to Drupa, Erwin Oberhänsli, a top manager at Swiss printer Feldegg in Zollikerberg, was presented with an Individual Award by the national Environmental Foundation. Oberhänsli won the award, which is conferred annually, for his longstanding commitment to sustainable print production.

Some say that rum is the distilled flavor of the Caribbean islands. Now, a specialty rigid paperboard can from Sonoco provides the canvas to present the vibrant, premium quality of Doorly's XO Specially Selected Fine Barbados Rum contained in the bottle inside.

Drent Goebel claims to be the first press manufacturer in the industry to offer full size variability in offset printing opening up completely new markets.

With some really wonderful stands at Interpack, I have been rather curious to know more. It all seems like a dreadful amount of work, not to mention the cost. Today, print company KBA sent this information about what they are doing.

Koenig & Bauer AG (KBA) followed up an international press conference on 8 April with an open house from 9 to 11 April at its sheetfed facility in Radebeul (near Dresden) at which it gave an exclusive preview of the major innovations it will be exhibiting at this year’s Drupa in Düsseldorf. Around 1,500 industry professionals from all over the world took the opportunity to attend live demonstrations of new features and upgrades in formats ranging from half-size to large. These include a raft of innovations for enhancing productivity, quality, finishing, cost efficiency and press ecology. While KBA did not reveal everything that will be exhibited on its 3,400m² (36,600ft²) stand in hall 16, what it did show was well worth the journey.

Avery Dennison announced today the launch of its new highly chemical-resistant labelstock, Fasson® Transfer PET Matt White Top Chem Res/S8015. Transfer PET Matt White Top Chem Res is offered with the Fasson® S8015 adhesive providing excellent adhesion to a wide range of surfaces, including low surface energy plastics and textured substrates. This new labelstock is specially suited to the automotive industry, for labelling laboratory equipment and for other industrial applications where there is a need to print labels that will resist aggressive chemicals while remaining readable.

Crown Holdings has announced the development of a new print technology, which significantly enhances the quality of images that can be reproduced on beverage cans.

With the drupacube, drupa 2008 will for the first time provide a special event aimed at the print buyer target group. As will be the case in the 19 halls, here too the spotlight will be on printed products – with one key difference. At the event inside the pavilion set up on the Rhine, the focus will be squarely on marketing-driven applications for printed products. The technology that makes this possible will play a subsidiary role. This shift in perspective offers one unbeatable advantage: Heads of marketing and publishing directors, production managers, account executives and creative directors will be able to take in print’s potential in the marketing mix in a compact format. “With this tool, we intend to attract print buyers to drupa in greater numbers. Undoubtedly, many of the exhibitors also have offerings catering to this target group. But at a technology fair of drupa’s kind, this type of information is often in danger of being drowned out,” said Manuel Mataré, drupa Project Director, describing the aim of the event. “The drupacube acts as a portal for print buyers by serving up concise infotainment on all things print communications and guiding them to exhibitors’ stands.”

Alwan Color Expertise and Bodoni Systems Ltd. used IFRA to showcase their combined solution insuring fast makereadies, increased stability, ink savings, and ISO-12647 standard output. The integrated offering, demonstrated at IFRA from October 8-11, featured Alwan’s CMYK Optimizer version 3 and Bodoni pressSIGN.

For its 60th anniversary, Pucci has designed a closure which elegantly conveys the brand’s entire universe and style. The idea was to reproduce the colours and design of one of the famous scarves from the Italian fashion house.

Ovals, triangles, rectangles or even polygone, the new carrousel type 982 can print any type of geometrically developable shapes. Whatever the base of the bottle, it allows an impression of 360° throughout the length of the bottle

Thanks to its product development department, today Lumson can offer more than 20 cosmetic Packaging lines/collections with more than 100 accessories that go from cosmetic pumps to overcaps, from jar covers to screwing caps to different type of dispensing systems; on top of this and to offer a 360° service, Lumson can also take care of all the decorations (screen printing, hot stamping, tampo printing, laquering, metallizations).