Industry News - October 2014

Mark Andy Print Products, the supplies and consumables division of Mark Andy, has added the DigiFlex FlexoJet system to its list of available platemaking equipment. The system is an inkjet-based computer-to-plate design for a variety of printing technologies, including flexographic, photopolymer, letterpress, dry-offset and rotary silk screen. It also allows analog plate materials to be digitally imaged.

NewPage, a Wisconsin-based printing and specialty paper producer, has announced the release of Reflections, a high-gloss premium label paper. The paper is a 60 lb., high-gloss, cast-coated label paper for wet glue and pressure sensitive applications that demand smooth printing and a mirror gloss appearance. The paper is particularly well suited for wine and spirits and pharmaceutical labels. Despite the high-gloss effect, Reflections does not utilize varnish, UV or aqueous coatings.

The 100th Heidelberg Very Large Format Press has a new home in Clinton, Iowa. RockTenn, an international folding carton, corrugated box, and merchandising display producer added the press to its collection of numerous other Heidelberg VLF presses across its folding carton and merchandising displays units. The press can reach speeds of 18,000 sheets per hour and can handle short-run jobs and process high volumes.

“Our strategic partnership with Heidelberg has generated great results for RockTenn and our clients,” says Craig Gunckel, RockTenn’s executive vice president of merchandising display and folding carton. “We look forward to working with Heidelberg to find new solutions that will help our customers continue to win in their respective markets.”

Dare Foods, a Kitchener, Ontario-based snack food company, is utilizing packaging from Sonoco for its new product line. The company’s Boulangerie Grissol Artisanal Baguettes flexible bag has already been launched in Canada, and will make its way to the US in the fall. Previously, Dare Foods utilized the bag-in-box method of packaging this product, but in hopes of adding shelf visibility and promoting the product as a premium offering, it is making the transition to the standup pouch.

The Mimaki CJV300 Series of printer-cutter devices will be on display for the first time in the U.S. at the Specialty Graphic and Imaging Association exhibition in Las Vegas from October 22 to October 24. The models will come in a 54˝ version (CJV300-130) and a 64˝ version (CJV300-160). These models will incorporate a staggered printhead configuration and can reach speeds of 1,140 square feet per hour. In addition to labels, the printer can produce package prototypes, and other displays for the packaging sector. The cutting functions include continuous registration mark detection, over-cut and corner-cut functions, and a cut-and-print function for pre-cutting before printing. There are 10 SS21 eco-solvent ink colors available for the series, including silver.

The Epson ColorWorks C7500 label printer is designed to improve production and reduce costs. The printer utilizes Just In Time Color, powered by PrecisionCore print chip technology. It has a linehead print head configuration, providing an image resolution of 600x1200 DPI. The C7500 incorporates ZPL II programming, which provides direct plug-in replacement for two-step printing processes using thermal transfer prints. Using existing monochrome data streams and merging them with “color pre-print” images stored in its memory, the printer can turn blank stock into full color labels.

The Contour 60 series from Douglas Machine is designed for tray packing and shrink wrapping bottles, cans, jars, and cartons. The mid-speed system is designed for 600 per minute bottle lines with surge rates up to 720 bpm. The series can produce single-lane 12-packs and multi-lane film-only 6-packs. The Contour uses a pinless metering system to gently group and meter products into the system. Douglas has created stand-alone tray packers, shrink wrappers, and complete packaging systems to be part of the series.

In an attempt to expand its variable data and short-run print capabilities for labels, folding cartons, and flexible packaging applications, Quad/Graphics left Labelexpo Americas in anticipation of the arrival of an HP Indigo WS6800 Digital Press. Quad/Graphics is one of the first companies to purchase the WS6800, which made its U.S. debut at Labelexpo. “Quad/Graphics is committed to providing our customers with efficient, high-quality print solutions that support their brand promise as well as drive results,” says Tom Garland, president of packaging for Quad/Graphics. “Not only will the added capacity of the HP Indigo WS6800 Digital Press expand our robust digital print offering, we can also continue to grow and enhance our digital label and paperboard carton businesses with customization and short-run capabilities.”

The press will be installed at Quad/Graphics’ Franklin, Wisconsin location.

Approximately 150 of its customers visited MBO’s new American headquarters in Philadelphia at an open house event from July 30-31. The event introduced “The New MBO,” a concept combining the recent advances and acquisitions at the company, and a determination to increase customer-driven activities in multiple areas of the company. At the event, visitors were able to view live demonstrations of a variety of finishing solutions, including some for the packaging sector. Visitors also received information on MBO’s four most recent innovations, the K8 RS, which MBO touts as the world’s fastest folder, the M80 flexible folding system, the BSR 550 Servo high-speed rotary diecutter, and 30” digital web finishing solutions.

MPS, a Netherlands-based press manufacturer for the label and flexible packaging markets, is stengthening its presence in North and Latin America.

“We had a large number of visitors to our Labelexpo stand,” said Denny McGee, president of MPS North America. “With the positive reception of our press technology and receipt of multiple orders, we achieved our goal of increasing awareness of MPS as a significant printing press supplier for label and flexible packaging markets in the Americas.”

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