Business Management - Industry Trends

GRAHAM, N.C.—Acucote announced receipt of its Class III security certification by the North American Security Products Organization (NASPO), the first such certification granted by NASPO. In having completed NASPO’s stringent certification program, Acucote is positioned to offer its clients highly secure and confidential brand protection solutions. NASPO was created and is organized to certify security products organizations through identification of best practices in the security field. Certification by NASPO indicates that Acucote has met the specific ANSI-approved standards set forth by NASPO for the manufacture and supply of brand protection label solutions.

STEVENS POINT, Wis.—Stora Enso Speciality Papers announced the launch of EcoSet, a new, wet-strength label paper, specifically designed to meet the rising market demand for water bottles made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a recyclable synthetic fiber. EcoSet, which has been tested throughout all facets of water bottle label production, offers label performance with the sustainable packaging advantages of paper. Stora Enso initiated development of EcoSet label paper in response to growing demand by brand owners in North America to purchase locally produced PET water bottle label paper that would offer an economical and ecological alternative to current label substrates. EcoSet is produced at Stora

ROCHESTER, N.Y.—Hammer Packaging received a Silver Award for Management Excellence in the National Association for Printing Leadership (NAPL) 2006 Management Plus Awards Program. The NAPL is a not-for-profit trade association representing companies in the graphic communications industry and dedicated to excellence in graphic communications management. Management Plus entrants are asked to conduct an analysis of specific areas of their operations and are judged on how they perform against industry standards in nine key areas: internal control systems; financial performance; marketing/sales plan; business planning; human resources; environmental/safety concerns; quality control; community/industry affairs; and vendor relations. “Management Plus award winners are the kinds of organizations that

NAPERVILLE, Ill.—Tag and Label Manufacturers Institute (TLMI) announces the publication of the 2007 edition of the North American Label Study(NALS). The NALS 2007 provides an up-to-date overview of the pressure-sensitive label and product decoration market. The study gives TLMI member companies—both converters and their suppliers—access to market data and analysis to facilitate decision making in areas that may be critical to future business growth and profitability. TLMI President Frank Sablone comments, “Our members need and value the regular update that our NALS study—now in its sixth edition—provides.” The NALS 2007 delivers an assessment of the market structure for pressure-sensitive labels and other labeling

LECCO, Italy—Omet launched its Omet India subsidiary, based in Bangalore, at the recently held India Label exhibition. The move follows a rapid growth in the demand for flexo-printed packaging from an area where industrialization is occurring on a major scale. This economic development, which is raising living standards, has caught the attention of the multi-national brand owners, who are keen to be first to the market with their products, and at the same time preserve their global quality standards. One such company is Wal-Mart, which has identified India, and its growth potential, as an area for investment. India already has a strong tradition of

DENVER, CO—One of the label industry’s digital label printing pioneers, Lightning Labels, is pleased to announce the successful installation of their new state of the art digital label press. The new WS4500 press from HP-Indigo, launched at LabelExpo last September, is now in production at Lightning Labels’ headquarters in Denver. Lightning Labels has long been known as one the leaders in short run label printing with two HP-Indigo WS2000 presses, but now with the increased production speed of the WS4500 press they will also be able to take on slightly larger runs. The WS4500 press can print high resolution labels at up to

New Britain, Pa.—Hutchison Millers Sales has introduced a pulp-based film that combines the ease-of-use of paper and the durability and other performance qualities that have made film an increasingly popular substrate for numerous converting applications. Because it is pulp- and not petroleum-based, “Clairifoil” diacetate film answers the industry’s long-standing demand for an environmentally friendly substrate that is easily recyclable, biodegradable, and compostable. This cellulose acetate film can be used for pressure-sensitive labels and tapes, carton windows, print lamination, and other applications. “To its credit, our industry has become increasingly environmentally conscious in recent years,” says Rob Hutchison, president of Hutchison Miller Sales. “Unfortunately, the

BRADFORD, Pa.—Label.Com accepted delivery of a new, innovative Aquaflex flexo label press in December 2006. The press uses servo technology that has only recently been introduced to the narrow web label market. This is the first press of its kind in the northwestern PA region. Label presses generally have a mechanical drive shaft connected with gears and shafts. Servo technology replaces the shaft and gears in this new press. Multiple motors throughout the press communicate with a central computer to keep printing and cutting in perfect register. Although most labels are .006˝ to .007˝ thick, servo technology expands the material capabilities from .001˝ thick

SANTA CLARA, Calif.—FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc. introduced its new corporate brand identity and logo. The FUJIFILM brand has been incorporated into the Dimatix brand and logo following the acquisition of Dimatix, Inc. by FUJIFILM Corporation in 2006. FUJIFILM Dimatix combines FUJIFILM’s materials, science, and printing know-how with Dimatix’s distinguished heritage of developing and manufacturing innovative ink jet printing solutions. “FUJIFILM Dimatix is accelerating the use of ink jetting across a broad range of markets and applications,” said John Batterton, CEO of FUJIFILM Dimatix. “We are continuing our more than 20-year tradition of providing the industry’s most reliable and robust ink jet printing solutions. Now we

ANSONIA, Conn.—Connecticut Metal Industries has announced the opening of a new facility specifically designed to handle in-plant scrap for the packaging industry. The company actively recycles production scrap from laminators, metallizers, contract packagers, label makers, and film manufacturers. The new facility is designed to be a one-stop recycler for all types of production scrap including foils, laminates, plastic films, as well as containers made from plastic, tin, or aluminum. The company will also be installing equipment to recover materials from all types of RFID scrap including labels and ID cards. This facility will be the first dedicated recycler for RFID and embedded chip in