Business Management - Industry Trends

Are synthetic label materials really the best choice for converters to use for their products? Some manufacturers seem to think so. YOU CAN'T JUDGE a book by its cover, and in some instances that old adage is true. Consumers are bombarded with products on the grocery store shelves everyday and typically, they have to make up their minds within just a few seconds. So to get them to even look under the cover, the label has to convey the quality of the packaged product—and synthetic labels can do just that, if used properly. Key factors when choosing synthetic There are many pros and

Surface treating technology makes printing on plastic substrates possible, but not just any off-the-shelf equipment will do. PRINTING ON FILMS without first treating the substrate surface is a lot like skydiving without a parachute. It's possible, but the result is going to be a mess. Luckily, there are several surface treating options, each with advantages for different applications. Of the three main kinds of treaters, corona treaters are the most common, according Tom Gilbertson, Enercon Industries Corp.'s vice president of applications engineering. They are used for most applications and are less expensive alternatives compared to atmospheric plasma and flame treaters. Atmospheric plasma

Is ink price not important? Are metallics losing steam? Industry experts explain the results of packagePRINTING's Ink Usage Survey. PACKAGEPRINTING'S 8TH ANNUAL Ink Usage Survey asked tag & label, flexible packaging, and folding carton printers, as well as ink suppliers, about everything from general ink usage/sales, to hybrids, specialty inks, and more. For a better understanding of the survey tallies, packagePRINTING asked ink suppliers to give their views on the results, many of which reflect a growing and evolving ink industry. Issues that matter On-press predictability and ink price have battled it out for the top spot on the list of package printers' main

A singular focus on sleeve labels, from design through application, is at the heart of SleeveCo's success as a flexible packaging converter. SHRINKING IS GOOD for SleeveCo—that's what they do best. Since the company's inception in 1988, this Dawsonville, Ga.-based flexible packaging converter has been completely dedicated to sleeve labels, both shrink and stretch. This singular focus on sleeve labels is what makes the company distinctive, says Martin Wilson, vice president of sales and marketing. He also says it's the reason why SleeveCo has been able to work with some of the world's largest and most innovative consumer goods companies on many

The market will see continued growth, driven mostly by an increasing demand for stand-up pouches. FLEXIBLE PACKAGING FACES a bright outlook for 2004. Currently, flexible packaging—a $20 billion industry—is the second largest packaging category in the United States, according to the Flexible Packaging Association's Web site. Furthermore, industry experts and studies only expect the market to see continued growth over the next several years, despite a slowly recovering economy. "There's going to be continued growth in the market," said Dennis Calamusa, president of ALLIEDFLEX Technologies, Inc. and a sales and marketing consultant providing global flexible packaging machinery to the North and South American markets.

Synthetic labeling materials are grabbing the attention of converters with their durability and versatility. WITH ITS UNIQUE shell, the nine-banded armadillo is the only mammal in the animal kingdom with armor. Made from plates of bones, its armored shell is coated with a layer of horny skin, protecting the creature from most impending harm. Even with the armored shell, this seemingly awkward animal is very versatile, able to run and even swim. Within the package-printing industry, there is a similar anomaly. Like the armadillo, synthetic labeling materials provide durability and protection for tough applications, along with added versatility. Synthetics Converters are increasingly

Package printers want ink options for less, according to the 2004 packagePRINTING Annual Ink Usage Survey. by Kate Sharon PACKAGE PRINTERS WANT one ink supplier with superior products, and plenty of options, at bargain prices, according to the 2004 packagePRINTING Annual Ink Usage Survey. That's not a novel concept, but it's one of many areas where 2004's survey results differed from last year's. Other areas where most of this year's respondents had a different point of view than last year's included the most important ink issues and capabilities, and what specialty inks they employ. With help from industry ink suppliers, packagePRINTING set out

Shrink stock continues to steal the spotlight in the world of labels. TO EFFECTIVELY MARKET a consumer product, follow these directions: apply brightly printed shrink label to a smartly-shaped container and watch it fly off the store shelf. Okay, it's not that easy and maybe shrink sleeves aren't that good. But shrink labels are growing at an astounding rate, and their brilliant, 360° graphics and ability to contour to sleek container designs appeal to consumers. Simply put, shrink labels look good and sell their products. Endless possibilities Body labels such as shrink sleeves are expected to grow at a clip of about

Thermal transfer printing is a proven, versatile printing process that continues to expand its reach. THERMAL TRANSFER PRINTING is a proven, industrial printing process that can be tailored to meet a wide range of application needs. Its tracks can be found in everything from coffee bags, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, snack foods, prepared foods, and processed meats and cheeses, says Glenn Breslauer, director of IT marketing for Bell-Mark Corp. (Pine Brook, N.J.). One of the reasons for this widespread use is its ability to print variable information. "Thermal transfer allows a package to be coded with variable information in real-time," states Breslauer. "Not only

FLEXIBLE PACKAGING CONTINUES to be an area for growth opportunities in the package printing industry, even in an economic recovery that is spotty at best. Several market drivers for this growth potential were identified in a study done in 2002 by The Freedonia Group titled, "World Converted Flexible Packaging." These drivers include: the expansion of end-use markets such as snack foods, pet and prepared foods, and pharmaceuticals; the continuing trend for conversion of rigid packaging to new flexible packaging alternatives; the need to reduce packaging costs and volume; and the increased use of stand-up pouches and liquid flexible packaging. The Flexible Packaging Association's