Consumables-Substrates - Paper

Something old, something new, something borrowed … When it comes to technology evolution, this old wedding custom has some meaning. Older technologies don’t just disappear as soon as something new shows up. Many times the old and the new coexist and complement each other for sometime. Even if and when the old guy gets put out to pasture, the new technology is usually better off because of something it “borrowed” from the wise old technology. Well, thermal printing (including direct and thermal transfer) is one of those older technology arenas that is feeling the “heat” from the new kids on the block, like inkjet

CHICAGO, Ill.—Andrews Decal Company, a converter of pressure-sensitive labels for the HBA, promotional, household, sporting, industrial and security markets, recently acquired an 11-in., eight-color Gallus EM 280 combination printing press that greatly enhances its already diverse production capabilities. The Swiss press is equipped with IST UV lamp assemblies with water chill drums at all stations that allow management of web temperature, especially when utilizing heat-sensitive substrates, such as unsupported film. The system offers precise registration and enhanced print quality for supported pressure-sensitive and other substrates as well. Company President Gary Gallas says the press’s ability to print a wider range of substrates allows the

CHARLOTTE, N.C.—SATO, a leader in the automatic identification and data collection (AIDC) industry and the barcode printing, labeling, and EPC/RFID solutions, announced the establishment of three headquarters: SATO International Asia-Pacific, SATO International Europe, and SATO International America, effective as of April 1, 2007. SATO acquired L’Etiquetage Rationnel S.A. in France in 2004, and the former METO BCS businesses from Checkpoint Systems, Inc. and Walker Datavision in New Zealand, both in 2006. Under SATO International, 17 subsidiaries do business in 22 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Oceania. Three regional headquarters have been set up. The three appointed regional heads, who are directors of

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.—Universal Laser Systems, Inc. (ULS), a global leader in the design and manufacture of CO2 lasers and computer-controlled CO2 laser engraving, cutting, and marking systems, has doubled the size of its U.S.-based headquarters by expanding into a second company-owned building located at 7845 E. Paradise Lane, Scottsdale, Ariz. The new facility houses laser system production, sales, marketing, engineering, and technical support staff, as well as warehousing and shipping operations. “With a strong demand for our OEM lasers, it was necessary to accommodate the increased production requirements and also optimize the current building’s space for future expansion of laser production,” said Yefim Sukhman, president

ROCKY HILL, N.J.—Parelec Inc. has announced the development of a breakthrough in direct-on-packaging RFID in partnership with TAGSYS, USA (Cambridge, Mass.), a global supplier of item-level RFID infrastructure. The commercially viable RFID tag system can be printed on corrugated packaging using Parelec’s Parmod VLT ink. This patented technology is comprised of metal particles in a reactive organic medium (ROM) that volatize during the heating process. Thin, narrow circuit lines are possible using efficient single-station printing. The result is a faster, lower cost process with more highly conductive circuits. Parmod technology from Parelec and the Adaptive Kernal UHF technology from TAGSYS print the RFID tag

BOUCHERVILLE, Quebec, Canada—ETI Converting Equipment announced a partnership agreement with Ahlstrom, one of the world’s leading release base paper suppliers. ETI Converting Equipment conceived a technology that enables label printers to manufacture their own self-adhesive stock. Ahlstrom and ETI have reached an agreement on global pricing for the supply of Ahlstrom release base papers to the ETI user group worldwide. This cooperation heralds a new kind of relationship between ETI Converting and its clients. ETI is not only a supplier of the in-line silicone and adhesive coating machine, but also provides solutions for the whole process of the label manufacturing and converting, including recommendations

ROCKY HILL, N.J.—Parelec Inc. has announced the development of a breakthrough in direct-on-packaging RFID in partnership with TAGSYS, USA (Cambridge, MA), the global leader in item-level RFID infrastructure. The commercially viable RFID tag system can be printed on corrugated packaging using Parelec’s Parmod VLT ink. This patented technology is comprised of metal particles in a reactive organic medium (ROM) that volatize during the heating process. Thin, narrow circuit lines are possible using efficient single station printing. The result is a faster, lower cost process with more highly conductive circuits. Parmod technology from Parelec and the Adaptive Kernal UHF technology from TAGSYS print the RFID

TAMPERE, Finland—UPM Raflatac is today celebrating the completion of a new, state-of-the-art labelstock manufacturing centre in Changshu, China, at an opening ceremony for customers. The factory serves fast-growing demand for labels to meet packaging needs in China and the Asia Pacific region by supplying paper and film label materials for standard and special applications. The Changshu facility increases UPM Raflatac’s labelstock offering locally and creates new opportunities to serve markets across Asia. “We aim to be the number one choice of label converters everywhere we operate. With our new Changshu factory we’ll be providing China our full product range and the superior quality service

BASEL, Switzerland—Label converter Etiko has installed one of the latest Mark Andy LP3000 flexo lines in its all-new production plant near Szczecin, on Poland’s northwest border with Germany. The new LP3000 was supplied by Mark Andy AG in Switzerland. It is an eight-colour 13˝ (330 mm) full UV press, and it joins three multi colour Mark Andy Scout presses installed since 2001 largely to print thermo labels for the fresh food market. In addition to its full UV curing system, the new Mark Andy is fitted with delam/relam, turner bars, motorized register control, a laminating station, an additional waste rewinder, and two screen cassettes,

GRAHAM, N.C.—The Brand Protection Alliance, LLC continues to grow as companies around the globe band together to give brand owners and converters much needed resources in the areas of brand authentication, protection and security. Jetrion, now a part of EFI, is the newest company to join this organization. “The Brand Protection Alliance is pleased to have EFI’s Jetrion on board with us. Jetrion’s unique fit in the inkjet arena is absolutely complementary to our other members’ products and represents yet another piece in our program of offering comprehensive brand protection solutions,” said BPA President Lynn Crutchfield. “We believe that Jetrion’s involvement in the BPA