certified workflows drive your potential in corrugated

a
Issue 24 • August • 2016
CERTIFIED WORKFLOWS
DRIVE YOUR POTENTIAL IN
CORRUGATED PACKAGING.
EFITM Corrugated Packaging Suite
LET US BE THE FUEL
PRINTHEADS
A close up look at inkjet
printhead technology
COVER STORY
Workflows for digital
packaging production
COLOUR
The importance of colour
and how to manage it
LABELEXPO
A preview of what will
be on show in Chicago
We’re a PERFECT FIT
Our latest product innovations are a perfect fit to help distinguish
your brand. From new thin film products for beer, wine and
spirits containers; to clear film labeling solutions for clear
packaging; to new developments for personal care, retail and
digital printing; we offer something for everyone. And with our
strong commitment to sustainability, you’ll find we’re second to
none.
Find your inspiration; we have the solution.
Stop by booth #729 during Labelexpo Americas to see how our
products are a perfect fit for the retail shelf and the world of high
fashion!
CONTENTS 3
CONTENTS
19
22
ConVerting
maChinery
16
25
CoVer story
my digital
journey
Colour
management
28
printhead
teChnology
13
Corrugated
presses
31
ConVerting
teChnology
04
neWs
34
63
In this issue, we start a new series of articles.
Entitled ‘My digital journey’, this will explore the
experience of a number of leading digital label
and packaging printers in an interview style. For
starters, you can read about how Simon Smith
moved from the banking world into labels and
turned CS Labels into a digital print powerhouse.
Here at DL&P towers, we are busy preparing
for the third ‘Digital print for brand success’
conference, which returns to London on 24
November. In the news, you can read the latest
update on how the programme is taking shape
for this not to be missed industry event.
And then of course, Labelexpo Americas is
upon us. We have included a preview of the
exhibitors on show in Chicago that is of interest
to us digital followers. Any omissions will be due
to no material being available at the time
of going to press.
Let the fun commence!
Neel Madsen, editor
www.dlpmag.com
www.dlpmag.com
Company
profile:
marsh
labels
diary
EDITOR’S PERSPECTIVE
38
Case study
47
labelexpo
ameriCas
preVieW
40
43
installation:
lotus labels
paCkaging
innoVations
preVieW
4
NEWS
Epson presses prove
popular at drupa
Innovation Days to
be held by Gallus
The first Epson SurePress L-6034VW in the UK has been sold to Superfast Labels
Epson’s SurePress L-6034VW digital label
press made its mark at drupa, said the company. Following a successful show, production
is being increased to meet high demand.
The press attracted significant attention
with many orders from around Europe. The
show press itself was sold to Print-ID in
Germany, while the first L-6034VW in the UK
will go to Superfast Labels. The SurePress
L-4033AW press also proved popular, with a
number of global sales made, including to the
Top scores for
Label Apeel
Label Apeel has achieved the
AA Award of the BRC/IoP Global
Standard for Packaging and Packaging Materials. The internationally recognised standard focuses
on ensuring that service providers
‘adopt good manufacturing practice and develop and manufacture
safe and legal packaging materials.’ It is a leading safety and
quality certification programme
used in over 123 countries.
Managing director Amy Chambers said, ‘AA is something that
very few businesses achieve, so it
shows our commitment to quality
and compliance.’
US and Dubai.
Duncan Ferguson, executive director,
professional printing and robotics, Epson
Europe, said, ‘This was Epson’s biggest ever
showcase for our most complete range of
inkjet printers for pre-press, signage, photographic, textile and label applications. The
stand was extremely busy with huge interest
from visitors from around the globe and we
are delighted with the high number of significant orders generated.’
Gallus Ferd Rüesch AG will be
holding its second Innovation
Days on 20–22 September
2016 at its headquarters in St
Gallen, in Switzerland. Here
the press manufacturer will be
unveiling its next generation
printing presses.
During a world premiere, a
pre-series model of the latest
Gallus Label Platform will
be presented to the industry
for the first time. There will
also be live demos of the
new features that have been
added to existing Gallus and
Heidelberg printing systems.
Amongst the presses on show
is the Gallus Labelfire 340
digital converting system,
which the company describes
as ‘redefining digital labels’.
The first Innovation Days
event attracted more than 700
visitors in 2014.
More digital capacity added at Windmill
& Labels first entered the digital
Windmill Tapes & Labels has
arena after acquiring Commercial
installed an HP Indigo WS6800
Label Products in 2010, and furdigital label press after signing
a deal at drupa.
The new press will
increase capacity
by 50% according
to the Stockportbased company.
The new
WS6800 will be
feeding two ABG
Digicon 2 finishing
lines and is set to
grow the company’s digital department considerably. Andrew Southern seen here at drupa with
Windmill Tapes
the new HP Indigo WS6800 press
ther added to its equipment with a
WS6600 in 2013. Today, this side
of the business accounts for 35%
of turnover.
‘The 6800 press matches
our existing 6600 machine for
speed, but has the added benefit
of an inline spectrophotometer
for easier colour matching on
press rather than in the studio,’
said director Andrew Southern.
‘The 6800 replaces our old
ws4050 and runs at twice the
speed. Our aim is to increase
run lengths and throughput in
digital as we continue to migrate
short run length work from our
flexo presses.’
www.dlpmag.com
NEWS
EFI second quarter
revenue up 21%
RotoMetrics to repeat
open house success
5
UK first
Superfast Labels
has bought an
Epson Surepress
L-6034VW
Strong sales is keeping the firm on
track to reach its $1 billion annual
revenue target, said CEO, Guy
Gecht although profits fell during
the second quarter of 2016. He
highlighted the industrial printing
and productivity software divisions
as strongly growing segments of
the business.
‘EFI delivered a solid quarter
despite the disruption caused by
global events during the last week
of the quarter,’ said Mr Gecht.
‘EFI’s market position at drupa
validated both our strategy and
product roadmap, and we’re
particularly encouraged by the
exceptional reception to our new
Nozomi platform.’
The company reported record
second quarter revenue of $246
million for the period ending 30
June 2016, however, GAAP net
income fell 32%.
following Labelexpo Americas.
Support also comes from FINAT,
the BPIF and EFIA.
The event was first established
in 2012 by Neil Lilly, who has been
with RotoMetrics for 24 years.
Held again in 2014, the two open
houses proved such a success that
Mr Lilly was approached at Labelexpo Europe 2015 and asked by an
array of suppliers and customers to
Suppliers are supporting the Future of Print
host again in 2016. Mr Lilly said,
event in September
‘I didn’t take much persuading even
though the organising of the event
Being held on 27 and 28 September, this
is immense.’
year’s open house at RotoMetrics is set to
The event this year also boasts key probe another success with registration up by
60% over previous years two months ahead fessional speakers from Coca-Cola, Iceland
Foods and Lakes Distillery, while keynote
of the event. There are 30 European and
speaker Sir Clive Woodward (OBE) will preglobal suppliers taking part in The Future
of Print event, and they will each be sharing sent on both days. There will also be a raffle
in support of the Teenage Cancer Trust.
their latest technological advancements
Kao buys Chimigraf
and Collins
Xerox brings drupa to the UK
Under two separate agreements,
Japanese chemical firm Kao has
bought two inkjet companies to
drive growth. Spanish Chimigraf
produces flexo and inkjet inks, and
employs 180 staff. Ohio-based
Collins Inkjet specialises in the
development of inkjet ink and has
a staff of 90.
The two firms will be integrated
into Kao’s specialty chemicals
division as part of a move to commercialise its water-based inkjet
technology. The company has a
nano-dispersion pigment technology, which uses functional polymers
to encapsulate nano-sized pigments
and enables a water-based ink to be
used for printing films. It has developed a printer for this application in
cooperation with Think Laboratories.
The current management of
Collins will remain in place. Collins
will continue to operate out of its
facilities in Cincinnati, Ohio, and
Berlin, Germany.
At an open day held in its
Innovation Centre in Uxbridge,
Xerox reviewed the highlights
showcased at drupa and explained
some of the company’s latest
projects, including a number of
new packaging innovations.
The 25,000 square foot ‘small
city’ that the company built at
drupa had a video camera running
from atop its stand. The ‘massive
traffic’ it recorded is ‘a reflection of
the print industry itself,’ said Kevin
O’Donnell, who is the marketing
manager, graphic communications
at Xerox Europe.
Key to this is automation and
integration. The folding and
glueing of packaging can take up
to an hour to set up; this can be
reduced to five minutes with a
semi-automatic set up. Printing
labels directly onto objects is
also a quick and efficient process.
This was showcased at drupa by
Xerox’s ‘telephone box’ machine
www.dlpmag.com
Event
Innovation Days
to held by Gallus
from 20–22
September
35%
Amount of turnover produced by
digital at Windmill
Tapes & Labels
Printed electronics label
which had six inkjet heads
firing ink at a different distance
depending on the shape of the
object, which moves up and down
between the jets. The company
showed a video of metal water
bottles being decorated and also
highlighted its application
for glass objects.
‘Smarter packaging’ utilising Printed Memory is another
application that Xerox is keen
to develop. Its printed elec-
tronic label can collect and store
information to determine if a
product is genuine and how it has
been handled during distribution.
Combining printed memory with
cryptographic security, which
adds a unique, encrypted printed
code, creates a secure anti-counterfeit method, particularly useful
for pharmaceutical packaging.
As well as talks and seminars,
the day also included access to the
demonstration centre.
RUN
top speed of 30m/min or 98 ft/min
substrate widths up to 330 mm or 13 inches
full rotary printing, variable repeat
true 1200 dpi
FDA food-safe toners
CREATE YOUR
ULTIMATE LABEL SUITE
with a Xeikon CX3
Combining speed, versatility and quality in a league of its
own - have it your way and have everything you need to
handle any type of label order and make your business run
like never before.
www.xeikon.com
direct. dedicated. digital
NEWS
7
Conference set to debate key
trends in digital print
Under the theme ‘From concept to
execution and the world of possibilities for labels and packaging’,
the outline programme for the
Digital Print for Brand Success
conference has been unveiled.
Among the speakers is Paul
Earnshaw, packaging manager at
Tesco, who will be asking, ‘Digital
innovation – why should the
customer care?’ He said, ‘Digital
printing offers huge opportunities
for both the retailers and suppliers,
but just telling the customer that
the pack has been printed digitally
or putting their name on it isn’t a
game changer.’
Experts will discuss key trends
The third Digital Print for Brand Success conference will take place at the IET London Savoy Place
MEMS printhead trials
success for KM
Konica Minolta demonstrated the
capabilities of its MEMS printheads in a first public showing
at drupa. The company intends
to build on this positive result
and develop inkjet printheads for
expanding industrial use.
Experts from Konica Minolta
revealed the company’s new printheads, which are being developed
for its MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) technologies.
MEMS form micro-sized mechanical systems on a silicon or glass
substrate, which require highly
advanced micron-scale fabrication
technologies.
The nozzles on Konica Minolta’s
www.dlpmag.com
machines are arrayed
in high density to
enable both higher
resolution printing
and printheads to
be downsized. The
company is developing the technology
for improved commercial printing and
label printing, and Yuichi Itoh, assistant manager, component
to contribute to the business division, KM inkjet business unit,
expansion of the
with samples produced at drupa
industrial inkjet
‘The reaction from visitors to these
market and the new
first trials at drupa was extremely
inkjet applications.
Katsuaki Komatsu, group execu- positive and has given us even
more confidence moving forward.’
tive, inkjet business unit, said,
capturing the digital print for packaging market. They include Lucie
Tomlin from Pearlfisher, Laura
Perryman, who is a colour and materials trend analyst, Ian Schofield
of Iceland Foods, and Matthew
Daniels, Unilever. The programme
will also explore the most recent
markets where digital print is
making inroads. This includes
corrugated packaging and folding
cartons. There will also be focus
on the benefits of inkjet printing for
packaging through a presentation
from Springfield Solutions.
Looking much further ahead will
be The Futurists Panel, which will
hear from Alvise Cavallari, who is
leading the corporate digital printing initiative at Nestlé, and Stefan
Casey from The Retail Institute.
The conference takes place on
24 November 2016 at the IET
London Savoy Place. To book
tickets, please contact
[email protected].
Sihl presents new
water-based coating
A new inkjet coating from Sihl
GmbH, optimised for waterbased inkjet printing, has been
introduced. In time for Labelexpo Americas, the company is
expanding its collection of VIP
coatings for water-based inkjet
printing with the addition of the
XM1. The new coating is characterised by its water, chemical
and abrasion resistance.
Currently the XM1 is
coated on a BOPP film, which
is optimal for self-adhesive
labels for drum labelling. The
product PICOFILM O-60 white
XM1 (grade 8000) carries the
BS5609 (section 3) standard
when printed on Primera
LX2000e, KyaroD and Epson
C-3500 label printers.
8
NEWS
Christiansen chooses digital
for pre-print liners
Part of the Thimm Group, Christiansen Print
has chosen an HP PageWide Web Press
T1100S for corrugated pre-print of digitally
printed liners. The new press will be installed
later this year at its facility in Ilsenburg, Lower
Saxony, in Germany.
The single pass inkjet press will reduce lead
times and project turnaround time by up to
20 days. At 280 cm wide, it can produce up to
30,600 sqm/hr and features HP’s Multi-lane
Print Architecture, so different jobs with different box sizes and run lengths can be printed
simultaneously.
The company will gain the ability to offer
end customers more value with ‘box of one’
applications, featuring different high quality
image content on every box and anti coun-
Expansion supported
by new appointments
DataLase, which was named Innovator
of the Year at The Stationers’ Company
Innovation Excellence Awards 2016, has
made two new appointments to support its
growth strategy across Europe, the USA
and Asia.
Following a successful two weeks
at drupa 2016, which generated a
multi-billion pound opportunity pipeline,
DataLase said it is keen to keep up the
current momentum. Andy Wragg has
become chief operating officer for Europe
and Emma Dixon has been recruited as
finance controller.
CEO Chris Wyres said, ‘Andy and
Emma join us at an exciting time and
will play a key role in helping us and our
global network of strategic partners build
on recent success and deliver our gamechanging inline digital printing solutions
to a wider customer base.’
Andy Wragg has more than 15 years’
experience in supplying advanced materials and solutions to the semiconductor,
packaging, display and photovoltaic
industries. He joins the company from
Honeywell Electronic Materials (HEM) UK.
Emma Dixon has held previous roles in
financial management, audit and business
development.
terfeit capabilities using invisible embedded
codes within the inkjet image to track and trace
the product.
‘The T1100S brings our vision for pre-print
transformation to the next level,’ said Mathias
Schliep, CEO, Thimm Group. ‘Adding the
breakthrough T1100S for digital high-volume
printing is going to provide a paradigm shift
for our business as well as a transformation
opportunity for the whole industry.’
An HP digital press will be printing pre-print liners at Christiansen Print by the
end of the year
Screen to use wearable
devices for remote service
At drupa, Screen GP unveiled
that it is in the process of
a complete revamp of its
after-sales service in an effort
to provide better customer
satisfaction. The Trust Service
Desk will be available 24/7 to
support customers directly via
telephone or network. Field
engineers and head office
product experts can share
precise Cloud-based updates
in real time, effectively providing customers with support
by the Screen GP Group’s full
worldwide service team.
The aftermarket field has
traditionally focused on provid-
ing maintenance type services.
In recent years, however, the
use of new technology to
monitor the operating status
of equipment in real time has
been attracting increasing attention. The Trust Service Desk
combines ‘Internet of Things’
(IoT) and Cloud-based technologies, enabling the
integrated management
of information, such as
the logs obtained from
equipment and service
history records of
individual customers.
As part of the
service, the company
is introducing wearable
devices for remote
diagnostics. Through
these ‘smart glasses’
press operators can
be guided remotely to
correct issues on site,
in real time, without
Carlo Sammarco, European business manager packaging
the need to call out a
solutions, demonstrates the new wearable technology
service engineer.
www.dlpmag.com
Your Complete Labeling Solution
for GHS & Short-Run Web Press Labels
Printers | Roll-to-Roll Units | Finishing Systems
Our commercial-grade printers and finishing equipment offer speed, durability,
flexibility, and global support. Contact us to learn how you can reduce your
cost-per-label and upgrade your equipment as your business grows.
HP PageWide & Global
On-Site Support
Extremely Fast Printing
up to 20 inches per
second
Pigment Ink for Greater
UV & Water Resistance
GHS and BS5609 Compliant
Labels
Print Widths of 1.5” to 8.5”on Fan-fold,
Continuous, and Die-Cut Media
Versatile | Reliable | Affordable
One-pass, full-color labels with stunning results
IntelliTrax2
AUTOMATED PRESS-SIDE COLOR
CONTROL
•
•
COLOR AS YOU
IMAGINED IT
•
•
Maximize productivity, reduce makeready and waste
Consistent color control from first sheet to last
Supports process control standards including M1, M3, G7, PSO and
FOGRA 51 and 52
Accurate spectral target values for corporate and spot colors with
PantoneLIVE connectivity
© X-Rite, Inc. 2016. All rights reserved.
www.xrite.com
NEWS
Graphtec GB launches
new digital die-cutter
Supplier of flatbed plotter/cutters, Graphtec
GB has added the i-Mark automatic digital
die-cutter to its product portfolio. Based on
the CE6000-40 plotter/cutter and i-Mark
hardware and software, the new automatic
digital die-cutter can handle sheets of material up to 350 gsm, in sizes ranging from A4
up to Super A3 (330 x 483 mm). Particularly suited to short run label printing, the
The i-Mark die-cutter suits short run
label printing
die-cutting is carried out automatically
by the machine, eliminating the need for
users to purchase expensive dies. Depending on the thickness of the material being
processed, the cutter can handle up to 120
sheets of material in a continuous cycle.
The machine allows contour-cutting of
printed sheets without operator intervention
and is equipped with an internal vacuum
compressor. The compact footprint enables
it to be mounted to a table as small as 60 x
67 cm. Perfect sheet alignment is achieved
via crop mark reading for each individual
sheet, with a camera equipped with i-Mark
technology performing the crop mark
adjustments. Software algorithms compensate for any distortion from the printing
process to enable precise cutting with
minimal bleed. Average speed is 30–40
seconds per sheet.
11
Dscoop UK and Ireland
chapter holds first event
Following the formation of a Dscoop UK and
Ireland local chapter in June, the group held its
first event on 4 July at Dorney Lake in Windsor.
This included a seminar programme during
the day, followed by a social evening at the
Windsor Races. Presentations came from HP
Indigo’s general manager, Alon Bar-Shany, retail guru, Richard Askam, HP’s PrintOS product
manager, Adam Goldthorp, branding agency
Gyro’s strategy directory, Georgia Bradley,
global Dscoop chairman, Gary Peeling, and
Alonzo Romero Lauro, Dscoop EMEA
regional director.
Along with Pureprint Group’s Aaron Archer
as chairman, the chapter is run by Andrew
Dalton from Alphagraphics, Alan Rigglesford
from Clicks, John MacDonald from DG3 and
Trevor Smith from Amberley Labels, supported
by the central Dscoop team. The group plans
to deliver localised events and initiatives to
inform, educate, encourage collaboration and
assist members in growing their businesses.
Kyocera develops tiny printhead Filler retires from Screen Europe
Screen GP
industry,’ said Mr
for barcode printers
Kyocera has developed the world’s
smallest flat-type thermal printhead for barcode printers. The new
KMS Series consumes 20% less
power and its compact structure is
40% smaller compared to conventional products.
This has been developed to
meet the demand for portable
printers for barcode shipping
labels, which has grown as warehouses and distribution centers’
volumes have increased globally. With the need for compact
sizes and a reduction in power
consumption – as most printers
in these facilities use portable
batteries – there is an increasing
demand for smaller, more energyefficient printheads for use in next
generation printers.
In previous models, the driver
IC was mounted on the ceramic
substrate in the conventional
structure. In the new design, it is
mounted on the circuit substrate.
By changing the attachment
method of the substrate and
driver IC to wire bonding, the new
product features a smaller depth of
9.9 mm, reduced from 16.3 mm in
conventional models.
Europe president
Brian Filler will
retire at the end
September after
35 years with the
company. One
of the industry’s
best-known and
most respected
suppliers, Mr
Filler will leave
Brian Filler
after 50 years
spent working in
print. He will be succeeded by
Takanori Kakita, currently chairman of Screen GP Europe.
‘I shall be sad to leave the
ENHANCE THE QUALITY, VIBRANCY
AND DURABILITY OF DIGITAL PRINTING
WITH PRINTRITE™ PRETREATMENTS
Visit www.lubrizol.com/digitalprint
Filler. ‘Over the
years I have worked
with an excellent
team and have
made a great many
friends throughout
the industry. It is a
good time to leave
when there is a real
feeling of optimism
in our industry.’
Mr Filler joined
Screen UK in 1981,
becoming managing director in
2000. He was appointed senior
vice-president of Screen Europe
in 2010 and president in 2013.
DIGITAL PRINT
12
ADVERTORIAL
IIJ: riding on the crest of
the inkjet wave
Packaging and label printers around the world are turning to
Industrial Inkjet Ltd’s hybrid inkjet/flexo solutions for a range of
variable data applications.
I
ndustrial Inkjet Ltd (IIJ) is experiencing growth around the world
as packaging and label manufacturers start to surf the inkjet wave.
The fast expanding Cambridge-based company, which manufactures highly-reliable digital print engines based on Konica Minolta
inkjet print heads, expects to double its turnover in 2016.
Visitors to Labelexpo Americas 2016 in Rosemont, Illinois, will be
able to discuss potential applications for IIJ’s technology at its booth
5801 and find out at first-hand what manufacturers across the USA,
Europe, Asia, and South Africa have been experiencing this year: that
IIJ has both colour and mono inkjet technology that can be integrated
with existing analogue presses to make high quality, variable data
packaging and labels applications commercially viable.
“A number of companies in the market have been promoting ‘Hybrid’ inkjet/flexo machines as if this is something new, but we’ve been
operating this model for years,” said John Corrall, Managing Director
and founder of IIJ. “We’ve got unparalleled experience and expertise
The MonoPrint MP500i uses the latest inkjet print heads from
Konica Minolta.
IIJ’s new high speed mono systems can print at up to 300 metres
per minute.
in this field and customers really see the benefits of working with us.”
In particular, IIJ’s high speed mono systems, which can print at up
to 300 metres per minute, are beginning to gain real traction in the
market. The IIJ MonoPrint print engine is ideal for high quality, late
stage label and packaging customisation. As with all IIJ digital modules, the MonoPrint unit can be integrated onto most flexo presses
with no more difficulty than existing analogue technology.
It is suitable for a wide range of applications, including variable
text and barcodes, low migration ink, white ink, spot varnish and
security inks (IR-readable, or UV-fluorescent). It has a low capital cost
compared to an inkjet press, and significantly lower cost of ownership
than comparable systems. This is driven by high reliability, long lasting print heads and the use of high quality inks to reduce ink usage.
Top of the range is the MonoPrint XPi, which can deliver variable
data at 300 metres per minute. IIJ says this model is making real inroads with packaging markets. A range of alternative MonoPrint, and
indeed ColourPrint, modules support this system, delivering options
for customers in terms of speed, resolution and colours. Whatever
option is chosen, these inkjet modules use the latest print heads from
Konica Minolta, and can achieve high standards of print quality,
reliability and longevity at high speed.
Among recent customer deals have been the installation of the first
five MP72XPi systems of what could total over 100 systems in a major
packaging company in Asia, a 200-metres-per-minute MonoPrint
HiQ 600 dpi label printer going into a South African label printer,
and multiple 562mm-wide machines going into a security printer in
Thailand. It is operating in a number of diverse markets – security,
packaging, labels, pharma – all of which are growing, and all of which
are embracing inkjet printing technology.
All of this follows on from IIJ’s success at drupa 2016, where it was
part of the Konica Minolta stand and picked up hundreds of good
quality opportunities, simply though discussing the use of inkjet with
visitors and providing deep technical advice.
“Inkjet is expanding rapidly into new markets and applications,”
said John Corrall, “and each of these brings its own requirements that
customers are determined to find out more about. Konica Minolta
and IIJ provide an open-minded attitude to new
projects, and a willingness to give straight
technical advice without sales pressure.”
Contact: http://www.industrialij.com
+44 (0) 1954 232 023
www.dlpmag.com
CORRUGATED
13
Boxes, boxes, boxes
Digital print technology has made significant inroads in the last couple of years into folding cartons
and flexible packaging. Now comes the turn of the vast corrugated sector, and this was one of the
biggest themes at drupa this year. By Neel Madsen.
A
s if by magic, one press manufacturer after
another announced at drupa that they had
developed new technology for digital printing
of corrugated substrates, more specifically singlepass inkjet post-print applications using water-based
inks. While there have been options for printing on
corrugated substrates on the market for quite some
time, with flatbed printers from HP Scitex, Xanté and
Inca Digital, we now see a swathe of industrial-sized
sheetfed presses entering the arena.
The demands for reduced lead times and just-intime delivery are impacting all areas of the packaging
chain. This is combined with changing consumer buying patterns and the need to respond quickly to new
trends, which means that brands are constantly looking Durst introduced the Rho 130 SPC press for corrugated printing at drupa
to gain advantage and stand out on shelf. Internet
retailing has put a different spin on the job of the corcause boards to warp.
rugated box, as has the rise in the use of shelf-ready packaging.
The press offers a productivity of up to 8100 sqm/hr and can print
At the same time, high print quality is of the essence.
on boards up to 1.8 x 3 m in size. A double-lane printing feature on the
‘The corrugated board market is one of the largest untapped opportupress increases throughput up to 9000 80 x 60 cm boards per hour.
nities available for our customers,’ said G Scott Wood, senior product
Mr Scott said, ‘At EFI, we estimate that the total addressable market for
manager, EFI Inkjet. ‘Overall corrugated packaging has a value of about
inkjet printers and ink in the corrugated board space is north of $9 billion
$130 billion. Very little of that is digitally printed today and there is a lot
per year. That makes it one of the largest market segments we reach
of room for growth, because brands will ultimately want the advantages
across the entire company. Further, it allows the traditional flexo, screen
digital brings with more affordable versioning and multi-SKU applicaand litho lam producers access to the lucrative segments of versioned,
tions and efficient, just-in-time supply chain strategies.’
personalised and just-in-time print at high volumes. In other words,
Ahead of drupa, EFI had already spoken of its intention to make its mark
in corrugated, and of the fact that this would be using a new water-based
UV ink technology, enabled in part by the recent acquisition of colourant
specialist Rialco in the UK.
Named after the Japanese bullet train, the Nozomi C18000 draws on
EFI’s single-pass inkjet imaging system from its Jetrion narrow web
presses and Cretaprint ceramic printers. It also utilises the material edge
guides (MEG) developed for the company’s VUTEk GS and HS hybrid
printer models. The MEGs hold boards in place as they run through the
press and its ‘cool’ LED curing technology eliminates heat, which can
www.dlpmag.com
what was once a 10,000-piece run of the same material could now be
five 2000 piece runs targeted at a geographic, demographic, or chain of
stores with additional margin added in for the value.’
Filling the gap
Following its launch last year of the PageWide T1100s press for preprint liner, HP had made no secret of its intention to fill the final gap in
packaging applications by introducing a press for post-print too. And
thus at drupa, the company presented another new concept employing its
PageWide technology, the C500, also a sheetfed single-pass press.
The inkjet press uses newly developed water-based HP inks and the
company’s Corrugated Grip technology, to handle a wide range of media
q
Fast bullet
14
CORRUGATED
from micro-flute to the double-wall board.
‘We are delighted to forge this cooperation with
Promising a wide colour gamut, the inks are
BHS,’ said Tsuneo Baba, president, Screen GP.
designed for printing on the non-food contact
‘By combining our digital printing technologies
surface of paperboard packaging to comply
with BHS’s equally advanced technologies we
with global food safety regulations and industry
aim to trigger major innovation in the corrugated
guidelines, including the FDA, EuPIA and
industry.’
the Swiss Ordinance, to produce food
compliant packaging.
HP is planning to start testing the HP
Bobst was one of the first to market with its Digital
PageWide C500 press at customer sites in
Press for Corrugated Board, which incorporates
2017, and it is expected to be commercially
Kodak’s Stream inkjet technology and won the
available in 2018. A strategic collaboration
2016 European Digital Press Association (EDP)
between HP and Smurfit Kappa is part of the
award in the category Best corrugated printer/
further development of the C500. In the UK,
solution in June. This has been in beta testing
Cepac, which has four sites and is part of the
for some time now and is producing live jobs
HAS Group, signed up for the press in June.
for customers of Model AG, in Switzerland, and
Durst also moved into the post-print sector
Schumacher Packaging, in Germany.
A CorrStream Series 66 press has been installed
with the introduction of the Rho 130 SPC
‘The first Bobst digital presses for corrugated
at HSG Packaging in Bradford
(Single Pass Corrugated) inkjet pressline. This
board are under testing and evaluation at selected
uses Durst Water Technology inks and can be
sites in Europe. They are already producing
configured with four to six colours to print corrugated board sizes of max customer orders with these machines. Bobst will communicate the wider
1300 x 2500 mm in up 12 mm thickness, at speeds up 120 m/min (this
availability of these presses in due time. In our view digital print for
is equivalent to 9350 sqm/hr). It uses drop on demand printhead technol- corrugated will not replace analogue printing, it will be complementary
ogy producing a resolution of up to 800 dpi.
both in the near future and also further down the line,’ commented Paul
The company said that the press offers the industrial productivity level
Stoudmann, group business development at Bobst.
required to transform this industry. It allows shelving and sales packaging in small and medium-sized job runs to be produced economically,
and also makes it possible to create samples, customisation and version- Baltimore-based Sun Automation first introduced its CorrStream range of
ing on demand.
single pass, water-based presses for corrugated post-print two years ago.
The company has just announced that HSG Packaging, in the
UK, has successfully completed beta testing of a CorrStream
Series 66 press at its facility in Bradford.
‘Everyone knew digital was coming to our industry and we
G Scott Wood, EFI Inkjet
were ready to invest in tomorrow’s technology today,’ said Ben
Ginesi, HSG’s managing director. ‘We’ve always been motivated to do
things differently and to try change the status quo. After meeting with Sun
Screen came to drupa to announce its cooperation with German BHS
and learning more about their technology and market expertise, we felt
Corrugated, the world’s leading manufacturer of corrugators with a 50%
confident their new digital offerings would allow us to offer customers
share of the global market and a turnover of €€373 million in 2015. The
entirely new print services.’
two companies have worked together to develop a full roll to sheet proHSG entered beta testing in its production environment in January
duction line for box plants by combining Screen’s inkjet technology with
this year. Sun Automation worked closely with the printing company to
BHS’ expertise in this particular market. This can also be retrofitted as an
resolve any machine kinks and get the printer running real-world
upgrade to existing BHS corrugating lines.
applications. By March, HSG was running special corrugated
The development of the print engine technology will be done by Screen orders successfully.
GP IJC Ltd, a new company set up to include Screen subsidiary Inca
Mr Ginesi added, ‘This technology allows you to put the power of
Digital and take advantage of its competency in inkjet technology. Printchoice back into the customers’ hands. The possibilities are endless and
ing at widths up to 2.8 m with water-based inks, the 300 m/min inline
we are very pleased with where the CorrStream is today and the potential
inkjet printing system is likely to take three years to come to market.
it has in the near future.’ •
Award winner
Sun in Bradford
‘
’
The corrugated board market is one of the
largest untapped opportunities available.
Rethinking the box plant
www.dlpmag.com
The world’s fastest
semi-rotary die
cutting system
Off the grid at Dscoop Israel & USA…
Showcased at Drupa…
Next pitstop Label Expo USA…
For more details email: [email protected]
www.abgint.com
ABG FastTrack Advert USA Labelexpo 2016a.indd 1
See it on
Booth
International Patent Application PCT/GB2016/000102
3223
07/06/2016 10:57
16
COLOUR MANAGEMENT
All about the colour
Printers invariably use quality as a key competitive factor, with accurate reproduction of brand
colours the most important aspect. With the latest colour management solutions, spot colours are
spectrally defined and controlled – guaranteeing customer satisfaction. By Sean Smyth.
B
rands know the appearance of their products is important. They
spend a lot of money on the design and the brand colour is key, to
the extent of Heinz trademarking their turquoise colour. Unsurprisingly they spend a lot of time, effort and money in ensuring brand
consistency on labels, cartons, flexibles, cans and corrugated, printed
across the world on many substrates using all processes.
It is strange to see totally wrong colours on a pack; customers take a
rather dim view, hence the growing interest and use of colour management, which may involve several functions.
In process colour printing any press can print a range of colours,
from 0 to 100% of cyan, magenta, yellow and black, or an extended
colour set. Printing a suitable calibration test that has the full range of
pure and overprinting colour patches, under normal press conditions on
standard substrates, will characterise the achievable colours. Measuring
patches with a spectrophotometer and processing the result provides a
profile, defining the colour profile of the print engine. This device profile
mathematically defines the colour that will result from any combination of
colour values in a file.
Colour management systems use the data to optimise the quality
of an image by adjusting it to maximise the colour range that can be
reproduced. This approach adjusts picture images, and it defines colour
values. When a measured brand spot colour is defined, the profile can
provide the closest mix of colour values to reproduce the desired result.
Colour systems
There are many solutions available; the drupa catalogue listed 42
providers with some press suppliers in the mix as well. These take
measurements, create profiles and manage colours as part of the workflow, automatically optimising colour quality. Service providers supply
complete systems and the necessary training, including independent
certification of the colour quality system. Suppliers are able to prove they
can match internationally agreed colour standards providing reassurance
for print buyers.
Systems include colour measuring instruments, such as integrated
on-press closed loop colour quality equipment, software and
communication tools. Esko’s Color Engine is designed to enable colour
management across the packaging and print supply chain. There are
tools that will allow digital press users to match the colour and
appearance of flexo. Changing a job to a digital press can provide
accurate colour matching as long as the spot colour falls within the
gamut of the digital device, but a screened result may not guarantee the
same appearance as that of a solid. Converters will experiment to generate the flattest results from tints. The Color Engine is a central colour
database that maintains the specifications, connected directly with the
PantoneLive! system (Esko and Pantone are both owned by Danaher),
allowing easy colour communication.
Mellow Colour provides a range of colour standardisation tools and
support for implementing controlled
colour, while MyPressExpert sells and
supports ColorLogic GmbH’s products.
These include high-quality monitor
calibration, profiling and DeviceLink tools
up to an automated colour server, the
ZePrA. It can be integrated into existing
workflows to handle colour space conversion and spot colour transforms on the fly.
A properly configured colour server
handles the colour transforms off line,
feeding proofing and digital press with
optimised images that minimise the
RIPing time on a digital press while
Packaging colours are key metrics for customers to identify and select a product; it can be disconcerting
seeing wrong ones (source SSS – apologies to the brand police!)
boosting quality.
www.dlpmag.com
COLOUR MANAGEMENT
Closed loop control
17
In the US, CGS, operating its Oris brand, has been pushing CxF for
years. One successful user is Diageo, which characterised several limited
Colour measuring tools have improved and come down in price, while
edition premium bourbon labels that were digitally printed onto a range of
training has made implementation relatively straightforward. Many of the
natural wood finish substrates. Kevin Chop, principal packaging graphics
new digital presses contain integrated colour measurement, with closed
director of Diageo Innovation R&D in the USA, said, ‘Using CxF greatly
loop feedback to guarantee consistency throughout a run, and between
simplified the approval cycle and gave us confidence that the demanding
reprints. Using such systems allow converters to improve customer satislight pastel shades would be faithfully reproduced to the satisfaction of
faction through reassurance, removing subjectivity using spectrophotoour design team, which was indeed the
meters, which means there is no dependence
case.’ CxF data can be included at the
on individuals as quality arbiters.
creation stage and exported to PDF 2.0
One successful user is Berkshire Labels,
files that can be distributed across the
which is using GMG’s ColorServer to genersupply chain, ensuring the exact brand
ate certified Fogra contract proofs, with all
Paul Roscoe, Berkshire Labels
colour is used, not a guide.
presses and substrates profiled to Fogra 39L
for coated stocks or 47L for uncoated. Jobs
are scanned into X-Rite IQC software to ensure the process colour set
Colour communication is a critical part of labels and packaging, and with
hits ISO density and colour readings. Spot colours are matched to
the rise in digital there are many factors that must be implemented. This
Digital Pantone to a maximum Delta E of 2.0 utilising X-Rite eXact
involves making sure colours match between different processes, as well
spectrophotometers.
as different jobs. Digital presses mostly use process colours and this can
The company has made significant investment in colour systems,
crucial as it works towards achieving ISO 12647-6 standard for flexo and be problematic when the job is to match an existing flexo or litho print
job that includes spot colours.
12647-7 for digital. Managing director Paul Roscoe reports success,
There are several approaches to transforming files to optimise colour.
commenting, ‘Retail customers want to know we are hitting the corWhichever is chosen for a digital press must be good at converting spot
rect criteria, which is uploaded to them as soon as the job is passed to
colours into digital process sets.
run. Having a closed loop colour management system means all of our
HP Indigo presses can print spot colours, with special mixes available,
customers can get on with their own jobs, safe in the knowledge that we
but other technology has to make spot colours from the process set used.
are meeting all of their required criteria with consistent repeatability. The
The achievable colour quality is a great strength of HP presses and the
number customers attending press passes has greatly reduced, as they
all receive certified contract proofs and we have demonstrated that all our company has developed the functionality to include three-colour capability in the enhanced productivity mode that uses colour management
knowledge in colour management and profiling will ensure the delivered
techniques that were boosted in the latest releases.
labels are an exact match. We see a Pantone book as a thing of the past!’
It is not just the equipment that is needed to implement a colour management strategy. All parts of the company must buy in to a systematic,
consistent approach of measurement and calibration. The colour system
While most companies still rely on physical colour standards, Pantone
providers will support companies to develop their systems, showing how
has developed a virtual cloud-based system, PantoneLive!, aimed at
to profile presses and set up proofing, and they can introduce independachieving the correct colour across various substrates and print proent third-party certification organisations.
cesses. It stores colour assets in the Cloud, allowing access across the
Independent bodies push alternative standards that define printing
supply chain to the data. Spot colour inks are measured at a range of film
conditions, including Gracol/SWOP in North America, 3DAP in Australia,
weights on a several substrates including black to determine transparFogra and the ISO with its 12647 series is gaining ground in Europe. ISO
ency to provide full spectral characterisation, rather than a single
12647 specifies the technical properties of half-tone printing covering
L*a*b* measurement.
screening method, dot gain, the colours of solids, overprints
While the L*a*b* colour model provides a colour definition, there
and substrate.
are limitations, particularly under different viewing conditions and for
Conforming to the specified values for proof and on press result in a
tints of the solid. The CxF standard delivers appearance and metameric
guarantees. ISO 17972-4 defines a subset of CxF for spot colours that in- good visual match; measuring and recording proves consistency through
volves a full spectral characterisation by measuring 11 tint patches on the a run. Pass sheets will be measured against a ‘traffic light’ system to the
substrate and over black. Spectral data provides metamerism information, standard. Printing consistently to recognised standards is a growing
trend and a good way for companies to keep ahead of the pack and offer
important as retailers use a range of light sources that do not conform
more to their customers. It also helps boost productivity. •
with graphic standards.
‘
We see a Pantone book as
a thing of the past.
’
Strategy
Getting the measure
www.dlpmag.com
FINISHING
19
To convert or not to convert
In digital, the real difference to quality is created before a job goes on press in the repro department,
while the added value comes during the finishing process. Neel Madsen looks at some of the many
converting machinery options available.
T
here is a plethora of converting machinery on the market that
will add foiling effect, varnish and laminate the print, and cut the
substrate into the shape needed, to name but a few of the processes
on offer. Machine formats are changing and there are many new options
for both narrow and wider web digital printing.
Labelexpo Americas is adding a new Digital Finishing Experience feature to the show. This will see Delta ModTech demonstrate its Spectrum
converting systems, while Xeikon will be giving its FDU Flatbed Die-cut
unit for folding cartons its US debut.
Based on its modular technology, hence the name ModTech, and designed to precise specifications, Delta ModTech systems provide flexible
platforms for web converting, packaging, finishing and coating. ‘The
difference with Delta ModTech is in the level of automation and the speed
and reliability of the machines,’ said a producer of medical and cosmetic
products. ‘Although the machines are customised, we can still add capability or change part of a process. Their engineers understand our needs
and developing a new process with them is very interactive.’
The advantages in productivity and flexibility have meant growth
for many customers. ‘Delta ModTech lets us offer things we’ve never
been able to offer before,’ said one label customer, whose business has
increased three-fold over five years.
The high speed Spectrum finishing system, which will be in focus
in the new feature area at Labelexpo, offers tight tolerance semi-rotary
die-cutting, high speed output and fast changeovers. This customised
finishing machine has been optimised to do automatic changeover on
a continuous printed web through the use of the Intelli-Mod control
system, multiple semi-rotary die-cutting stations and auto-adjusting
slitting knifes.
Power of partnerships
Meanwhile back in June at drupa, AB Graphic and Edale put focus on
long term partnerships, and how they are delivering the solutions for the
digital market, by demonstrating the Digicon 3000 finishing line. This
was on show in the HP hall in two configurations, inline and offline,
alongside the HP Indigo 20000 digital press.
Co-developed by ABG with Edale, the Digicon 3000 first made its
www.dlpmag.com
The Digicon 3000 was the result of a partnership between AB Graphic
and Edale
debut two years ago when the HP Indigo 20000 was also launched. Key
to the unit’s appeal is its modular concept, which gives flexibility for a
variety of substrates and mid web finishing applications. Configuration for flexible packaging include water- and solvent-based dry bond
lamination, thermal lamination, electron beam coating and lamination,
registered flexo and gravure, cold seal and slitting amongst others. For
pressure-sensitive labels, options include semi-rotary flexo, semi-rotary
die-cutting, foiling, slitting and dual rewind. The variety of applications possible means that no two units in the field are identical, said the
company, and pointed to the rapid format change, which is facilitated
by automating processes wherever possible. These include pre-register
print, pre-register die-cut, auto die load, and auto set slitting systems.
The combination of ABG’s fully modular digital converting, inspection
rewinding and turret rewinding equipment and Edale’s expertise in narrow
to mid web flexo and digital printing presses, and converting equipment,
has made this machine a success.
‘The HP Indigo 20000 Digital Press and the Digicon 3000 epitomise
the fast changing pace of the digital market,’ said Tony Bell, sales director
for AB Graphic. ‘We originally anticipated a high level of interest from
the flexible packaging market, but have been pleasantly surprised at the
uptake for label applications.’
Varnish ahead
Steinemann Technology AG of St Gallen, in Switzerland, announced its
new dmax range of digital varnishing machines ahead of drupa. It showed
the first edition of the offline varnishing machines on stand. The dmax
q
The full spectrum
20
FINISHING
76c entry level model for sheet sizes up to 76 x 76 cm has a capacity of
up to 6000 sheets/hr, but the company offers an upgrade that will take
this to 10,000 sheets/hr as demands increase.
All dmax systems will be available with high-speed cameras, permitting sheet detection without special print marks and electronic register
correction. The bigger dmax models, still under development, can be
equipped with a variety of options, also available by retrofitting. These include a roller-type unit for full-flood varnishing with standard varnishes,
offering customers the possibility of flexibly choosing between digital
spot varnishing and full-flood varnish application. For packaging printing, there are modules with bar code printers and camera systems, as
well as additional varnishing heads for the application of Braille lettering.
Another upgrade allows printing of variable data at high speeds.
‘Our developers and design engineers are currently working flat out on
integrating our new dfoil technology into the big dmax systems. In future,
this option will allow the application of foils and simultaneous spot
varnishing in a single pass. The first system with dfoil technology will be
installed at a customer’s premises in mid 2017,’ announced CEO Christof
Stürm in June.
Vivid Laminating Technologies’ stand at drupa
For effect
Vivid Laminating Technologies, which is based in Leicester in the UK, offers the Matrix multifunctional system, which has been further developed
to create foil print effects, holograms and spot UV-style finishes. It is
a cost-effective way of adding extra sparkle to packaging applications.
Richard Marlow, sales director, said, ‘The Matrix can achieve these effects
due to the adjustable pressure from the pneumatic rollers. It’s a really
quick and easy set up without the need for expensive blocks or dies.’
The company reported a record number of sales, new distribution
partnerships and ‘incredible reactions’ to its new products introduced at
drupa. ‘We took a huge number of orders for both the award-winning Matrix and Easymount Laminating Systems,’ said Mr Marlow. ‘Since the last
drupa, the Matrix in particular has evolved into a multifunctional system
and sales far exceeded our expectations.’
Lewis Evans, product manager, added, ‘Demonstrations of the foiling
and spot UV-style effects on our Matrix Systems were high in demand.
Explaining the process to achieve these finishes was straight-forward and
visitors were amazed at how quickly and cost-effectively they can
be created.’
The show also saw Vivid launch its new Boss Premium Foil range,
which adds metallised effects to prints. The foiling and over-printable
coloured foils work by combining the Matrix and a digital printer.
Solutions for short runs
Kama reported a successful launch of its folder-gluer for short run folding
cartons at drupa. The Dresden-based machine manufacturer closed 10
deals totalling €3.5 million.
‘Our concept, to be one of the first manufacturers to present solutions
for short runs, which is a mega trend in the industry, has been highly
successful,’ said CEO Marcus Tralau. ‘Our innovations, which bring
greater efficiency to the finishing of small and mid-sized runs, including
small runs for digital packaging printing, have been very successful in
the market. The three-year development phase for the FF 52i is
now paying off.’
He continued, ‘Together with the die-cutting and stamping
machine DC 76 ASB, which thanks to its AutoRegister is able
to finish digitally printed sheets with tenth of a millimetre precision, we cover the entire post-printing folding carton production
workflow. Fast changeover is the key to profitable short runs.
Folding cartons, individualised and with various designs, will
soon be setting new accents in the packaging market.’
The complete inline workflow for folding carton production
was shown with printing carried out on an HP Indigo 30000
with Tresu’s varnishing module iCoat 30000, the die-cutting,
creasing, stripping and blanking done on the Kama DC 76 ASB,
and folding and gluing on the Kama FF 52i.
To finish
DPR Srl joined Advanced Digital Research (ADR) at drupa this year to
show a new digital finishing system in the Scorpio range. The SCR35PL
is a roll to roll system that provides digital cutting, lamination, matrix
removal and slitting. The cutter management tool works with a camera to
form an integrated optical registration system, making it possible to cut
any label shape on the fly without dies. Cutter files can be created
in Adobe Illustrator or Corel Draw, and cutting speeds go up to
600 mm/sec.
Fitting a maximum web width of up to 355 mm, the Scorpio SCR35PL
is an offline finishing system for roll to roll inkjet and digital printers.
The web width and ease of use of this finisher makes it possible for
users to raise their level of output by finishing pre-printed rolls with
multi-up graphics. •
www.dlpmag.com
Dear Printer,
I can offer you higher yields
and increased revenue.
Sincerely,
TM
The Leader in LED Curing
Proven Reliability
Superior Performance
Innovative Technology
Visit us at Labelexpo Americas Booth #3712
22
ADVERTORIAL - COVER STORY
Integrated Workflows for
the Future of Digital
Packaging Production
Just about every other kind of print, packaging and label converting are
facing growing demand for shorter runs, faster turnaround and more
flexible production options as their marketing potential is increasingly
exploited.
S
horter runs mean that relatively
there is more non-production
overhead per job. This overhead
covers the processes that have to occur
whether the run is one hundred units or
one million: estimating, booking in, receiving and checking artwork, scheduling production and checking inventory,
packing, shipping, collating the costs,
issuing and chasing invoices.
Running more short-run jobs therefore only multiplies this problem. The
more that end-to-end job management
process can be integrated with pre-press
and production and all of it automated,
the more the overhead costs – and the
potential for error – of all those manual
processes can be minimised.
Doing this requires more than just
implementing an MIS (management
information system) or ERP (enterprise
resource planning) solution. It calls for
tight integration right across the print
sale and delivery process, from estimat- Corrugated board packaging produced on the EFI Nozomi C18000 LED inkjet press
ing and job acquisition or creation via
web-to-print portals, through pre-press
This approach is now being developed further in partnership with
and print production, with job tracking via shop floor data collection
Esko. As announced at drupa, the two companies have signed a letter
and machine interfaces, to shipping and transport, with live status
of intent to develop and bring to market a combined workflow solureporting within the print service provider (and possibly to its
tion that will enable companies to produce packaging with a single
customers), to automatic cost allocation and invoicing, monitoring
seamless and integrated workflow that will support digitally printed
and analysis.
packaging as well as conventional analogue print.
Getting all of those things to work together seamlessly is no small
Corrugated board production represents another great opportunity
achievement. Today, label and packaging producers with hybrid anain the analogue to digital transformation in print, with several major
logue and digital production environments are tackling this challenge
vendors, including EFI, introducing new corrugated inkjet producby using the EFI Packaging Suite of certified end-to-end workflows.
tion technologies at drupa. To specifically meet corrugated producThe recently announced version 4 of the EFI Packaging Suite
tion workflow needs, EFI also launched a new Corrugated Packaging
includes 20 certified workflows designed to bring previously unaSuite – the first end-to-end digital corrugated software offering in the
vailable levels of business and production automation to label and
market covering full business and production workflow needs in the
packaging converters. The certified workflows are based around
corrugated space. The Suite provides a scalable functional platform
the EFI Radius ERP software, integrated with a variety of modular
with integrated dashboards to provide real time status on all areas of
components from EFI and from third parties, such as Esko’s Automathe corrugated packaging business. It also has proven Manufacturtion Engine, enabling converters to configure their Packaging Suite
ing Execution System (MES) technologies at its core, leveraging the
workflows to meet their specific needs.
software and components from CTI, the corrugated MES software
www.dlpmag.com
COVER STORY - ADVERTORIAL
developer EFI acquired
in 2015.
The digital difference
23
used to automatically create a job workflow
when a customer order arrives. This may
involve pricing and producing a combination of different items in the most
cost-efficient manner, taking into account
not only prepress and print production
capacity constraints but stock availability and operator resources in finishing,
dispatch and shipping.
EFI’s Suite approach equally supports both analogue and digitally printed labels and packaging.
What’s different about the digital
packaging production model isn’t
just the obvious production attributes of a digital press in terms
Demanding times for DFEs
of needing no plates to be made or
The DFE is therefore a critical link in this
processed, producing no waste on
production chain, and the new generastart-up, and offering support for
tion of ultra-high speed inkjet presses
very short runs and personalised
being introduced for packaging and other
work; the fact that it’s a digital press
high volume applications puts considermeans that it’s driven by a digital
able additional demands on it. The EFI
front end (DFE). This means that
Fiery XB DFE platform was launched at
two-way communication with the
drupa particularly to address these types
rest of the production and manageof tasks, driving digital presses at engine
ment system can be continued right
speeds of up to 100 metres per minute of
through print production, continu1.8 metre-wide corrugated boards or more
ously capturing machine status and
than 13,000
data on job progress and use of conB1 sheets per hour.
sumables. This increases the degree of
Built on blade-based hardware, the Fiery
automation possible in both production
XB platform is highly scalable to address eveand monitoring compared to the manual The new EFI Fiery XB DFE platform addresses
rything from conventional ‘RIP-once, print
processes involved in plate imaging and processing demands of the new generation of ultra- many’ book production to versioned B1
mounting on press and the potential
packaging output, through the use of prohigh-speed inkjet production presses, including
lack of data capture from the press itself new packaging presses from Landa and EFI
prietary caching and variable data managein analogue converting facilities.
ment techniques. Particularly pertinent to
The extended EFI/Esko collaborapackaging, where matching brand colours
tion will connect EFI Fiery digital front ends (DFEs), Esko pre-press
is a common imperative, the Fiery XB platform supports requirements
workflows and EFI MIS/ERP platforms to create a unified production
beyond standard CMYK with a scalable extended colour gamut and
ecosystem. The combined offering will also be integrated with EFI’s
the ability to support up to seven primary ink colours, plus specials
web-to-print solutions with the aim of offering a seamless workflow
and applications such as white inks.
from design to delivery.
Planned for release at the end of 2016, the integration between
Esko workflow users will be able to prepare jobs once for output
Esko Automation Engine, EFI Packaging Productivity Suite and Fiery
and use EFI’s optimisation tools to gang and route them to Fiery-drivwill be followed in 2017 by the combination of the Fiery DFE with
en production devices, such as the EFI Nozomi press for corrugated
the Esko automation platform and additional integration into EFI’s
board or the forthcoming Landa folding carton press, both of which
Productivity Suite.
will be driven by Fiery DFEs. The combined workflow allows production ‘items’ to be defined once, in terms of both the necessary file
For more information about automated, integrated
preparation and pre-press operations and the metadata for production
digital packaging workflows, visit www.efi.com.
management and pricing purposes. These pre-defined items are then
EFI’s Corrugated Packaging Suite is the first end-to-end digital corrugated software offering in the market covering full business
and production workflow needs of sheet feeders, sheet plants and full converting box plants.
www.dlpmag.com
See
us at
final UV curing
(drying)
printing width
up to 330 mm
modularity
unique inline
UV-inkjet primer
production speed
up to 35 m/min
1 mio m2 per year
(in one shift)
> 90% colour
gamut
in-house
produced inks
Booth 6445
UV LED
pinning
CMYK, Orange
& Violet
maximum range
of substrates
highest optical
density digital white
DSI modular UV-inkjet printer
for labels and packaging.
®
As inventor of rotary screen printing and driving force behind industrial inkjet printing, we have unparalleled application know-how in both
the graphics and textile printing industries. That’s why, together with printers and manufacturers worldwide, we enable the highest-quality
solutions for labels and packaging, home deco and fashion. For more information please visit www.spgprints.com
| Production speed up to 35 m/min
| Printing width up to 330 mm
| Highest optical density digital white
| Final UV curing (drying)
| 90% colour gamut
| In-house produced inks
| Remote monitoring
| Unique inline UV-inkjet primer
| Low maintenance costs
www.spgprints.com
2 DSI-lijntjes LabelExpo ad 2016 A4.indd 1
20-07-16 12:38
INTERVIEW
25
BANKING ON A BETTER BUSINESS
Interview with managing director of CS Labels,
Simon Smith.
M
ost printers will face the future with greater confidence sure in the knowledge of enjoying the backing of their bank manager. But CS Labels’ managing
director, Simon Smith, must surely be unique in actually
having been one – a job he quit at the turn of the century to
rescue a struggling family-owned screen printing business
in the Black Country, which he subsequently converted into
the UK’s largest manufacturer of digitally printed labels. It
is a remarkable achievement by any standard, let alone by
someone who has only been a printer for the past 16 years.
Des King charts Simon Smith’s digital journey.
When and why did you extend into digital print?
We bought our first digital press (a Xeikon 330) in 2007.
When I came into the business in 2000 our biggest earner
was screen - printing cartoon character transfers onto Wellington boots – a revenue stream that eventually migrated
to China, reducing our turnover by over one-third. Although
we were also knocking out one or two colour flexo jobs for
a very locally-sited customer base, we decided to focus on
meeting the emerging demand for short run work rather than
competing on a commoditised volume/price basis. Digital
was still relatively new and whilst it wasn’t perfect, it gave us
an invaluable point of difference.
What were the main challenges you had to
address?
No sooner had we installed our first Xeikon press than the
customer who’d been the most instrumental in encourag-
www.dlpmag.com
example, by hosting Xeikon Café events.
And what have been the main gains?
Being a Xeikon centre of excellence means that a lot of people are drawn to us by word of mouth; the reputation and
profile we have in the business is enormous. In 2000, turnover was below £1 million. It’s now in excess of £4 million,
almost exclusively earned via our five Xeikon presses. We’re
consistently growing the business by 15 to 20% per annum. Indeed, our problem is not so much about generating
business as how to accommodate it within our existing set
up. Post-Brexit there’s likely to be some challenges ahead,
but our balance sheet is relatively strong – we have good
liquidity, we’ve got good margin. We’re probably re-investing
around £500,000 into the business each year. We’ll typically trade in a press after five or six years rather than run
it into the ground over a longer period, simply because the
technology is moving on so quickly. In the meantime, we’d
expect to achieve full ROI within three years of installation.
How has customer awareness of digital developed
over the years?
Brand owners are becoming much more commercially
aware of what the opportunities are that digital presents to
them, but there’s still a huge learning curve for everyone
to go through to understand that there are limitations with
digital technology in terms of quality. Historically, a lot of
customers will take a flexo label and say I want to produce
that in digital; invariably they end up by being disappointed
because of the colour gamut and various issues like that.
Likewise, they’re beginning to understand that it’s not just a
q
When Simon Smith first joined CS Labels, the company was
screen-printing Wellies
ing us to adopt digital rethought its marketing strategy and
moved its business away. The timing couldn’t have been
much worse; in fact, in its first week the press ran just one
job. However, that accelerated our realisation that we had
to go out and sell its capabilities in a different way; clearly
something we’ve achieved, as we bought the next press just
11 months later and haven’t looked back since.
One of the big criticisms that I had of this industry in those
early days was that nobody talked to one another. We had
no contact with any other flexo printer, so I basically had
to rely on suppliers to teach me how to run a print shop. In
contrast, when digital came along no one knew what they
were doing, so there was no alternative other than to share
knowledge and experience. That’s something we still do, for
INTERVIEW
matter of ‘is digital going to be cheaper than flexo?’; it could
be but often it’s more expensive.
And how has digital helped you and them to
develop your businesses?
How we go about selling digital is by finding out what the
customer is trying to do with the product and what they’re
hoping to achieve with their brand development. We’re not
selling on price; we’re selling digital on the basis of where
you’ll see is the type of people coming into the industry will
be very different than they were previously. The digital
operators will be young people in their early twenties who
are more proficient on an iPad than with nuts and bolts.
This is an industry that’s shifting from engineering to marketing in its focus. What digital has to beware of is selling to
the lowest common denominator as flexo has – it shouldn’t
be frightened of making a profit. Whilst that will inevitably
happen for certain types of work, it’s something that we’ve
studiously avoided and will continue to do so.
How do you see the future for digital
print for packaging?
Innovative peel & reveal label with metallic for Northern Monk beer
and how it can take the product forward. We’ve developed
along with the technology, we understand how to utilise it
and we are prepared to push at the boundaries and be innovative. Better to be the best than the cheapest. That’s the
way in which we differentiate ourselves as a company. For
example, the way in which we’re extending the potential of
the peel & reveal labelling format, and the lead we’ve taken
in refreshing the stand up pouch through the addition of
customised digitally printed messaging on pack.
We’ve not even scratched the surface of what we can do
with the technology – but to get the full advantage from it
there has to be a realisation amongst brands that they might
have to spend a little bit more money on their labels.
Looking back is there anything you wish you’d
done differently?
Far from being risk averse, what the training at the bank has
given me is to understand and analyse it to turn it around
and make sure it works for me. That’s how I’ve been able to
grow the business without taking unacceptable commercial
risk. But that said, I’d perhaps have been a bit more cavalier and invested in digital technology more quickly.
What advice would you give to anyone adopting
digital now?
Come into it with an open mind. Look at it in a different way.
I don’t wish to be critical of people within the industry but to
be honest there’s too many printers – certainly, not enough
with the right sort of commercial experience. The other thing
As a Xeikon house we don’t want to be going
to our customers with a muddled message,
namely ‘we can offer you inkjet’, ‘we can offer
you dry toner’, etc. However, although we
bought that Xeikon CX3 at drupa, we looked
very, very closely at buying an inkjet press, and
I can see us investing in that technology in the
future. I think it has developed enormously. It’s
a simpler process and the quality has improved immeasurably.
Screen has been very aggressive in the UK
in terms of its pricing with the Truepress Jet
L350UV running at 50 m/min in CMYK mode
with a white on, and as a result has certainly
managed to gain a foothold in the home inkjet
market. The quality two or three years ago
was nowhere near as good as the Xeikon –
now it’s close enough so that most people couldn’t tell the
difference. Whereas you were looking at a price for inks at
around €130 per kilo two or three years ago, it is now about
half that. If you’re selling into sections of the market that
are more price sensitive, I think that inkjet is now more than
commercially acceptable.
My takeaway from this drupa is that I now see digital
as being industrialised. For many companies, it has now
reached a point in its development at which they are ready
to make an investment on a very significant scale. Whilst I
might be pondering about the purchase of my next press,
some of these companies are ready to install 20 of them.
And that’s the way digital will go – industrialised by scaling
it up. •
‘
‘
26
We’ve not even scratched
the surface of what we can
do with the technology.
www.dlpmag.com
Take a closer look
d-Flex...
Digital Inkjet System
D I G I TA L
I N K J E T
S Y S T E M
> Integrated converting solution
> Print & supply on demand
> Reduced waste & single pass
> High end print driver software & RIP
> Variable information printing
> Four colours & White option
> No click charges
> Only pay for ink you actually use
> Ink available from variety of sources
> Synthetic & paper substrates (coated)
> Combined digital & flexo printing
> Re-register option for pre-printed webs
> Stand alone flexo printing, converting
& coating press
Focus Label Machinery Ltd: Kendryl Park • Chapel Lane • Bingham Nottingham • NG13 8GF • England • Telephone: +44 (0) 1949 836223 • Fax: +44 (0) 1949 836542
E-mail: [email protected] • Web: www.focuslabel.com
Live from 01.09.2016
28
INKJET
Printhead technology
explained by the expert
Inkjet label and packaging presses contain expensive printheads, maybe hundreds in big presses.
Heads are critical components, making long life and consistent performance vital. The variety of
mechanisms and suppliers means competition to push the sector forward. By Sean Smyth.
Array of Fujifilm Dimatix Samba inkjet heads in Heidelberg’s Primefire 106 carton press
T
here are two categories of inkjet printhead. Continuous means ink
is always passing through the nozzle, it breaks into drops with a
mechanism to separate non-printing drops, leaving others to build
up the image. The alternative is drop on demand (DOD) that generates a
printing drop as needed, using either a piezo or thermal actuator. There
are benefits and drawbacks to each type and equipment designers select
heads they believe will provide the right mix of performance, quality
and cost.
All heads comprise nozzles, ink delivery, temperature control and
electrical connectors to the driver. Head performance is determined by the
ink and the front end, the head has to ensure every signal to print results
in an identical drop of ink being ejected. Slight variations in the dimensions of ink channel or nozzle may lead to changes in drop formation, or
give rise to satellites. Some of these effects can be compensated for with
a waveform specific to the individual head that can adjust the voltage to
each nozzle, while calibrations on different substrates are required.
The ideal head performs consistently over many years, in production
environments where machines may be operated intermittently, on shifts
printing onto many substrates. In fixed-head configurations some nozzles
may not be required on some small format jobs. Heads tend to run into
problems when nozzles are not regularly used. Water and solvent inks
may dry in the head, blocking nozzles, which can result in noticeable
lines in the print, but suppliers use several strategies to overcome
such artefacts.
Nozzles and drops
HP designs multiple rows of nozzles and incorporates redundancy into its
heads. If one nozzle is blocked, the head uses another to deliver the drop.
Other suppliers will increase the size of dots adjacent to the blockage.
When there is a stop the head can be cleaned, unblocking the clogged
nozzle. There has to be a detection system for lines and missing nozzles,
and many presses use cameras to detect defects and rectify them.
In 2015 HP announced the launch of its HDNA (high definition nozzle
architecture) heads, offering a native 2400 dpi resolution with dual-size
www.dlpmag.com
INKJET
Heads on the market
The table lists the currently available and announced heads. Most models
are a family of products, tuned with different drop sizes and suitability
for various ink types. Over time the head makers improve the design and
manufacturing methods of their products and introduce new models.
Figure 1 Available printheads
Printhead design balances image quality with speed and cost. In packaging there may be conflicting requirements. Text must be clear and sharp,
barcodes must be legible, image smoothness and detail is important,
www.dlpmag.com
while tints and solid areas must be smooth. White should be smooth with
maximum opacity, process sets may be augmented with orange, violet
and green to maximise colour gamut. Most heads offer greyscale capabilities, where different sized drops are printed, with component droplets
coalescing at the generation stage or in flight. The alternative is binary
printing, where fixed size drops are either printed, or not. The benefit of
greyscale printing is improved quality at the same native resolution, the
drawback is higher data load to drive the head.
Next generation
The recirculating Xaar 1003 greyscale heads are widely used in labels
and the fast developing direct to pack sector where the high reliability in
hostile environments is a major benefit. The ink is constantly moving,
preventing even heavily pigmented white settling out. Heads can be
aligned either horizontally or in vertical ‘skyscraper’ modes, making
them compatible with handling systems on bottling and filling
production lines.
MEMS technology
Manufacturing high volumes of consistent heads is not easy
using mechanical precision engineering cutting, gluing and
assembly. The latest heads from Xaar and Konica Minolta will
be manufactured using MEMS (micro engineered mechanical
system) techniques. These methods were developed by computer
chip manufacturers to fabricate complex powerful silicon wafer
processors. The methods have spread to other sectors, including
inkjet heads from Epson, Fujifilm Dimatix, HP, Kodak, Memjet
and Ricoh.
MEMS takes a silicon wafer and etches it selectively creating
a structure, then deposits materials to produce components. In
inkjet well defined small details are engineered consistently, including the jetting orifice and ink chamber with very thin, regular
walls. Suppliers can increase nozzle density while improving durability using tough, stable silicon, to boost head life with many
ink types. For piezo heads techniques of depositing thin layers
of piezo material in position onto the chamber have improved,
leading to the ‘Thin film’ heads with walls under 10 microns thick
in use.
The methods allow improved head design, then manufacturing
to be more consistent and predictable. Investment in a MEMS
inkjet head manufacturing facility is significant, certainly in the
tens of millions of dollars, but the reward is high yield, consistent high volume production. It leads to economies of scale, with
manufacturing cost falling as more capacity comes on line. As
piezo heads can cost up to several thousand pounds, so this will
be a significant driver to further inkjet adoption.

ink drops that improves print quality at 122 m/min. In flat tints it provides
very good smoothness, which will be useful to reproduce brand spot
colours accurately. The new heads contain 21,120 nozzles in the same
body as earlier heads, allowing existing inkjet machines to be upgraded
in the field.
Kodak’s Stream continuous technology provides a significant benefit
to water-based inks. Because ink continuously passes through nozzles,
there is no problem of drying in operation, so the ink does not contain as
much surfactant and humectant as DOD inks, which are not useful when
ink hits the print surface. Stream heads form 11 pl drops and tiny nozzle
heaters create smaller 4.75 pl drops. Laminar airflow across the head
blows the smaller drops into a recirculator, leaving only the larger print
drops. Ultrastream develops the process using an electrostatic mechanism that uses smaller drops to print. Each nozzle can deliver 400,000
drops per second at of 600 dpi across the web and 1800 dpi in machine
direction, giving high quality up to 300 m/min.
Epson, Fujifilm, HP, Kodak and Ricoh manufacture the heads in their
equipment, while others will select heads from the competing vendors,
often using different types of head across their equipment. HP does not
sell its thermal heads to third parties although it does rebadge third-party
piezo heads in some machines, currently the latest Epson heads are only
used in its equipment.
29
30
INKJET
Scalable arrays
Head suppliers are working to improve quality,
speed and reliability. For some packaging applications large drop sizes to lay down heavy coverage
of white or coatings are needed, while image and
text quality require small drop, high resolution
capability.
Manufacturers are making heads more compact,
and easy to produce scalable arrays that can be
integrated into press and converting lines.
Analogue press suppliers are learning how to
integrate single pass arrays into their machines to
deliver high performance, high quality print systems. Initial launch speed of many of these systems
New generation MEMS Xaar 5601 3p0 printhead
is lower than the manufacturers are promising to
deliver, showing that they are steadily working to
Xaar announced its next generation MEMS heads at drupa, the 5601
deliver the full capability of the printheads.
series that handle water-based inks. Each head has over 5600 nozzles
It is difficult switching to a new head even if it is identical in size and
featuring a native resolution of 1200 dpi at eight grey levels. The Xaar
shape. The fast developing sector means this will be increasingly neces5601 3p0 is the first launch at the end of 2016. It has four sets of nozzles
sary to reassure early adopters, however. The growth in the supply base,
arranged in a Z-configuration to deliver 115 mm print width and Xaar is
bringing new engineering approaches and development budgets will see
highlighting carton printing as a key application. It recirculates ink past
the back of the nozzle at all times even during drop ejection, a feature that new head technology coming to the market to boost the adoption of inkjet
in packaging, with upgradability a key feature. •
has made the 1003 series of heads so reliable.
CONVERTING
31
Pouch potential
Digital narrow web printing has until recently been restricted to labels and small format packaging,
but as these markets are becoming increasingly competitive, converters are looking at new opportunities in flexible packaging applications.
O
ne of the most challenging,
said, ‘This addition to our pouch
and a potentially very lucrative,
platform, combined with the latest
application is in pouches, which
lamination and pouch making
traditionally has been the domain of
technology now available for narrow
conventional printing technologies.
and digitally printed webs, opens up
Stand up pouches are increasingly
our customer base dramatically for
making their mark on the supermarket
potential converters of stand
shelf, with major brands switching wellup pouches.
known product lines to this packaging
‘The capability for variably
format, offering different portion sizes,
printed data, images and smart print
introducing high end products and
pouches can really be exploited by
improving the bottom line. Examples
brands wishing to launch or test
The Pack Ready Karlville laminator was introduced at drupa
include Twinings Loose Leaf Pyramid
products at minimal cost and achieve
teabags and Kellogg’s Ancient Legends
an even faster route to market.’
granola. Not only does the pouch lend a feel of luxury to these brands,
it also offers savings in the supply chain with reduced transport costs
and less shelf space taken up compared to the traditional bag-in-the-box
HP’s new Pack Ready concept helps label printers who are not familiar
cartons. Added features, such as resealablity, also mean the product will
with lamination technology move into making new flexible packaging aplast longer in the consumer’s home after opening.
plications, including pouches. This post-print converting process creates
an instant and strong bond between HP Indigo digitally printed substrates
and a special lamination film with no added curing time.
Until very recently, few pouches have been digitally printed and the
Introduced at drupa, the laminating machine for this concept has been
market has been dominated by wide web conventional production, but
developed by Karlville to run at up to 100 m/min converting films in
the introduction of the KJ-DR-SUP 400 pouch-making machine from
widths between 300 and 762 mm. The printed film can be any off-theKarlville now opens up this sector to digital narrow web printers. The
shelf material suitable for the digital press, which is then bonded with
new machine features a back to front print re-register system allowing
a lamination structure that consists of a film with a special resin. The
converters to print two webs up to 400 mm wide and re-register the
process involves no solvents, adding to its environmental credentials.
printed front and back webs in the pouch machine to make a three-sided
Pack Ready film suppliers include Polifilm, Toray, KDX, Cosmo Films,
sealed or stand up pouch. The machine can produce up to a maximum of Jindal Films and Polyplex.
100 pouches per minute.
‘The HP Indigo Pack Ready Laminator by Karlville opens new opAt just over 8 metres in length, the machine is designed for minimal
portunities for HP Indigo narrow web customers to extend their busiweb path length, keeping set up waste to a minimum and is ideal for very nesses into the flexible packaging market,’ said Alon Bar Shany, general
short runs, perfectly positioned to take full advantage of all the strengths
manager, HP Indigo division. ‘The new offering enables high performance
of digital print: shortest time to market, just-in-time delivery, endless ver- flexible packaging applications such as retort – a dream of many digital
sioning and/or personalisation, no tooling costs and high quality print.
flexible packaging converters for many years.’
Alan Lewis, managing director of ShrinkPack, Karlville agent in the
John Price, president of Karlville, commented, ‘The Pack Ready LamiUK and Ireland, said that he sees the future growth of alternative pouch
nator will enable HP Indigo customers to produce almost any kind of
formats to replace many types of rigid packaging as ‘an exciting area
digitally printed flexible packaging with minimal waste and complexity
of future incremental growth within the flexible packaging market.’ He
versus traditional lamination systems.’ •
All in the film
Move over
www.dlpmag.com
DC330FB
Combination print finishing
Digital print, short runs and flexibility are key to success in
The first module on the line is a servo-driven flatbed Hotstamp
labelling. The GM (www.gm.dk) DC330FB combines Danish
unit with 30 tons of pressure, ensuring perfect registration with
technology with 40 years’ experience to meet the demand for
equal pressure and impression time at all speeds. A built-in foil
speed, quality and flexibility.
saver reduces foil waste and cost.
Ideal for producing premium spirit & wine labels the DC330FB
An optional 90 degree rotating foil tower adds the ability to apply
offers semi-rotary die cutting, flatbed screen-printing and hot
foil across the web (as well as standard with-the-web direction),
foil stamping and embossing.
allowing multiple foils and simultaneous embossing and foiling.
The semi rotary (digital) die station is servo-driven. It comes
A smart “slide-in/out” plate loading design permits plates to be
standard with a 25” mag. cylinder with a repeat range of 2” –
changed when running and in the hot state; no waiting for plates
22”. A built-in dispro software feature allows plates from other
to cool.
machines to be used on the GM unit.
Detailed combination label with screen and hot foil.
Easy change system for hot state plate swap.
www.dlpmag.com
Visit GM at LABELEXPO AMERICAS 2016
13 - 15 SEPTEMBER in Chicago, USA. find us at booth 6111
Most tools can be made in-house or locally, and existing tooling
from older flatbed equipment can be also be used. The line can
produce a large range of labels, from simple to complex, with
Web width: 50mm - 330mm / 2” - 13”
flexo, lamination, cold foiling and semi-rotary die cutting at up to
Substrate: 60gsm - 200gsm
45 m/min. With the ability to hot foil, stamp and emboss.
Dimensions (WxDxH): 6.0m x 1.3m x 1.7m
At GM, we deliver innovative solutions that Make Converting
Optional Modules: Automatic knifebox, Laser die cutter,
Corona System, sheeting module, extra flexo units.
Easy. Our experience in the industry makes us an ideal strategic
partner to help our clients move forward. Visit us at Labelexpo
(Booth 6111) in Chicago, September 13-15, to see the foremost
equipment, vendors and solutions in the labeling industry.
Grafisk Maskinfabrik, Converting made easy
www.gm.dk
Flat bed screen unit with pneumatic frame lock.
www.dlpmag.com
Flexo unit for flood varnish or cold foil.
34
COMPANY PROFILE
The big gamble that paid off
Marsh Labels is somewhat unusual in that it has never gone down the flexo route, but made the
jump straight into digital colour label printing from being a niche hot foiling specialist. Neel Madsen
went to visit the company to hear how digital has transformed this small family business completely
and offered it the capability to print longer runs.
‘I
t has certainly been a big challenge and a very exciting rollercoaster,
this digital adventure,’ said managing director Gary Burnley, who together with his sister and fellow director, Alison Welch, runs Marsh
Labels. This is said with a big smile on his face, however, as he clearly
likes challenges. And who can blame him? The company’s HP Indigo
digital label presses have helped it grow turnover from £400,000 to in excess of £1.4 million in just seven years. The success is further evidenced
by its recent move into new premises on the Mill Road industrial estate in
Portslade, near Brighton; a space that is more than three times the size of
its previous site.
digital route. We do very short runs – I describe them as ‘micro runs’ –
and flexo would not have been the right option for us. When other people
talk about short runs, I look at them thinking, ‘Wow that’s actually a pretty
decent job!’ Digital offered us the opportunity to do longer runs than what
we were used to, but with a very fast turnaround.’
The gamble paid dividends and a second HP Indigo press, a ws4600,
was added in 2010. This was replaced last year, after Mr Burnley shook
hands on a deal for the WS6800 model HP Indigo press at Labelexpo in
Brussels. The 6800 was chosen for its inline, closed loop colour management system and higher productivity, which will help the company
progress even further.
The inventory at Marsh also includes two Digicon Lite finishing
machines from AB Graphic for converting the printed labels. These
compact machines offer excellent varnishing and die-cutting facilities,
but Mr Burnley is looking at expanding the finishing department with
more technically complex equipment to keep up with demand.
In the family
Managing director Gary Burnley with the new WS6800
Digital for longer runs
The first investment in 2009 in an HP Indigo ws4050 set Marsh Labels
on a completely new and unknown path; a major turning point for the
company which up until then had specialised in hot foil labels produced
on a bank of Newfoil machines, a side of the business which is still active
today. The foiling jobs usually involve a very small number of labels, so
the capabilities of the new digital press opened up the opportunity to take
on bigger jobs.
Mr Burnley explained, ‘Our customers were increasingly asking for full
colour labels, and after a lot of investigation, we opted for going down the
The family business was established by Gary’s father, Barrie Burnley,
and his business partner Ron Marsh in 1983, a few miles down
the road from the new home of Marsh Labels. It was a very small
operation using small desktop printers with lead type and paste inks,
later moving into very short run, hot foil labels in a limited number of
colours. Gary himself grew up learning the trade first hand, and officially joined the business in 1993 when the staff counted just seven,
including the family.
Until the move nine months ago, the label printing company was
spread over two sites, but needed to consolidate and also add more
space to accommodate its continued growth. The new building had to
go through a complete overhaul, and is now a light and airy space with
plenty of room for more machinery. Mr Burnley said, ‘The new place
gives us a bit more elbow room and I’m looking at different options for
the future.’
Industries supplied with labels cover most sectors, including retail,
cosmetic, healthcare, food, beverage, security and industrial. The vast
majority, some 80%, is supplied to label trade, and most of the rest to
other resellers. This was not initially a conscious plan, but the company
www.dlpmag.com
COMPANY PROFILE
discovered that the demand was there. Mr Burnley
said, ‘We had done a little bit of trade work before
in hot foil, and when we asked those customers if
they might want digital colour labels too, the answer was overwhelmingly positive. That’s how we
got started, then after the press came in, word got
around about our digital work and it just exploded
from there.’
Today the company has some 11,000 customers
on the books and aims to ship orders with 24 to
48 hours from approval of proofs. The day before I
visited, the company had booked orders for some
356,000 labels, and 93,000 of those had already
The new production hall at Marsh Labels
been shipped when we got chatting the next morning about the advantages of the Cerm management
information system that knits together the whole operation. Some 19,000
different products are shipped in a year, with the average job length being
around 3500 labels.
Managing information
As is most often the case, the digital learning curve has been steep for
Marsh Labels. The press itself is in many ways the ‘easy’ bit, and as Gary
Burnley and the team soon came to realise, getting the processes around
it, and particularly the workflow, is vital.
‘The real challenge came in the second year after we installed the first
digital label press,’ said Mr Burnley. ‘We actually invested more during
that second year than we had on the press itself as we just hadn’t taken
on board all that came with moving into digital printing.’
Juggling this huge amount of data requires having the right software
in place, and an MIS was one of the larger investments that had to be
‘
35
The real challenge came in the
second year after we installed the
first digital label press.
’
Gary Burnley, managing director
made. Mr Burnley said, ‘Our Cerm management information system is
invaluable and of huge importance to us in the day to day running of
the company. We quote in excess of 100 jobs per day in house and our
customers do the same using our web portal. Proof approval is also done
online through the system, saving us a lot of time and effort.’
The staff level has grown during this time, and now numbers 18, four
of whom work in the in-house studio. Both here and in the pressroom,
double shifts have been implemented to keep up with demand, although
they are essentially feeding only one press, the WS6800 as the ws4050 is
mainly used as a back up. Mr Burnley said, ‘When we talk about digital,
the real printing is done in the repro department not on press. That’s
where we can make a difference. And if there is an issue on press, the job
has to go back to the studio to get sorted out.’
The personal touch
Digicon Lite finishing machine
www.dlpmag.com
When I asked Mr Burnley why he thought Marsh Labels had been
so successful in digital, he said, ‘I strongly believe that it is all about
relationships. You have to build up the trust with your customer; they
need us and all the advice and support we can offer, as much as we need
them in this business. At the end of the day, the digital press is the same
wherever it is or whoever is operating it, and yes, we can make a bit of
a difference in repro to the print quality, but customer service is key and
that is what makes people come back.’
He concluded, ‘It has been an interesting and bumpy ride, but we took
the plunge and opted for digital and it has certainly paid off.’ •
See the
Next Generation of
Dynamic Packaging
Solutions
FA
FA
Your Flexo Line for
Innovative Flexible Packaging
Your Flexo Line for
Optimised Performance
Your
Complete
Digital Solution
at Nilpeter in
Hall B, Booth Nos 3105 and 3205
LabelExpo Americas 2016
nilpeter.com
NILPETER A/S • Denmark • Phone: +45 5850 1166 • e-mail: [email protected] • nilpeter.com
NILPETER LTD. • United Kingdom • Phone: +44 1482629600 • e-mail: [email protected]
2016082_ Nilpeter_Pre_LAbelExpo_GB_210x297_ L&L.indd 1
24/06/16 11:35
DEBATE
37
Finding growth areas
Personalisation and convenience will drive future packaging growth, said experts at drupa 2016
during a debate organised by Asia Pulp & Paper (APP). More must be done if packaging industry
is to break $1 trillion global sales mark.
T
he ability of printers and packaging manufacturers to keep pace
with changing customer demand, whether for the personalised
packages unlocked by digital printing, or demand for luxury and
sustainable materials, will be the key to the long term success of the
industry. That was the view of an expert panel convened by APP at drupa
2016, where discussion revolved around how the global industry can
break through the $1 trillion in global sales mark by 2020.
that it not only opens up affordable short and mid-length print runs, but
that it offers the prospect of individually unique prints on a large scale
and in the packaging market. That could take personalised packaging,
something we’ve seen Coca-Cola experimenting with, from niche marketing stunt into the mainstream.’
She concluded that a major driver of current growth is booming demand for more convenient food. ‘We could be looking at more than 9 billion consumers on the planet by 2050 and more people than ever
before will be living in cities with busy, time-precious lives. That’s
going to lead to more demand for out of home food service as well
as on-the-go packaging, savvy brands will be looking at how to
establish their reputations in these areas in the years ahead.’
Luxury and sustainability
APP hosted a seminar on the future of packaging at drupa in June
Key drivers
Speaking at the debate, Dr Liz Wilks of APP, Dominic Cakebread, packaging consultant at Smithers Pira, and Michael Tobin, managing director of
W Hinderer Gmbh, were invited to outline their views on the key drivers
behind future growth in demand for packaging products.
Dr Wilks, European director sustainability and stakeholder engagement for APP, explained the increased role of the luxury market in driving
growth while also emphasising the importance of a sustainable approach
to packaging. She said, ‘You need to think about the end of life of a
product right at the start of the process. What we’re seeing with luxury
packaging is growth in paper and board and that’s being driven by a
number of things, from the look and feel, to its suitability for a variety of
printing techniques, through to its sustainability credentials.’
Dr Wilks explained that digital printing will also open up a range of
new and exciting print applications. ‘If you look around the show here at
drupa, then it’s obvious the headway that digital printing is making into
what it still a very offset dominated industry. What’s exciting about this is
www.dlpmag.com
All the panellists agreed that the luxury market will be a major
contributor, with expected growth of 19% in value terms through
to 2019, creating a market worth $17.6 billion. Growth across
Asia-Pacific and South & Central America is expected to reach as
high as 6% and 9% per annum respectively as a new generation of
consumers begin to access luxury packaging, while the established
markets of Western Europe and North America will also enjoy
healthy growth of 3% per annum, largely driven by an increase
in personalised packaging sectors such as the premium alcoholic
drinks market.
Mr Cakebread added to this by suggesting one area of future growth
could be through greater collaboration between traditional rivals from
the plastics and paper industries. He said, ‘Biodegradable plastics have
been around for quite a long time, but they haven’t found that many
applications. There is, however, a growing concern about the amount of
waste created by the food service sector. Moving forward, one area of
innovation could be through greater collaboration between the paper and
plastics industry to tackle such challenges’.
Mr Tobin concluded the discussion by suggesting that the industry
could target demand for more sustainable packaging by making better
use of biodegradable coatings, ‘Whilst PE coatings are recoverable during recycling, there is some level of concern from consumers that these
products are being directed to landfill. There is I think a huge opportunity
for the industry to start investigating how the use of biodegradable coatings alongside PE could help to meet consumer demand.’ •
38
CASE STUDY
Chocolates company
chooses Epson
Chocolate and confectionery importer, hf Chocolates, in Milton Keynes in the UK, has invested in an
Epson ColorWorks C7500 Series colour label printer to meet its in house bespoke labelling needs.
N
amed after founder Hans Flatauer, who set up the company in
1957 to import and distribute German chocolate, hf Chocolates
today imports chocolate and confectionery products in bulk from
suppliers all over Europe and the US. The company supplies the products
as they are or re-packaged to the retail trade – mainly the independent or
specialist sector – and wholesalers. It also offers an own label design and
print service to customers who require low quantities of items with their
own logos and branding.
Gaining flexibility
TFP line printheads, which has been developed for use in the commercial-grade, industrial labelling market and lasts for the lifetime of the
printer. This ensures the ability to print 600 x 1200 dpi quality labels on
a wide variety of materials, including matte, gloss and synthetic media,
in formats up to four inches wide, printing at 300 mm/sec, with Variable
Sized Droplet Technology (VSDT) which produces ink droplets in a range
of precisely controlled sizes. Nozzle Verification Technology and dot
substitution helps prevent misprints and dead pixels.
Game changer
Based in Milton Keynes, hf Chocolates
The new printer was set up in a day,
produces colour labels in a wide range
with very little disruption to the
of shapes and sizes. Prior to investing
company’s day to day production.
in the ColorWorks C7500 printer, the
Mr Ambrose said that it has been a
company was using a desktop vinyl
game changer for the business. ‘On
printer and cutter for very short runs,
our previous printer we could print
but bought in printed labels for large
around 98 labels in 45 minutes. On
volume product orders.
the C7500 we’re producing 200+
Ambrose Boyd, commercial managlabels in a few minutes. It’s now very
er, said, ‘For us, being able to produce This C7500 printer from Epson’s ColorWorks range is now
easy for us to produce short runs of
printing
labels
on
demand
at
hf
Chocolates
bespoke labels on demand was really
customised labels, and because of
about gaining flexibility and the ability
its speed, all labels can be printed
to respond to market quickly as buying pre-printed labels was simply
as and when needed so we don’t need to hold large quantities of stock.
too cumbersome and not at all cost effective, unless huge volumes were
Printing on demand has also eliminated the risk of packaging error, such
involved. We had a clear idea of what we needed – a fast printer that
as using the wrong pre-printed labels. The whole production workflow is
could print high quality consistently and was cost effective, not just from
much smoother and more cost-effective.’
a purchasing point of view, but also running costs and manning levels.’
One of the largest jobs in terms of volume of labels that hf Chocolates
Other key requirements from the printer included precise alignment
produces on the printer is for the Candy Cables confectionery bags –
of circular label graphics throughout the run and high capacity ink
with an average volume of around 10,000 of the 70 x 70 mm round labels
cartridges, which would cut production time and wastage.
being output per month. The labels are all applied manually using a
The ColorWorks C7500 was supplied by Epson Colour +Plus Gold
printed template for the different bag sizes.
Partner KTEC Group. ‘We have worked with KTEC for a number of years
The company is now looking to expand its range of labels produced
so they know our business well,’ said Mr Boyd. ‘We looked at other
using the C7500. Mr Ambrose said, ‘We’re currently looking at what jobs
machines but nothing else came close to the speed. Our main focus was
can be moved over to the new printer. It makes perfect sense that the
printing on circular labels as we had many problems doing this previmore labels we can run through it the better, not only from a speed
ously. This printer passed the test!’
point of view, but it also cuts our staffing and production costs
The compact label printer incorporates Epson’s PrecisionCore Micro
considerably.’ •
www.dlpmag.com
Success and Security
for the Labelprinter.
Gallus
Innovation
Days 2016
20 – 22 September
St.Gallen, Switzerland
Come attend the world premiere …
… of the newest generation of Gallus machines in a completely
new platform, designed to meet any individual demand. In
addition, this event will provide insight to the latest additions
to the Gallus’ product and service portfolio.
Register
now!
For more information visit: www.gallus-group.com/gallus/events
Gallus Ferd. Rüesch AG, Harzbüchelstrasse 34, 9016 St.Gallen/Switzerland
Tel. +41 71 242 86 86, [email protected], www.gallus-group.com
Member of the Heidelberg Group
40
SHOW PREVIEW
Momentum builds for London’s
only packaging show
Packaging Innovations and Luxury Packaging London 2016, which returns to Olympia London on
14 and 15 September, will play host to more than 170 industry leading suppliers, many of whom will
be launching new products and services to the UK market.
T
he two-day event will enable buyers to discover new and innovative
ways to produce their labels and packaging, improve the appearance of their products, advance their packaging’s digital presence
and reduce environmental impact.
Gerry Sherwood, event director for the Easyfairs’ packaging portfolio,
commented, ‘Each year we strive to improve the show, keeping it at the
forefront of the latest packaging trends and movements. With this in
mind, we are delighted and proud to be partnering with The Dieline to
host the UK’s first Dieline design conference collaborating with some of
the greatest minds and most talented designers in the design industry,
featuring best practices and case studies which will undoubtedly take
your branding expertise to the next level.’
ent design agency that has been creating branded packaging solutions for
over 20 years.
Following the relocation and major investment in digital printing capabilities, Glasgow-based Elanders Packaging (G50), with its strong
heritage in the Scottish whisky market, specialises in digitally printed
tube wraps, cartons and labels for the drinks sector.
Falconer Print & Packaging (F12) will show its new capabilities
following the installation of a Bobst Foil Blocking machine, which means
it can offer intricate designs and embellishments to folding cartons.
HAVI Global Solutions (G40) will be on hand to offer its experience, global reach, expert competencies and capabilities in packaging,
promotions, analytics, supply chain,
sustainability, recycling and waste solutions to guide clients.
There is much to see for visitors interested in
KTEC Group (E6) will be displaying
labels and packaging printing, with printers and
the Primera LX500e Color Label Printer;
suppliers to the industry setting out their stalls at
its newest and most affordable desktop
Olympia. Innovative products, design and funccolour label and tag printer, which offers
tionality are at the heart of this year’s show.
2.5 times the print speed and even better
API Foils (A34) will demonstrate how its
print quality than its previous model.
foils, laminates and holographics can add special
Having recently installed a Durst Tau
effects to packaging to enhance shelf appeal and
330 digital label press, Label-Form
add impact. Its TA range of cold foils is available KTEC Group will have this desktop
Ltd (G18) will be on stand to talk
label printer among the kit on show at Olympia
in nine shades and took over three years
to visitors about all their label
to develop.
requirements.
Abbey Labels (C22) will be exhibiting a range of self-adhesive
QuickLabel Systems (E16) will be exhibiting its full range of
labels including specialist labels such as scratch-off, five page peel &
colour label printers for in-house, just-in-time, label production. These
reveal and its own enhanced range of food, drink and cosmetic labels.
label printers allow manufacturers the freedom to print as few labels as
Advanced Labelling Systems (E24) offers a wide range of autothey need, and escape the minimum order quantities of the commercial
matic labelling systems and product handling equipment, including label presses. This affords manufacturers the flexibility to trial new products,
applicators, print & apply, RFID systems, printers, barcode scanners
launch seasonal ranges and design bespoke own-brand produce.
and software.
Trade printer specialists, Revolution Digital (A22), will be showReturning to the show is carton packaging manufacturer Alexir
casing its Roland UV printers, which enable customers to proof packagPackaging (E8), which produces around 150 million cartons a year,
ing on final materials, as well flatbed cutters and desk top foiling.
mostly for the FMCG market. Its in-house design studio is an independRoyston Labels (E34) will be presenting its range of self-adhesive
Take a look at ...
www.dlpmag.com
SHOW PREVIEW
labels, which deliver a value-adding option to help make products stand
out on shelf. The company employs 100% digital inspection on all of the
labels it produces, ensuring its products are consistent.
Vivid Laminating Technologies (H6) will show its Boss special
effect films and foils, which can be used on the Matrix Pneumatic &
Duplex Systems to open up new revenue streams and add ‘wow’ factor to
print and packaging. As well as laminating, the Matrix can also create foil
finishes and spot UV-style effects.
VIPColor Technologies (F74) offers desktop label printing
systems, including the VP485 for producing colour labels in house and
on demand; the VP495 printer, which uses VIPColor Durable Ink Printing
Technology, which can deliver printouts with great durability; and the
VP700 which offers a speed of 18 m/min.
Zünd Plotting Systems UK (D2) will demonstrate its digital cutting
tables and finishing options.
The Learnshop theatres will provide seminars and presentations
On paper
Substrates suppliers abound all showing the latest in paper and board for
producing high quality packaging. Antalis (H26) will show the Creative
Papers range of fashion led colours, metallics and translucents, modern
textures and finishes have been developed to help customers find the
creative solutions for all types of luxury packaging. Iggesund Paperboard (G30) will show its solid bleached board (SBB) Invercote and
folding box board (FBB) Incada ranges. Invercote G, Invercote Creato,
Incada Silk, Incada Exel and Invercote are suitable for digital print and
stocked in the UK by Antalis. Independent paper merchant Denmaur
Independent Papers (F51) will be at the show with its offering of
papers for litho and digital printing.
Specially designed for digital printing, Derprosa-IT (J52) offers the
Digi-Stick glossy, matte, Soft Touch and anti-scratch gloss and matte
range of BOPP films. Developed for jobs that require extra adhesion, it is
recommended for paper and cardboard thicker than 250 gsm.
On the Favini stand (H62), visitors can see the Crush range of
eco-friendly papers made using the process residues from organic
products to replace up to 15% of the virgin tree pulp. By-products from
www.dlpmag.com
41
citrus fruits, grapes, cherries, lavender, corn, olives, coffee, kiwi fruits,
hazelnuts and almonds are the natural raw materials that are saved from
landfill and used to make these distinctively tactile papers.
Italian company, Gruppo Cordenons (G28) will be debuting its high
quality graphic paper AstroKing to the UK market. An ideal packaging solution for creative projects due to its luxurious matt finish that is similar
to the soft texture of precious garments.
Specialists in covering materials ideal for luxury and premium packaging, Winter & Company (J50) will show its product range of papers,
textiles, fine leather and high touch materials.
More content
More than just an exhibition, the show has more content than ever before.
In addition to The Dieline Conference, show favourites such as The Great
Innovation Debate, The Drinks and Beauty Symposiums, and The Innovation Wall be returning.
Bacardi International and Daemon & Genius, a packaging
and branding agency, will be headlining The Drinks Symposium, which will see three leading drinks brands take to the
stage in order to share their knowledge and experience on
how packaging can help to win the hearts and minds of the
consumer.
Kicking things off will be Catherine Monahan, founder and
CEO at Daemon & Genius, who will be presenting ‘Bricks vs.
Clicks: Brand Experience > Brand Exposure’. Ms Monahan,
who has worked for both Sainsbury’s and Tesco, will be talking
about how brands that provide consumers with deep experiences of their product, manage to generate an emotional
experience of ownership, and win at the point of purchase.
She said, ‘I’ve been in the retail and wine industry since 2000, and
there are still a few things that continue to fascinate me. There is a fear to
innovate on shelf within grocery, because of financial targets set for year
on year performance and the risk associated with replacing known products/trusted brands with new/innovative products. This leaves innovation
in the hands of the big boys and whilst yes, they do provide that to a
degree, it often removes the entrepreneurship type of innovation coming
in from start ups, new brand builders and so on.
‘There are tens of thousands of wineries in the world, all desperate to
sell their wines, but unless they understand how to tell a great and unique
story, with meaning, with cause-based marketing for the millennials, with
innovation of product giving consumers a reason to buy and to repeat
purchase, then the future will not be easy for them.’
The show will also feature three seminar theatres, including an opening
keynote presentation from Mark Pawsey, MP and chair of the All Party
Parliamentary Packaging Group, and big names such as Harrods and
Britvic. And finally, the Packaging Consultancy Clinic will offer visitors one-to-one advice from expert professionals on any aspect of their
packaging dilemmas. •
Thought foiling and
spot UV was expensive?
Think again...
• Create incredible print effects, in-house,
without set-up charges and block foiling
• Laminate, foil and spot UV on 1 system
• Ideal for short-run, bespoke labels & packaging
• Winner of Top Product award in U.S.
The award-winning Matrix Systems can laminate, foil and add spot UV-style print effects
for a fraction of the cost compared to outsourcing.
Variable pneumatic air pressure controls the laminating rollers, allowing the creation of incredible foil
and metallic effects, without any expensive set-up charges or traditional block foiling required.
With foils in over 10 colours and laminates available in soft touch, gloss, matt, anti-scratch and more,
the Matrix saves you time and money on luxury packaging, labels and many other bespoke print jobs.
STAND C20
vivid-online.com
Digital Labels Matrix Full Page Foiling SeptOct 16 Print Packaging Show.indd 1
STAND H6
29/07/2016 14:02
I N S T A L L A T I O N 43
Meeting growing demand
As a new entrant to the digital label printing market, Lotus Labels has recently invested in a Xeikon
3300 press. The company is part of Dynamic Systems Group in Germany and has plans to use the
new set up to grow the business as well as serve its existing customer base. Neel Madsen went to
Eastbourne to speak to managing director Andreas Schillinger.
E
Many facets
The new Xeikon 3300 digital label press, together with the DC330 finishing line, was financed through a £200,000 funding package from HSBC.
Mr Schillinger said, ‘This new, highly advanced equipment means we
have one of the most developed, cutting-edge factories in our sector. Not
only does it help us meet the necessary requirements for our clients, it
also allows us to offer a greater variety and flexibility with design
and packaging.’
Victoria Mutter, HSBC’s area director of business banking in Gatwick
& East Sussex, said, ‘With technology developing at such a rapid rate,
Lotus Labels needed to upgrade its machinery to continue to meet its
clients’ needs. Our team has worked closely with the business over the
years to support its growth and development, and our latest equipment
finance loan has allowed for the purchase of industry-leading technology,
which will enable Lotus to remain ahead of the competition and broaden
its customer base.’
The new Xeikon 3300 press runs at speeds up to 19.2 m/min printing
web widths between 200 to 330 mm in a resolution of 1200 x 3600 dpi
on a variety of substrates without the need for pre-coating. That equates
www.dlpmag.com
Managing director Andreas Schillinger with the new Xeikon press at
Lotus Labels
to a productivity level of 380 square metres per hour. The web-fed press
uses Xeikon’s QA-I food safe dry toner and has five colour stations, four
for the standard CMYK process set and the fifth for spot colours to extend
the gamut or printing opaque white amongst others.
Working nearline converting the printed labels is a new finishing line
from Grafisk Maskinfabrik (GM). The DC330 Label Converter comes with
servo-driven web tension control and encompasses corona treatment, a
flexo printing station for flood and spot varnishing and coating, as well as
lamination and cold foiling. It has been fitted with a 25 inch semi-rotary
die-cutting unit instead of the standard 15 inch.
To add another facet and expand its reach, Lotus became a reseller
of a range of Epson desktop label printers a year ago. These are sold to
small manufacturers or brands which need low-cost, in-house printing
of pre-cut labels for very short runs, test runs or prototyping. Printers
include the Epson ColorWorks TM-C7500G and the smaller TM-C3500.
This initiative was a strategic move to introduce new customers to the
concept of just-in-time printing, which can then be transferred to the Xeikon press as the needs of the customer grows. Mr Schillinger said, ‘Our
Epson printers offers the opportunity for customers to cover some of their
initial printing needs in house. Then as their business grows and their
q
stablished over 30 years ago, Lotus Labels is going through a
major transformation. The company is part of the German Dynamic
Systems Group and is headed up by managing director Andreas
Schillinger, who came to the business from Muller Martini UK. The
well-established label printing company has a staff of 15 and is aiming
to grown its annual turnover from £1.28 million in 2015 to £1.35 million
this year following the new investment, which also includes a GM DC330
finishing line. Clients include Alton Towers, Yo Sushi, Jaguar and Fenwick department stores, as well as smaller, local businesses. It has also
built up a significant niche in supplying labels to ethnic food distributors
in London, particularly for the African and Asian communities.
The company not only offers flexo and digitally printed colour labels, it
is also a reseller of desktop label printers, printer ribbons and inks, label
software and accessories, and handheld label applicators for pricing, date
marking, batch numbering, barcoding and product identification. Its inhouse design studio can help customers create labels from scratch and
offer artwork support as needed.
44
INSTALLATION
label printing requirements outgrow the desktop
printers, we can support them with our industrial
scale printing capabilities.’
Group effort
Lotus Labels was bought in 2014 by Mr
Schillinger and his business partner Dr Harald
Lossau of Dynamic Systems GmbH when the
current owners wanted to retire. It now operates
as the commercial label printing arm of the German group of companies, which also includes
Schwarz Druck GmbH, a specialist in value and
security printing. This gives the company many
avenues to explore with the new capabilities of
the Xeikon press, and Mr Schillinger is looking
to expand into new markets whilst also taking
The new digital department also features a GM finishing line
advantage of the vast knowledge of the group.
Established in 1993, Dynamic Systems GmbH
ments. Having originally dipped its toe in digital label utilising a small
produces industrial labelling solutions for a German-speaking customer base from its facility near Munich, in Germany. It Memjet-based device, it was clear to the company that it was time to take
took over Schwarz Druck in 2010, which enabled it to launch its products the next logical step. Demand for digital was growing, run lengths were
getting shorter and its flexo presses were struggling to produce the colinto China via the Shanghai office of the new acquisition. The next step
our jobs that were coming in. Mr Schillinger said, ‘To offer the quality and
was to look for a label printing company for the consumer markets and
the speed, you have to be part of digital to grow your business today, and
after some searching the Lotus Labels business was acquired.
the Xeikon press was definitely the best choice for us. It will help grow
Today the Eastbourne business has 15 staff – most of whom have
the business as we move into new and exciting markets over the next
worked for the business for many years – but is looking to expand that
few years.’ •
number, particularly in the sales department, following the new invest-
True digital finishing with LasX
Job title:
Sales Account Manager
Location, based in:
Eastbourne, East Sussex
Visit us at
Labelexpo
Booth 3635
Following our recent investment in additional
digital printing capacity in the UK we are
expanding our sales team. We are looking for
candidates with proven track records in these areas:
· Providing strong lead-generation and sales results
in a manufacturing related environment.
· Managing key-accounts by acting as their central
contact, consultant and solution provider.
· Planning and executing marketing campaigns.
❱
❱
❱
❱
❱
❱
Perforating
Cutting
Kiss-cutting
Slitting
Etching
Scoring
❱ Complete digital workflow
❱ Barcode driven, creasing,
cutting sorting and stacking
❱ B2-Format and
B1-Format available
❱ Up to 3.000 sheets per hour
In a single pass with no tooling or setup costs.
LasX Europe GmbH · Bohlenweg 8 · D-30853 Langenhagen · www.lasx.eu · Phone +49 511 51 54 11 90
The compensation package consists of fixed and
result-related elements and is commensurate with this
important role in the company.
Lotus Labels (www.lotuslabels.com) is the trading name for
the UK-based label printing operation of Dynamic Systems
Group, headquartered in Munich, Germany.
We invite you to send your detailed CV to: [email protected]
or by post , marked confidential to: Andreas Schillinger MD,
1 Park View, Alder Close, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN23 6QE.
FOR
DIGITAL PRINT
BRAND SUCCESS
CONFERENCE 2016
24 November 2016 • IET London • Savoy Place • London
This conference will showcase excellent case studies,
and discuss the best print and finishing technologies to
help steer your business towards a profitable future.
Extended
Early bird!
Highlights!
1 delegate: £299 (full price £450)
2 delegates: £499 (full price £650)
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Offer ends 31 August 2016
• Packaging design and purchasing desire: the neuroscience
of sales success
To book Visit
digitalbrandconf.com
Dr. David Lewis, founder, Mindlab International
• Digital Innovation – why should the customer care?
Paul Earnshaw, packaging manager, Tesco
• Key trends capturing the digital print for packaging market
• The inkjet innovators
Dennis Ebeltoft and Matt Dass, joint managing directors,
Springfield Solutions
‘
The annual digital print conference
serves as a great reference point as
to where the trends are going.
Ian Schofield, Iceland Foods
For more information and to book visit digitalbrandconf.com or
Call Chloe +44 (0)1892 779599 email [email protected]
Headline sponsors
Sponsors
@DigitalLPack
Partners
Media partners
digitalprinter
‘
Lucie Tomlin, senior technical project manager, Pearlfisher
Laura Perryman, colour and materials trend analyst, Colour of Saying
Ian Schofield, own label & packaging manager, Iceland Foods
Matthew Daniels, intelligent packaging and decorations
leader, Unilever
Fast and Flexible Label Production
Stand 6410
CX1200e Color Label Press
» delivers short-run, full-colour digital label
printing that opens up new markets
» simple cost-effective solution and add-on
with 5m print speed per minute
» GHS and BS5609 compliant
For more information visit:
dlp.primera.eu
FX1200e Digital Finishing System
» performs label finishing steps
(laminate, die-cut, remove waste
matrix, slit and rewind) in a single,
integrated and automated process
» cut any size or shape without dies
LABELEXPO PREVIEW
47
Labels and packaging
possibilities on show in Chicago
Held at the Donald E Stephens Centre in Chicago, Labelexpo Americas will be opening its doors
again on 13 to 15 September. This 15th edition promises to be even bigger, and here we preview
what awaits visitors interested in digital labels and packaging printing. By Neel Madsen.
L
abelexpo Americas was first held in
1989, and in 2014, just over 16,000
visitors came to Chicago to see what
more than 400 exhibitors had in store for
them. This year, the show organisers are
promising an even greater focus on packaging, and in particular on digital printing.
There will also be a conference programme,
in-depth master classes and a workshop on
offer. The latter will focus on shrink sleeves,
while the three master classes will highlight
conventional label printing processes, design
and origination, and digital label and package
printing. Visitors will also be able to follow
the inaugural Linerless Trail, while a new
Digital Finishing Experience area makes its
debut, with daily presentations taking place Packaging and digital printing will be two of the focus areas at Labelexpo Americas
over the three days.
offers and giving them first-rate accessibility to all the products, services
The Shrink Sleeve Workshop will provide a clear understanding of deand solutions that can help keep their businesses up to speed and
sign and origination requirements, cover substrates and inks, and review
competitive.’
the different printing processes available. Presentations will be given by
Covering nearly 200,000 square feet of floor space, the show is again
experts from Accraply, Esko, Flint Group and Klöckner Pentaplast. The
heavily supported and endorsed by official bodies, including the TLMI,
Digital Label and Package Printing master class will be fronted by Mike
FSEA, AMETIQ, Acoban, AIMCAL and AIPIA.
Fairley, director, strategic development, Labelexpo Global Series. Spe-
www.dlpmag.com
On show: A–Z
AB Graphic International (3223) will show its converting lines. ‘The
label and packaging market has changed a lot in recent years and we
monitor it closely, trying to predict what will help label converters grow
their businesses,’ said sales director Tony Bell. ‘Since the launch of the
Digicon Series 3 two years ago, we have seen phenomenal uptake for this
technology, in particular high end specifications with emphasis being
placed on time saving automation modules.’
The company will show the newly launched FAST Track die, which runs
at 150 m/min. ‘The original concept was born to create a semi-rotary die
q
cialists from AB Graphic International, Avery Dennison, Domino, Esko,
HP Indigo and Xeikon will outline the different presses, materials and
finishing solutions, and discuss the key considerations when running a
digital printing operation.
Tasha Ventimiglia, event director, commented, ‘We’ve seen from our
other shows, such as Labelexpo Europe, how increasingly important
having a digital and a package printing capacity has become for label
producers, so this year’s show really reflects that move with its exhibitor
profile and educational content. As usual, we will be seeking to empower
the buyers visiting the show by bringing them up to speed on emerging
trends, showcasing the newest developments this fast moving market
LABELEXPO PREVIEW
that could run inline with faster digital print engines. Once we started
designing it, we discovered we could achieve much higher speeds and
we are incredibly proud of this world first,’ said Mr Bell.
A full beverage specification of the Digicon Series 3 with a Big Foot
50 ton hot foiling and embossing module will also be shown. This will
demonstrate the full range of automation modules, including Auto dieload/unload, Autoslit and Iscore, plus a second hot foil unit and flatbed
screen printing unit. A JDF/JMF management information system that
can supply job information to the machine from pre-press and relay
ABG Digicon Series 3 with fully automated
and integrated glueless turret rewinder
job information back into the customer’s MIS will be shown both on a
Digicon 3 and a Digilase laser die-cutting unit. A Digicon Lite 3 compact
digital finishing solution will also be demonstrated.
Advanced Vision Technology (AVT) (711) will premier the Helios
D, an automatic, 100% print inspection solution designed specifically for
digital printing. This supports all stages of digital production workflow,
including identifying missing nozzles, ink dripping spots and colour
changes in real time.
The company will also showcase partner-specific solutions, such as
its Helios S Turbo, which is integrated onto an HP Indigo 8000 narrow
web press and Apollo 20K integrated onto an HP Indigo 20000 wide
web press. Incorporated into the rewind section, both systems support
inspection of any material, surface or reverse print.
For inkjet press vendors AVT offers the Jet-IQ, a closed loop quality
engine that works in synergy with press controllers to maintain print
quality, offering full connectivity to all steps and solutions of digital inkjet
printing. Another US debut is iCenter, a cloud-based web application
for setting quality standards and automation of workflow process across
multiple sites.
Afinia Label (6015) will have three new products on show: the L301
Label Printer, the DLF-1100 Digital Label Finisher and the CP950 Carton
Printer. Priced below the $2000 mark, the HP-powered L301 produces
labels up to 215 mm wide and features an optional, motorised label
unwinder. The DLF-1100 is a desktop label finisher that can laminate,
plotter-cut, slit and roll pre-printed labels. The memjet-powered CP950
can print on substrates that are up to 6 mm thick and 228 mm wide, for
short runs of product images and logos on corrugated, cartons, padded
envelopes, bags and letterheads. Also on show will be the DLP-2000
digital label press which has the L801 included.
API Foils (815) is focusing on its new brand enhancement creative
service and holographic foils. Bob Almer, vice president sales, and members of the API team will be on hand to demonstrate the latest techniques
and product examples, and explain how the company works with its customers to assist them in finding the ideal pack enhancement effects that
add value to their brands. API’s development of holographic
and other highly visual optical foil solutions can be seen in its
custom decorative holography service, Holonique Boutique.
The stand will also show other technologies, such as the
Fresnel Lens PET Laminate, which combines the depth and
kinetic focus of a lens with print pack and design. Its micro structures provide an optically correct lens which both
transmits and reflects the light. Also on display will be the TA
cold foil range, which provides fine detail down to a 3 point
font, together with the capability to cover large solid areas and
achieve high quality gloss effects for text and graphics.
Avery Dennison (119) will show its wide range of label
materials for digital printing, both toner and inkjet, along with
a number of innovations for increased productivity and shelf
appeal. To meet demands for sustainable production, it has expanded
the CleanFlake Portfolio with added paper facestocks and enhanced
proprietary adhesive. The portfolio now offers a total solution for converters to meet the growing need for pressure-sensitive (PS) labels that are
compatible with the PET recycling process.
Collins Inkjet (6524) will display the latest advances in inkjet
chemistry for high speed, single pass printing, including water-based,
oil-based, solvent-based, UV-, LED- and EB-curable inks. The chemistries and curing technologies used for inkjet applications are developing
rapidly, which is creating new opportunities, like electron beam.
The company sees EB inkjet as an ideal solution for consumer goods,
packaging, labelling, films, medical devices, heat-sensitive materials and
any application where health and safety are paramount. Its EB-curable
inks pass FDA migration standards and all of the EB inkjet components
are listed on The Swiss Ordinance and the Nestlé Guidance Note on
packaging inks.
Colordyne Technologies (6145) will be running demonstrations of
the 1600 Series bench top printer, 2600 Series Mini Press, and the 3600
Series Laser Pro and 3600 Series Retrofit.
New is the 3600 Series Retrofit, a digital conversion programme that
allows converters to turn their existing flexo press into a hybrid digital
web press. The 3600 Series offers a combination of high print quality,
fast job production, and low equipment and running costs. The 3600
Series Retrofit is an ideal label and packaging production solution for
converters looking to add full colour digital inkjet printing to their exist-
www.dlpmag.com
q
48
Digital retrofit for your flexo press
See how easy it is to add high resolution, high speed, four color process
inkjet to your existing flexo press or converting equipment.
262-784-1932 | colordynetech.com
Advanced Thinking Makes For
INNOVATIVE INKING
CONTACT US
513 • 948 • 9000
www.collinsinkjet.com
50
LABELEXPO PREVIEW
ing flexographic press, and make use of their tooling inventory.
Also new this year from Colordyne, all 3600 Series Products are now
capable of printing at speeds up to 500 ft/min (150 m/min), compared to
the previous top speed of 335 ft/min (102 m/min) announced at Labelexpo 2015. This improvement in print speed is made possible through
technical advancements in software and printhead technology. The new
print speed capabilities are targeted for secondary label and packaging
applications, and high volume digital printing. The printing platforms
deliver a resolution of 1600 dpi.
Daco Solutions (5435) will be at the show to talk about its wide
range of label and narrow web converting machines. Its experts will also
be available to offer free advice on any bespoke solutions for businesses
of all sizes.
DantexRBCor (535). Following the launch of Dantex Digital in 2015,
the company will be introducing the Dantex PicoColour digital label
press to the US market. With a printing width of 210 mm and running capacity of 35 m/min, the PicoColour is a versatile and productive printing
system, which that works with UV-based inks and is available with CMYK
+ white. There will be daily live demonstrations of the press on stand.
Delta ModTech (3523) will feature its Flex Edge laser technology
with a new on the fly changeover demonstration. This is a flexible laser
platform that can be used inline or offline with various configurations to
allow for production and R&D use in both roll to roll and sheetfed.
A portable piece of equipment, it can be bolted inline directly to an existing Delta ModTech machine, connected to an existing converting line
using the telescoping arm to connect to an open station or be run as a
standalone unit. It has been developed for high flexibility, fast job set up
with the ability to recall saved products to speed up changeovers. The
stand will also feature a Crusader Converter with tight tolerance, precision cutting.
The company will be present in the new Digital Finishing Experience
feature area, where a Spectrum finishing system will be running, while on
‘Textures by Domino’ adds tactile finish to digital labels
the Domino stand, a Domino K600i double-white print bar integrated on
a Spectrum finishing system will be demonstrated.
Domino Printing Sciences (6523, 6545) will be introducing
‘Textures by Domino’ to the US market and also debuting the K600i
double-white bar digital UV inkjet printer.
‘Textures by Domino’ is a new inkjet capability of the Domino N610i
digital UV inkjet label press, first launched at Labelexpo 2015. It allows
label printers to produce tactile, three-dimensional digitally printed
textured labels that enhance shelf presence. Ideal for a variety of sectors,
including wine and beer, and cosmetics and beauty, this technique
represents a cost-effective way to create labels with high visual and
tactile appeal.
Domino will have two N610i presses on stand, one shown with ABG
inline finishing, and the other printing roll to roll. The press offers a native resolution of 600 x 600 dpi running at a minimum of 164 ft/min.
The debuting K600i double-white bar UV inkjet printer will be integrated
on a Delta ModTech finishing system, to print specialty marketing
applications.
The N610i integration module will also be shown on partner stands,
including MPS (911) and Converting Equipment International (CEI)
(817). Printed labels can also be seen at Delta ModTech (3523) and
Domino K600i Cold Foil at Gonderflex (3629).
DPR Labelling (6614) will be showing two new products that
expand its line of digital finishing equipment. The first is the Taurus, a
digital label cutter and laminator capable of converting 225 mm preprinted rolls into die-cut labels. Powered by an air-cooled CO2 100 Watt
laser source, the finishing unit laminates, removes the waste matrix, slits
and rewinds pre-printed labels into applicator-ready rolls.
The second product being introduced is the Gemini, a cut sheet digital
die-cutter. This desktop-style cutter is capable of handling various types
of material with different thicknesses and sheet sizes ranging from A4 to
A3 format.
Durst Image Technology (5901) will, amongst others,
show its new single pass Tau 330 E UV inkjet digital label
press. The Tau 330 E, specially designed for small and
medium-sized label converters, utilises Durst’s latest high
pigment UV inks for reduced ink consumption, and incorporates new imaging capabilities to enhance Tau efficiency
and versatility. More announcement are due to be unveiled
at the show.
Epson America (5813) will be showcasing its full line
of commercial label printing solutions, from the ColorWorks
on-demand colour label printers to the SurePress short run
label press. The SurePress L-6034VW is Epson’s first single
pass industrial press and the first to use the company’s new
LED-cured UV ink with inline digital varnishing technology. The L-6034VW enables high speed printing for short
to medium length jobs, producing labels with high scratch
www.dlpmag.com
LABELEXPO PREVIEW
and weather resistance. The ColorWorks C7500G is ideal for print shops,
providing advanced flexibility and workflow with continuous media printing and a bundled Wasatch RIP software that allows for precise colour
control with high image quality to meet stringent customer requirements.
EFI (6423) will feature the newest version of the Packaging Productivity Suite, an ERP workflow for label and packaging converting offering,
which has been expanded to include 20 certified workflows. Each certified
workflow combines the core EFI Radius ERP software with modular,
integrated components from the company’s own portfolio, as well as with
key third party technologies, such as Esko’s Automation Engine.
This will be the North American premiere of the new Auto-Count 4D
(AC4D) shop floor production intelligence platform. Integrated as a
component of the Packaging Suite workflow, this features a streamlined
interface and gives converters the ability automatically collect accurate,
up to the minute production data including counts, press status, speed
and other critical information directly from production equipment in
real time.
Also presented will be EFI’s Dynamic Intelligent Estimating and
Planning software components, plus a new Workbench that provides a
centralised collection of role-based widgets that are defined by user type.
Two presses will be shown: the Jetrion 4950LX narrow web LED inkjet
press and the H1625 LED wide format hybrid roll/flatbed production
printer. The 330 mm wide Jetrion press prints at speeds up to 48
m/min, has a maximum 720 x 720 dpi resolution, and is available with
a complete set of modular, inline finishing components. The H1625 is a
1.65 m wide printer that can be used for high quality label proofing and
packaging prototyping applications.
GEW (3500, 3505) will show its range of UV curing systems com-
www.dlpmag.com
prising mercury arc systems, LED systems and hybrid systems, together
with the associated fully hybrid Rhino ArcLED electronic power supply.
The company will be launching a new aircooled UV LED curing system
lamphead, the LA1. In the development phase, special consideration was
given to the enhanced airflow design to ensure effective heat dissipation
at high power levels. The LA1 is built around the same proven cassettebased design as the E2C and LW1 lampheads and is fully compatible with
existing ArcLED systems without the need for external chillers, pipes or
coolant or any other modification. The LA1 is a UV LED curing solution
that is able to perform without the heavy infrastructure and maintenance
required by water-cooled LEDs, while enjoying the benefits of the efficiency, reliability and extended life cycles of LEDs.
This will also be the first showing in North America of the new multipoint inline UV monitor. The UV monitor consists of calibrated sensors
positioned along the length of the lamp to continuously measure the UV
intensity in a UV curing system. A dose monitor is set to alert the operator before the wrong dose can have an impact on production.
GMG Americas (6512) will be showcasing its most advanced technology to manage colour and produce consistent proofs. The company
will present label and packaging proofs on a wide range of materials,
including transparent film, focusing on the GMG FlexoProof and GMG
OpenColor products.
‘GMG has been a leader in providing colour management solutions
for packaging for many years. In the past year, GMG has advanced our
unique, accurate colour management and proofing solutions,’ said president Joseph Varone. ‘GMG is being adopted by many label printers and
brand owners who require matching colours on any substrate. We look
forward to advising printers how to achieve accurate, repeatable colour
for labels, no matter the workflow or print process.’
Grafisk Maskinfabrik (GM) (6111) will show its full range of
finishing equipment. The DC330FB flatbed beverage line with hot stamping and screen printing will be on display together with a Laser-Hybrid
DC330 and DC330mini line. The compact Mini can be combined with an
automatic knifebox and digital vanish/inkjet digital enrichment modules.
The GM ETV sheeter and PNT automatic core cutter range will also be
shown in action.
The company reports that it has had a lot of interest in the machines
that will be exhibited and is encouraging visitors to pre-book demonstrations and meetings well in advance of the show.
Grafotronic AB (3118) is a 2016 finalists for the award for Innovation for companies under 300 employees at the Label Industry Global
Awards, which take place during the show. On its stand will be its range
of inspection, slitting and die-cutting machines.
HP (3226, 3429) is demonstrating its labels and packaging print
portfolio, featuring the latest HP Indigo technology. On display, the HP
Indigo 8000 Digital Press is designed to handle even the longest and
most demanding jobs. The economics of the 8000 enable converters to
reshape their business and move towards full digital production. Also on
q
The Flex Edge laser cutting platform from Delta ModTech
51
VISIT US
BOOTH 5923
13 – 15 SEPT. 2016
CHICAGO
THE CHALLENGE: SAFE AS ALWAYS
THE RESULT: FAR MORE EFFICIENT
UV printing inks for food packaging
Leading the way in migration optimized printing inks
Outstanding results
The demands on UV printing inks are high for food packaging:
Siegwerk has an extensive UV ink range for all printing technologies
maximum product safety with minimal risk of migration is demanded
including offset, flexographic, inkjet and screen inks and print results
at all times, with optimal efficiency and minimal production time.
are always the same – outstanding low migration properties, optimal
Challenges which Siegwerk more than fulfills as a pioneer in the
curing results, safe fulfillment of legal requirements, and no sensory
production of migration optimized printing inks.
impact. Optimal ink performance in response to high demands.
www.siegwerk.com
Siegwerk Druckfarben AG & Co. KGaA · Alfred-Keller-Str. 55 · 53721 Siegburg · Germany · Phone +49 (0) 2241 304 - 0 · [email protected]
53
show will be the HP Indigo WS6800 for high volume label and packaging bizhub Press C71cf on stand. The toner-based printer runs at 13.5 m/min
production. Bringing digital printing advantages to embellishment printwith a maximum web width of 330 mm and 1200 x 1200 dpi resolution
ing, the company’s new fully integrated, single pass digital combination
(with optical resolution of 3600 dpi). There will also be an MGI JetVarprint process will be shown as part of a WS6800.
nish 3DW +Foil converting line running, showing it capabilities in spot
For packaging, the wider web HP Indigo 20000 will be shown. This
varnishing and foiling, as well as die-cutting and slitting.
offers the freedom to produce nearly any packaging application, including
Label Traxx MIS (5920) will be launching three new modules as
flexible packaging, labels and shrink sleeves on film or paper.
part of the roll out of version 8 of its software. These include an API
Impression Technology Europe (ITE) (6412) will be highlighting Module, which enables users to share data with many other systems that
the Eclipse LF350 label cutter, which has a 5.1 m/min output, allowing
support HTTP and SOAP protocols. The API module can be used to link
for a 800 mm wide label capability alongside a digital cutting capability
to CRM systems or labelling software for example. Business Metrixx is
of up to 350 mm.
a new dashboard module for viewing data generated a business in new
Demonstrations will display the efficiency of the LF350 compared to
ways. Users can monitor and manage key trends and make informed
other models. It was designed as a compact machine with simple loading decisions about the future direction of the business. The Financial Center
and unloading in label work environments, and is supported by software
module offers a new solution for managing financial accounting within a
and a user friendly control panel.
multi-plant business. As mergers and acquisitions continue to trend in
INX International (3010) will show the NW210
inkjet UV digital narrow web press, which features UV LED
advanced curing technology. It delivers single pass output
on any label stock at speeds up to 80 ft/min, combining
printing and conversion to produce colour printed labels at
a maximum printing width of 210 mm. It also incorporates
a Spartanics laser die-cutting station and Xaar patented
technology with multiple drop sizes and color
ink channels.
iSys Label (6413) will reveal the Luna 850 desktop cut sheet printer designed specifically for wine and
beverage labels. Fitting 8.5 x 11 inches (215.9 x 279.4
mm) sheets of die-cut wine label material, the printer
brings beverage label printing in house for small and
large wineries alike. It comes with iSys2Print software and
a Harlequin RIP for full colour management and precise
The NW210 UV inkjet press from INX incorporates a Spartanics laser die-cutting station
colour matching. Labels can be printed and applied within
minutes, making the need for outsourcing a thing of the past. iSys Label
the packaging industry, this new module allows remote locations to send
will also be showcasing variations of the Edge 850 printer, one printing
their financial data securely to a central or main location for reporting.
roll to roll using white toner and the other performing roll to cut using
New consolidated reporting features allow management to view data by
BS5609-compliant material for the chemical and drum labelling market.
location or combined as a single entity.
Jindal Films Americas (829) has been short-listed in the InOther key developments include a new two-way communication with
novation category for companies with over 300 employees at the Label
Xeikon presses. Label Traxx has also modified its financials to ensure
Industry Global Awards 2016. The company, which invested $180 million that the software is fully compliant with the Mexican Government Tax
in new national headquarters and an R&D centre in Georgia last year, will Authority (SAT) requirements for electronic accounting records known
be showing its range of BOPP films.
as Anexo 24.
Karlville (3126) will showcase shrinksleeve, pouch and flexible
Mark Andy (319) will launch Digital One, an entry level digital and
packaging converting solutions for narrow and mid web print industry.
converting label press designed to print short run prime labels with
Lamination and slitting converting solutions for entry level label printers
inline converting at a modest investment level. The compact press offers
looking to expand their flexible packaging offering will be highlighted on
CMYK at 1200 x 1200 dpi resolution with a single flexo station for inline
the stand.
converting. It has been developed to free up capacity on flexo production
Konica Minolta (5413) will show the latest innovations in label and presses and bring greater efficiency to short run, fast turnaround work.
packaging applications. The company will have its digital label press, the
Martin Automatic (811) will introduce the MLSW Splicer for non-
www.dlpmag.com
q
LABELEXPO PREVIEW
54
LABELEXPO PREVIEW
Labels can connect the customer and the brand via mobile technology
stop roll change of self-wound overlaminate films. The compact design
allows for installation above a new or existing narrow web press. Visitors
will also see running demonstrations of the latest MBS automatic butt
splicer and LRD automatic transfer rewinder. Versatile with a range of
substrates, the standard MBS will run materials from pressure-sensitive
label stock to flexible packaging. The LRD non-stop rewinder changes
and then unloads rolls automatically, without any need for handling carts
or other equipment. The MBS-F splicer (F for film) and LRD rewinder on
working display in Chicago have been sold to one of the world’s leading
label converters for installation following the show.
Meech (551) will show its range of contact and non-contact web
cleaning technologies, including the CyClean and the TakClean systems,
as well as the Hyperion anti-static bars. ‘The need to minimise wastage
and achieve higher levels of productivity is a key priority for label printers
and converters, who often struggle to determine the best solution for
removing contamination from their web process,’ said Matt Fyffe,
VP/general manager at Meech USA.
Narrow web presses used by label converters traditionally adopt tacky
roller contact systems like Meech’s TakClean to efficiently remove
contamination. For substrates carrying higher contamination levels,
non-contact systems are used. The CyClean system is capable of
removing 0.5 micron contaminants and will deliver higher levels of
cleanliness for label printing applications.
New Solutions (6150) will showcase its range of digital label
printers and finishing solutions for the first time in the US. This includes the NS PRO flagship product, the NS F22 finishing machine
and the wide format multi-functioning board and label printer, the
NS Multi, all under the company’s ‘All-In’ price model.
The NS PRO is a high speed single pass inkjet printer for labels
and packaging. Based on memjet Sirius technology, it features
a continuous ink cleaning system and bespoke software, which
allows user access to ink level control, roll
radius measurement, temperature and climate control, automatic consumables alert
and ink consumption levels. The software
is automatically included, so the machine
is ready for the next stage of upgrade if the
user wishes to add the NS-F finisher to the
workflow. For the heavyweight user, the NS
F22 turns the NS PRO into an all-in-one
printer, cutter and finisher. It can also be
used as a stand-alone finisher.
The NS Multi is a digital printer for wide
format labelling and packaging. Included
in the workflow is a high-powered PC
allowing users to install variable data
software and alternative RIP solutions as
business needs develop and grow. With a
variable print width up to 42 inches wide,
the NS Multi is also driven by memjet print technology.
Nilpeter (3105, 3205) will introduce its digital press line, the
Panorama to the US for the first time. The Panorama is highly reliable,
with an average uptime above 90%, fast and easy start up, and high
print engine stability. The smart workflow management system ensures
typeface optimisation, provides automated step and repeat functions,
and outstanding colour matching. The ease of use enables the user to
respond to any customer requests – printing the exact quantity required
with no minimum, no waste, fast turnaround and a low cost per label.
Primera Technology (6410) will be performing continuous live
demonstrations of its CX1200/FX1200 (CX1200e/FX1200e in Europe)
digital label production system. This offers a way of starting to print digital at low upfront cost, which allows a label house to take on small runs
for current and new customers without having to take the risk of spending
too much up front and not receiving the ROI expected.
Also on the stand will be Primera’s LX-series desktop colour label
printers and AP-series semi-automatic label applicators. The LX2000
GM will demonstrate the DC330FB converting line
www.dlpmag.com
MA_Digital_Brain_130x185_LX16_Press.pdf
1
6/18/16
10:43 AM
Serious Brainpower.
Serious Business.
(LX2000e in Europe) Color Label Printer, the
company’s newest model, will be featured.
LX2000/LX2000e has highly durable
pigmented inks, prints at up to 6 inches per
second, has a maximum label width of 8.25
What happens when you challenge the world’s brightest digital engineers
inches and includes both USB 2.0 and wired/
to build upon 70 years of flexo innovation? You infuse digital printing with
wireless Ethernet interfaces.
hybrid performance, maximum versatility and true production speeds. You
Ravenwood Packaging (5213) will be
showcasing its complete package of convertdevelop superb print quality at the lowest total cost per label. You create
ing and labelling technology. Its ‘less-waste
serious new opportunities. That’s the Mark Andy Digital Series.
packaging’ display will highlight coating and
labelling in action, along with the developChange the way
ment of new materials and adhesives to
you think about
produce seamless linerless lines. A comic
digital printing.
book style ‘International Linerless to the
markandy.com/rethinkdigital
Rescue’ story of how the company developed
the linerless label alongside leading materials suppliers will be told via a big screen.
Ravenwood will also be part of the Linerless
Trail feature of the show. Managing director
Paul Beamish said, ‘The label and package
printing sector is now seeing that the easiest
trail to sustainability is linerless. This has
moved from niche packaging to mainstream
in a very short time. And it’s here to stay. We
are now moving into the ready meals market,
one that is showing unstoppable growth in
every country year on year.’
Screen USA (3005) will have the
LIVE AT
Truepress Jet L350UV inkjet label press
centre stage. ‘The L350UV is the ideal printer
STAND 319
for label operations that need high quality,
repeatable production that is quick and cost
effective. Its robust features give label producprintheads emit Screen’s vibrant, high-definition CMYK + white UV inks
ers an optimal level of quality achieving the smoothest gradations and
with a minimum droplet size of 3 pl. It will be complemented on stand by
sharpest detail with the thinnest ink lay
a JetConverter L350 finishing machine.
down of any label printing solution,’
Siegwerk’s presence (5923) will be a touch point for discussions
said product manager Sean Cummins.
and conversations about future trends and current solutions for packThe label press will also be in action aging and label printing. This includes digital, and in particular inkjet
on Anderson & Vreeland’s stand (929),
printing, which the company believes will be one of the leading topics
highlighting the recent joint distribuover the next few years.
tion venture between the Ohio-based
Siegwerk is committed to providing high quality inkjet inks for the
company and Screen Americas.
labels and packaging market. In a dedicated laboratory at its Technical
The press produces photorealistic
Center in France, it is developing new ink solutions, first for labels and
quality at a top speed of 173.2 sqf/
as a next step for packaging applications. The company sees growing
min at web widths up to 13.7 inches
demand for application-driven ink systems and inkjet ink customisation
with a maximum imaging area of 12.6
in particular. It combines its longtime formulation knowledge, compreinches. Single pass grayscale piezo
hensive application know-how and expertise in food packaging regulaC
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
www.dlpmag.com
q
K
LABELEXPO PREVIEW
57
tions with digital printing process requirements to deliver customised inkjet solutions
for demanding food, pharma and hygiene
applications. All inkjet inks comply with
relevant legislations in terms of product safety
requirements for the specific market segments.
The company will also continue to support its
customers by providing high quality primers
and lacquers for electrophotographic printing.
Spartanics (5718) has partnered with
Smag Graphique to show its core technologies
to further enhance the capabilities of effective label production. Visitors will be able to
see on-demand demonstrations of the Digital
Galaxie Converting System, which will feature
a 400 W Spartanics laser die-cutting module,
Spartanics Laser Optimization Software, a
Visitors will get up close and personal with digital presses
semi-rotary UV flexo printing station, a full
rotary/semi-rotary die-cutting station, slitting
Pantone colour gamut, opaque white with industry-leading 93% optical
station and dual rewind rollers.
density and digital primer. In-house formulated inks offer high chemical,
By combining semi-rotary tooling and laser die-cutting, label manufac- scratch and sunlight resistance.
turers are able to take advantage of greater flexibility in cut geometries
Vetaphone North America (5605) will be exhibiting examples of
and reduce costs for tooling while achieving comfortable running speeds its latest technology. Claiming an 80% share of the narrow web market
of 30–50 m/min. The modular design of the Digital Galaxie allows label
worldwide, the Danish company brings more than 60 years of surface
converters to experience automation through the combined flexibility
treatment expertise to the label and flexible packaging markets.
of a modular semi-rotary system and the power of Spartanics laser
On static display on its own stand will be an iCorona generator and
cutting technology.
two VE1A corona treaters with ceramic electrodes (UL approved), while
Spartanics’ laser technology will also be featured in the NW210-E UV
the company will have its units working on the stands of partners ABG
Inkjet Printer at INX International’s stand (3010).
International, Bobst Firenze, Domino, ETI, HP, Nilpeter, Omet, Screen,
SPGPrints (6445) will be running live demonstrations to provide
SPGPrints and Werosys.
real-time appreciation of the simplicity, quality and productivity of its
VIPColor Technologies USA (5800) will show its range of desktop
DSI digital UV inkjet workflow. The 13 inch (330 mm) wide DSI UV inkjet printers, which are powered by memjet thermal inkjet technology. The
press is custom built as a standalone with many options. Intermediate
VP700 prints at up to 18 m/min and requires minimum maintenance.
inline LED pinning stations and chill drum are standard, ensuring crispAaron Szteinbaum, technical marketing manager, said, ‘VIPColor Techness and stability on plastic and paper. In addition to CMYK, the press
nologies has been a leading provider of printing solutions since 1998.
can feature up to six extra stations: orange and violet, making 90% of the The VP700 prints high quality colour labels at blazing speeds allowing
The DSI UV inkjet press from SPGPrints will be on show
www.dlpmag.com
you to print thousands of labels on-demand
in minutes!’
Xeikon (6125) will be showcasing the
CX3 press with finishing including the PMS
large buffer, DCoat converting line and new
Fusion Technology. A Xeikon 3030 will be
complemented by a mini DCoat machine and
what the company enticingly calls ‘a little
surprise’, while in Labelexpo’s new feature area
dedicated to finishing, the new FDU Flatbed
Die-cut unit will be on show. •
14 & 15 September 2016 | Olympia, LONDON
The UK’s leading event for packaging
Show feature
highlights
er
t
s
gi ay
e
R od
t
B
“
Mary Boyd, Packaging
Development,
Bakkavor
180 leading suppliers
100s of product launches
the dieline conference
the packaging consultancy clinic
inspirational seminars
networking events
the luxury packaging awards
the starpack awards
the great innovation debate
the drinks symposium
the beauty symposium
“
There are plenty of
new innovations at
the show this year
especially in the print
arena. I really like the
new venue this year,
it’s a great space.
93%
of visitors
found their
visit worthwile
OFFICIAL MEDIA PARTNER:
SHOW SPONSORS:
GOLD PARTNERS:
SHOW SUPPORTERS:
Register to attend for free today gg
www.easyfairs.com/PI-London www.easyfairs.com/LuxuryPackaging
PILondon2016VisMoreContent.indd 1
25/07/2016 11:31:26
EVENT
59
Value creation and innovation
FINAT’s ‘fast track’ to a successful future programme for the label industry was presented to
attendees at the second European Label Forum held in Amsterdam in June.
P
reviously known as the FINAT
salesperson. ‘Experiment. Do something
Congress, the European Label
dangerous… and be patient.’ And, of
Forum (ELF) was convened by the
course, he underlined that adventurous
international label association FINAT.
customers are the key factor in such an
The event has a strong focus on two
innovation agenda.
topics that can create differentiation in
this age of multiple product decoration,
packaging and presentation techniques,
Delegates were brought back from
namely value creation and innovation.
the future to the present day, and an
Held for the second year in Amsterdam,
evaluation of trends and developments
the forum attracted industry business
identified in FINAT’s quarterly EuroF1 specialist Mark Gallagher spoke at the ELF in Amsterdam
leaders from all aspects of the value
pean labelstock statistics analysis and
chain to brainstorm, network and gain inspiration from a programme
in-depth research for the six-monthly FINAT Radar newsletter. FINAT
designed to put the label industry on a fast track to a successful future.
managing director Jules Lejeune identified continuing buoyant growth in
Proceedings began with welcome cocktails around the extensive
the industry since 2012, annually in excess of 5% on average, and well
supplier tabletop exhibition, followed by the presentations to the winning
above GDP.
companies in this year’s FINAT Label Competition and Recycling Awards.
In 2015, demand for labelstocks reached 6.77 billion square metres,
This was accompanied by a programme of spectacular wheel gymnastics
with the top 10 EU label markets accounting for 75% of the total – a
performed by the Wheel Sensation duo – themselves gold medallists in
strong indication that there is still huge growth potential in those countheir sport. The evening continued in social mode with a buffet and plenty tries that are below the European average. Print run lengths are reducing
of opportunities for delegates to get to know each other and network.
– a reflection of the requirement for just-in-time delivery; and research
shows that a significant percentage of label printers are now active in,
or seriously looking at, technologies other than traditional label print,
Next morning, FINAT president Thomas Hagmaier welcomed delegates
including sleeving, flexible packaging and in-mould labels. In terms of
to two very full days of industry-relevant presentations and participaend-use markets, pharmaceuticals, health and beauty, and food were the
tory sessions, kickstarted by a keynote presentation from international
strongest performers in 2015.
futurologist and trendspotter Magnus Lindqvist, who sketched out an
Mr Lejeune concluded by reiterating FINAT’s commitment to its key
inspirational future pathway for the label industry that was both relevant
role – maintaining an up to the minute knowledge base on critical techniand down to earth. He encouraged delegates to develop new ways of
cal, legislative, and end-use market topics, and encouraging ongoing
looking at their businesses, emphasising that change in that area is an
interaction and collaboration across the value chain.
essential factor today, although most companies’ philosophy embodies
Nancy Sinatra’s words ‘You keep saming when you ought to be changing!’
In past centuries, he reminded the audience, if you had power you
Next, it was time for the ELF 2016 Buzzmaster debate – an innovative
could simply pass it on to your children. Today if you have power,
approach to interactive communication across the floor using new media.
someone wants to take it from you. ‘There are,’ he said, ‘generally three
Chaired by Rens de Jong, a popular radio talk show host who was voted
ways to do business – lie and cheat, be honest, or rely on luck – but it
Moderator of the Year in the Netherlands, the debate brought together
really is time to change that state of affairs. ‘Incremental improvement
a panel of experts from different aspects of the supply chain to answer
delivers excremental results.’ The solution is ‘to avoid trends – and
questions from the entire European Label Forum delegate base – via
look for secrets …’ In other words, focus on the engineer, not on the
an app.
Industry status
The future – today
www.dlpmag.com
q
The Buzzmaster debate
60
EVENT
This was a lively session, with delegate questions posted on screen
and answered by a panel of experts, which included end users Tesco and
Nutricia, as well as leading designers and industry research and business consultants. Topics such as on-pack promotions, adding value and
sustainability, raised thought-provoking responses from panellists; and
Rens de Jong’s initial questioning of delegates established an interesting
portfolio of viewpoints on the label industry’s profile today and expectations for tomorrow.
drupa download
As the European Label Forum took place only days after drupa closed its
doors, it was apposite that the programme should include an expert session on highlights of interest in the context of label and packaging print.
Herbert Knott, representing the German label association VskE, took on
this particular challenge, describing his paper as ‘technology takeaways’
from the event. He gave a comprehensive, expert assessment of advances
in every aspect of printing, from analogue, hybrid and digital printing
presses to web cleaning, printing plates, doctor blades, LED and UV
drying, software, inks and print substrates. Commenting on the amazing
variety of digital technologies on show, he predicted, ‘Liquid toner, dry
toner, and inkjet systems will determine the future. The printing industry
is changing to a ‘colour sprayer’ industry!’
Closing keynote
The delegates had two days of industry-relevant presentations and
participatory sessions
Better business
The Forum’s agenda continued with two parallel business learning sessions. The first a workshop on creating and capturing more value from
a current business platform led by Phil Allen, CEO of Customer Value
Management GmbH. He explored customer needs and value drivers, and
routes to achieving business benefits and value, with workshop participants engaged in roundtable discussions on related major topics.
Innovating for future profitable business growth was the subject of the
second workshop. Gordon Crichton, director of the Institut du Management de l’Achat International, making a welcome return to a FINAT event,
led a team brainstorm that took delegates through the process of identifying various steps in successfully designing, organising and promoting
innovation.
The Label Masters challenge
Next morning delegates were challenged again – this time on their
in-depth knowledge of the technology within their industry. The Label
Masters Challenge was led by Mike Fairley, director, Labels & Labeling
Consultancy, and quizmaster Niklas Olsson of Flint Group. Delegates, in
teams of eight, were required to complete papers covering four rounds
of 20 questions on specialist aspects of labelling, based on the content
of existing modules in the new and developing Label Academy – a major
online professional training scheme for label printers in which FINAT is a
development partner.
The European Label Forum’s closing keynote featured lessons from the
world of Formula One racing – ‘but,’ said speaker Mark Gallagher, ‘my
storytelling is not going to be about F1 racing. It’s about growth through
innovation in an incredibly competitive environment.’ With many years
in the F1 arena, in a variety of senior executive positions in such teams
as Jordan and Red Bull, Mark Gallagher was, indeed, well-placed to
provide enlightening insights into what it takes to build winning teams,
compete at a world level and keep ahead of the competition in terms
of innovation.
The changing face of the F1 scene – where the main revenue source
and business model has been moved from team sponsorship by tobacco
companies, to global sports event organisation and management –
demonstrates significant parallels with the label industry today. The two
sectors share the same priorities: safety, quality, compliance and innovation; and, like the label supply chain, said Mr Gallagher, ‘We don’t do
everything in house’; and, in Formula One, he said, ‘One thing we don’t
want with suppliers is a transactional relationship. We want our suppliers to say ‘we can help you innovate!’’ He illustrated this by showing
examples of how such collaboration and partnership have contributed to
key F1 improvements.
Closing comments
Following the keynote, FINAT president Thomas Hagmaier formally
closed the conference, thanking delegates, sponsors and the secretariat
for the part they had played.
Echoing delegates’ enthusiastic response to the event, FINAT managing
director Jules Lejeune reflected that the event had, indeed, met its goal of
delivering ‘an interactive, engaging and business-oriented meeting forum.
The challenge for the ELF programme committee and the programme
director will be to continue the agenda of change, and raise the bar even
further for the next edition.’
The 2017 FINAT European Label Forum will be held in
Berlin, on 15–17 June. •
www.dlpmag.com
LumiForte
The matt paper with high performance
LumiForte by Stora Enso is a woodfree,
coated matt paper with a non-reflective surface
that maintains the whiteness and brightness
characteristics shared by all LUMI products.
The word ‘forte’ in LumiForte literally communicates the
strength and endurance of the paper. Its stiffness enables
impressive runnability which guarantees outstanding productivity and profitability on the most modern presses and it also
functions with complex digital printing technologies.
Thanks to its high bulk and stability, LumiForte’s surface not
only needs less ink and dries fast enabling rabid post processing but is also pleasant to touch. And good opacity level
makes the use of lower grammages possible.
LumiForte is a versatile paper which combines great pressing
features, perfect colour repetition and thinness. These are
useful features especially in high volume products like
brochures, inserts, catalogues and direct mail material.
EU Ecolabel (FI/11/02)
FSC® trademark license code: FSC® C015932
PEFC™ trademark license code: PEFC™/02-31-86
You can find out more at:
Stora Enso UK – Lumi Paper
Phone 01449 767007
E-mail: [email protected]
www.storaenso.com
Contact us today:
CLASSIFIED
www.phoseon.com
[email protected]
62
DIGITAL INKJET SYSTEMS
Heading
DIGITAL PRINT FINISHING
Heading
Heading
DIGITAL LABEL
PRINTING SYSTEMS
PRINT LABELS
DIGITALLY.
FINISH THEM
DIGITALLY, TOO!
Digital Printing and
Converting Solutions
STREAMLINE PRODUCTION
AND LOWER COSTS.
• High Speed
The EFI™ Jetrion® 4900 digital
label production system comes
with optimized inks, robust
prepress software, insightful
MIS/ERP software and business
building Web-to-Print services.
Work smarter, faster and more
productively on every job, every day.
• 4 Colours
• Digital & Flexo
• In line finishing
Visit efi.com/4900launch18 today
or call +44 1246 298000 for details.
www.focuslabel.com
[email protected]
©2012 EFI.
All rights reserved.
DIGITAL LABELS
INDUSTRIAL INKJET
UV LED CURING
TM
Leaders in high quality label printing
Digital - Flexo - Litho - Letterpress - Foiling
With over 35 years in business Anglia Labels are
a major player in the label industry. We are a
privately owned specialist label printer located
in the heart of East Anglia. We have the speed to
meet customer demands, and the quality to
exceed expectations at competitive prices.
The Leader in
UV LED Curing
Superior Performance
Integrated Control
Rugged & Reliable
High quality labels, tags and thermal wristbands.
Any quantity, or size on a wide range of substrates.
For further information, a sample pack or a
comparison quotation please contact us on:
Telephone
44 (0) 1787 379118
44 (0) 1787 378840
Fax
Contacts
Ian Woodhead
Managing Director
Internet
E-mail
Address
www.anglialabels.co.uk
[email protected]
Bull Lane, Acton, Sudbury
Suffolk, CO10 0BD
Contact us today:
www.phoseon.com
[email protected]
DIARY
Diary dates
Labelexpo Americas
Donald E Stephens Convention Center
Chicago
13–15 September 2016
Packaging Innovations &
Luxury Packaging
Olympia London
14–15 September 2016
RotoMetrics European Open Event
Walsall Business Park, Alridge
27–28 September 2016
The Inkjet Conference
Swissôtel Düsseldorf/Neuss
5–6 October 2016
InPrint
MiCo, Milan, Italy
15–17 November 2016
FlexoTech International Print &
Innovation Awards
The Hilton London Metropole
13 October 2016
Digital Print for Brand
Success Conference
IET London Savoy Place
24 November 2016
Digital Printer Awards
Mariott London, Grosvenor Square
10 November 2016
Digital Labels & Packaging
Issue 24 • August 2016
Advertising
01892 514991
Marie Rushton
Publisher
[email protected]
Contacts
Neel Madsen
Editor
[email protected]
01892 779590
Rebecca Gibbs
News editor
[email protected]
01892 541105
Sean Smyth
Technical editor
[email protected]
Chloë Ward
Marketing manager
[email protected]
01892 779599
Chloë Robins
Circulation manager
[email protected]
01892 779597
Lindsey Pearson
Sales director
[email protected]
01892 779595
Chris Newhouse
Advertising manager
[email protected]
01892 779596
Adrian Jackson
Production manager
[email protected]
01892 779598
Jamie Bristow
Production assistant
[email protected]
01892 779598
Text: Lumi Art 100 gsm
Printed and bound by:
Buxton Press, Buxton, Derbyshire. Cover: Lumi Art 200 gsm
Supplied by: StoraEnso
Repro by: Whitmar Publications
Online version: www.dlpmag.com
Rob Mulligan
Managing director
[email protected]
01892 779592
Contributors
Sean Smyth
Des King
No part of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any
form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photographic, recording or otherwise, without the
prior permission of the publisher. Digital Labels
& Packaging is a controlled circulation magazine,
published four times a year, but is also available
on subscription. Rates: four issues 2016 + monthly
e-newsletter UK: £66, rest of Europe: £90,Rest of
the world: £130
ISSN 2044-0685
We know you like to keep this
magazine, but when you have
finished with it, please dispose
of it responsibly.
Whitmar Publications
30 London Road
Tunbridge Wells
Kent
TN4 ORE, UK
63
YOU
WE
WANT TO OFFER NEW
ADDED-VALUE AND
MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES
FOR BRAND OWNERS
PROVIDE SOLUTIONS WHICH
WIDEN YOUR CAPABILITY
TO PROVIDE AN ENHANCED
LEVEL OF SERVICE
The bizhub Press C71cf – experience a new world of
digital label printing
Digital offers label converters the ability to:
•
•
•
Meet the changing market, technology and production
demands and requirements of your customers.
Be more innovative and to offer customers new added-value
marketing solutions that may include multiple versions,
personalisation and brand protection features.
Widen the converter’s capability and provide an enhanced
level of service and solutions to customers such as short-run
proofing or test marketing.
Partnering with Konica Minolta leverages the power of our
cutting-edge innovations in digital production.
TO BOOK A MEETING OR TO EXPLORE YOUR OWN JOURNEY
PLEASE CONTACT US:
www.konicaminolta.uk/c71cf
[email protected]
#enableyourbusiness
0800 833 864