By: Nobelus

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, March 3, 2025 – Nobelus, a leading supplier of finishing solutions for flexible packaging, prime labels, and commercial print, is stepping into flexible packaging structures with EcoElement™ PE Thermal Sealants. This line of polyethylene sealants enables thermal converters to downgauge their packaging structures and access high-quality sealants without committing to large order quantities.

The thermal sealants are constructed entirely of extruded PE with three layers that consist of different polyethylene blends. Layers include a sealant for shaping and sealing, a structural core, and a thermally activated adhesive designed to bond with print web film. The adhesive and sealant layers activate at different temperatures, allowing thermal converters to process the film on their existing laminating equipment. The line includes clear and white versions, both of which are available with or without EVOH to give packaging moisture and oxygen barrier properties as needed. 

While they are compatible with most print web materials, these thermal sealants can also be paired with a PE print web to create fully recyclable packaging using thermal lamination. Roy Langlois, Product Manager at Nobelus, states, “Historically, thermal converters have struggled to offer sustainable solutions due to the limitations of EVA adhesives. This line of PE thermal sealants directly addresses the thermal market’s needs by making it possible to downgauge structures and offer fully recyclable flexible packaging without solventless lamination.” Mono-material PE flexible packaging is currently accepted for recycling across the United States at a variety of drop-off facilities, including participating grocery stores and retail locations. 

Nobelus expects the EcoElement PE Thermal Sealant line to fit seamlessly with the unique supply chain needs of digital flexible packaging converters across a range of markets. “These products open up a whole new path forward for any converters that use thermal lamination for their packaging,” says Angie Mohni, Nobelus VP of Marketing. “They complement the strengths of the digital packaging space perfectly by giving thermal converters quick access to sealants at the low quantities they need for the very first time.”

EcoElement™ PE Thermal Sealants are part of the Nobelus Foundations Collection. Consultations are available through Nobelus for converters who are interested in recyclable flexible packaging.

Nobelus distributes a variety of specialty laminates and films along with the highest quality laminating systems in the industry. We serve a wide range of clients across the print, publishing, photo, packaging, and prime label markets by providing industry-leading service and support. Nobelus solutions are driven by continuous innovation, ingenuity, and a desire to see our customers succeed. In every endeavor, we are committed to enhancing people, partners, and the world’s brands. More information is available at nobelus.com. 

By: Mid America Paper Recycling

Chicago – March 5, 2025 – As manufacturing, distribution, and supply chain operations seek smarter ways to optimize efficiency and reduce costs, Mid America Paper Recycling (MAPR) is bringing innovative recycling solutions to ProMat 2025. From March 17-20 at McCormick Place in Chicago, attendees can visit booth E11527 to discover how MAPR’s waste audit services and floor space optimization strategies help companies cut costs, increase sustainability, and boost operational efficiency.

Celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2026, Mid America Paper Recycling learned how to succeed by adapting to changing business and economic conditions throughout the years. CEO Don Gaines said the online survey is designed to help companies find value in their waste streams by developing a continuous improvement plan.
“A 10-minute online waste audit can set your business on a path to additional revenue,” says Gaines. “By identifying inefficiencies and optimizing waste handling, we help our clients nationwide reclaim valuable floor space, reduce handling costs, and create new revenue opportunities.”

Optimizing floor space with smart recycling solutions

MAPR’s Chicago-based processing facility handles 51 different paper grades, supported by a fleet of 125 trailers that provide flexibility, reliability, and cost-effective recycling solutions. One of MAPR’s most impactful programs is its spot trailer service, designed to eliminate the need for onsite waste storage to free up critical production and warehouse space.

“We utilize this service to optimize floor space by collecting recyclable scrap and trim waste for processing at our facility,” explains Gaines. “This allows businesses to achieve faster turnaround times, more consistent cash flow, and reclaim floor space for revenue-generating activities.”

Citing an example, Gaines said a large print and packaging customer implemented MAPR’s trailer service and reduced their floor space dedicated to waste bales by 50%. It enabled them to expand production capacity and improve their workflow efficiency.

Attendees of ProMat 2025 are invited to visit Mid America Paper Recycling at booth E11527 to discover how a customized recycling strategy can drive efficiency and profitability. MAPR’s experts will be on hand to discuss solutions that help businesses reduce warehouse storage costs and transform waste into a revenue-generating asset. Visitors will also learn how MAPR can help reclaim floor space and optimize your recycling process.

About Mid America Paper Recycling
Founded nearly 100 years ago in 1926, MAPR is a fourth generation-owned leader in the recycling industry and provides solutions for partners ranging from small businesses to large multinational corporations. Its robust program features a new benchmarking audit, consultation services, documentation, quantification and presentation of the specific and overall values that can be realized from customer waste streams. To learn more about the free waste audit and Mid America’s other environmental initiatives, call 773-890-5454 or visit the website.

By: Siegwerk

Siegburg, Germany, March 5, 2025 – Siegwerk, one of the leading global providers of printing inks and coatings for packaging applications and labels, proudly announces the certification of its CIRKIT NATUBAR PR4798 and NATUBAR CT4326 water-based coating for home compostability in compliance with EN 13432, issued by TÜV Austria.

The CIRKIT NATUBAR PR4798 and CIRKIT NATUBAR CT4326 are revolutionary water-based coatings formulated with non-modified natural polymers, designed to enhance water and grease resistance in packaging applications, today mainly used for paper plates to replace lamination. These innovative coatings not only allow the final packaging to be in full compliance with the European Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (PPWR) 94/62/EC and the US regulation «Model Toxics in Packaging Legislation», but are also exempt from the Single-Use Plastics Directive EU 2019/904.

Key Highlights:

• Environmentally Friendly: The coatings are 100 percent biobased carbon, sourced from natural resources.
• Compostability: The coatings are certified for home composting, which ensures that they can be composted at home without causing any harm to the environment.
• Recyclability: CIRKIT NATUBAR PR4798 and NATUBAR CT4326 are fully repulpable and have been tested according to the PTS method PTS-RH:021/97 cat II and CEPI Lab Test method v2, achieving a CEPI-scorecard result of 100 percent.
• Product Safety: Formulated using non-modified natural polymers approved for use in food, the coating is safe for direct food contact and has been certified by independent laboratories.

“Achieving TÜV Austria certification for home compostability is a key milestone in our circular economy efforts. It shows we’re meeting future packaging regulations with high performance and environmental responsibility,” says Gilles LeMoigne, Business Unit Head Circular Economy Coatings. By offering a coating solution that is recyclable, compostable and biobased, Siegwerk continues to lead the industry in providing environmentally friendly packaging solutions.

For more information, please visit https://news.siegwerk.com/paper-plates.

About Siegwerk

Siegwerk is one of the leading global manufacturers of printing inks and coatings for packaging applications and labels. Based on 200 years of expertise, we provide customized solutions for all types of packaging needs – from functional and eye-catching to safe and sustainable. As a seventh-generation family business, we have long been aware of our responsibility for future generations. Under the motto “rethINK packaging”, we are therefore actively driving the transformation to a circular economy by developing eco-friendly solutions that enable packaging circularity. Here, 30+ country organizations and ~5,000 employees worldwide ensure consistent high-quality products and customized support around the world. Learn more at www.siegwerk.com

By: Epson

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. – March 4, 2025 – Epson today announced its SurePress^® digital label press line – the SurePress L-4733AW and SurePress L-6534VW – have been awarded Digital Press System Certification by Idealliance, a global leader in standards and training for print and packaging supply chains. Both SurePress models using the Wasatch RIP have met the strict requirements of Idealliance’s Digital Press Certification, a program consisting of testing and certification in areas of color, print properties and print production. With this certification, Epson demonstrates its entire press system – including the digital front-end, print engine and paper – meets or exceeds established industry tolerances for excellence in the areas of colorimetric accuracy, uniformity, repeatability, durability, and registration.

“We understand that label converters’ customers are demanding accurate colors, while also wanting economically priced labels,” said Mike Pruitt, product manager, SurePress, Epson America, Inc. “Wherever a customer is printing in the world – whether India or Indiana – this certification proves SurePress models with Wasatch RIPs meet the strict Digital Press System Certification requirements to provide the same high-quality color accuracy from print to print and country to country, which ultimately results in customer satisfaction and minimized rejected orders.”

SurePress digital label presses are designed for color accuracy, ease of use and to be complimentary with other presses used in a print shop. Whether using a 4, 5 or 6 color SurePress, the press intelligently manages the file in a 4-color workflow and calculates the remaining colors to ease operations. Additionally, as printing requirements are becoming more exacting graphically, and costs are rising, SurePress digital label presses handle rasterization from digital TIFF plates created by a RIP directly on-press, eliminating software layers and enabling fast communication of data.

The Digital Press Certification Program for inkjet systems certifies the capabilities of commercial production inkjet, high speed, cut sheet, and web devices to meet specific print standards. The program consists of testing and certification in areas of color, print properties, and print production. “The SurePress certification underscores its commitment to excellence and dedication to print accuracy,” said Jordan Gorski, executive director of Idealliance. “As the demand for consistent and high-quality print grows, Idealliance’s standards across print production such as G7 continue to serve as the foundation of industry standards for color, print quality and alignment of workflows and supply chains.”

Digital Press System Certification benefits include:

–       Color Consistency Across Platforms: Whether printing on different substrates or using varied techniques, certification ensures that colors remain uniform.

–       Cost Efficiency: Standardizing the printing process reduces waste and rework, ultimately saving both time and money.

–       Global Standard: Certification is recognized globally, allowing certified print service providers to compete on an international scale.

–       Improved Quality Control: G7-certified companies maintain better control over their printing processes, which results in improved quality and client satisfaction.

For more information about the Digital Press System Certification and the impact for print service providers, visit Idealliance’s site. For more information about Epson SurePress digital label presses, visit www.epson.com/surepress. 

About Epson

Epson is a global technology leader whose philosophy of efficient, compact and precise innovation enriches lives and helps create a better world. The company is focused on solving societal issues through innovations in home and office printing, commercial and industrial printing, manufacturing, visual and lifestyle. Epson’s goal is to become carbon negative and eliminate use of exhaustible underground resources such as oil and metal by 2050.

By: Yazoo Mills

New Oxford, PA, March 3, 2025 – As part of its ongoing expansion and innovation efforts, Yazoo Mills, Inc., the largest independent manufacturer of paper tubes and cores in America, proudly announces the promotions of two pivotal leaders within the organization.

Steve McMaster, after dedicating 41 years to excellence at Yazoo Mills, has been promoted to Vice President of Manufacturing. In his elevated role, Steve will oversee the operations at the company’s manufacturing facilities, managing all aspects of manufacturing operations, quality assurance, logistics, and operational excellence initiatives aimed at boosting production capacity.

Michell Trish has been promoted to Vice President of Accounting & Administration following 38 years of steadfast commitment and service to Yazoo Mills. In her new position, Michell will oversee the IT, HR, and accounting departments, ensuring that administrative operations align seamlessly with the company’s strategic objectives to enhance overall efficiency and effectiveness.

Yazoo Mills proudly recognizes the outstanding contributions of Steve McMaster and Michell Trish with their promotions, reflecting its dedication to leadership excellence and continuous improvement. Their roles will be crucial as we continue to expand strategically and thrive in the paper tube and core manufacturing market.

About Yazoo Mills

Established in 1902, Yazoo Mills, Inc. is America’s largest family-owned and operated manufacturers of 100% recycled paper tubes and cores. Serving a variety of industries in the United States, Yazoo has a reputation for excellence in short runs and recutting with manufacturing only premium quality paper tubes and cores, made to each customer’s specifications. On average, the company produces over four-million inches of tubing per day. Companies that require quality, consistency, and ongoing reliability contact Yazoo Mills for all of their needs.

For additional information on Yazoo Mills and their products, visit the website www.yazoomills.com.

By: XSYS

Willstaett, Germany. 03 March 2025 – XSYS, a global integrated solutions provider to the flexographic, letterpress and pre-press printing markets, today announces that it has completed the acquisition of the MacDermid Graphics Solutions business (“MGS”) from Element Solutions Inc (NYSE: ESI). The transaction was signed on 1 September 2024 and has been approved by all the relevant regulators globally. The combination of XSYS and MGS will create one of the leading companies in the sector worldwide.

“We are excited to announce the completion of this transformative combination and to join forces with our new MGS colleagues” said Dr. Alexander Unterschuetz, Group CEO of XSYS. “This transaction creates significant value and opportunities as a result of the complementarity of both businesses’ product portfolio, services, and employees, thus making us a more complete solution provider for our customers.” He further commented, “This, together with the strengthened knowledge and resources of our dedicated technical support teams, will enable us to deliver even better products and services to our customers, who are at the centre of everything we do”.

The combined business will have a workforce of approximately 850 employees worldwide and turnover of approximately €370 million.

About XSYS

Headquartered in Willstaett, Germany, XSYS operates globally and is a leading supplier offering both flexographic and letterpress prepress solutions, including plates, sleeves, processors, workflow solutions, and expert professional services, designed to help these industries move forward with increasing innovation, improved productivity and profitability, and a reduced environmental footprint.

In recognizing our endeavor to bring more brilliance into the packaging industry – into the lives of our customers and colleagues – XSYS has achieved a Gold Medal rating from EcoVadis for its sustainability. This distinction goes beyond our commitment to protecting the environment by also evaluating our dedication to social responsibility, diversity, and human rights.

The broad XSYS portfolio comprises some of the industry’s best-known brands of consumables (nyloflex® and nyloprint® plates), plate processing equipment (ThermoFlexX, Catena and Xpress), surface screening software (Woodpecker), plate mounting (rotec®), and washout solvents (nylosolv®). Brilliant products and services for brilliant print results and business success.

About MacDermid Graphics Solutions

MacDermid Graphics Solutions, formerly a division of Element Solutions Inc, is a global leader in the manufacturing of photopolymer plates and equipment used in flexographic printing. We deliver high-quality graphic capabilities for the packaging printing markets globally. Our mission is to provide a world-class customer experience, while meeting flexographic printing plates needs with award-winning technology. This is achieved through creating strategic value for our customers from start to finish. We are an open provider and offer the best possible solutions via industry partnerships.

MacDermid Graphics Solutions is passionate about our planet and our industry. We consider ESG to be a business imperative, an extension of our growth strategy and a reflection of our values. We are a founding partner of the Flexo Xperience Center.

By: Mondi

• Mondi collaborated with Sherwin-Williams to introduce re/cycle SpoutedPouch for paint concentrate.
• Mondi created a wider spout so Sherwin-Williams can easily fill the pouch, and end users can conveniently pour the concentrate.
• The durable pouch is a replacement for traditional plastic tubs, reducing plastic consumption by 90% vs a 5L bucket.

26 February 2025 – Mondi, a global leader in sustainable packaging and paper, collaborated with Sherwin-Williams, a global leader in paints and coatings, to introduce re/cycle SpoutedPouch as a refill option for its concentrated paint, sold on the UK market. Leveraging the expertise in its Halle/Steinfeld plant in Germany, Mondi introduced a wider spout for easier filling and pouring, while ensuring the mono-material pouch is designed to protect its contents.

The paint concentrate was developed to replace the traditional 5-litre pre-mixed paint in rigid plastic tubs. Consumers are encouraged to reuse these tubs to mix the paint concentrate and then recycle the refill’s packaging. It comes in a lightweight 950ml spouted pouch with instructions for mixing clearly printed on the side. The spout offers excellent pourability to make it easy to mix with water and create the needed amount of paint. The pouch can be tightly closed after usage, preserving any unused concentrate.

Mondi worked closely with Sherwin-Williams to deliver a solution tailored to their specific packaging needs. re/cycle SpoutedPouch is a pre-made pouch made from polyethylene mono-material and has a wider spout making it easier for Sherwin-Williams to fill the paint concentrate. Mondi’s SpoutedPouch reduces packaging waste and provides ease of use to outdoor painting projects, along with minimising the space needed to transport and store paint.

The condensed size compared to regular 5-litre pre-mixed paint tins means 230% more units can fit on each pallet, resulting in increased efficiency within the supply chain. The pouches also take up less space on retail shelves and come packaged in shelf-ready tear-front boxes of five units, allowing easier stock replenishment compared to traditional tins.

“It’s more convenient for consumers to carry home and the leftovers are easily stored. It will also increase transport efficiency thanks to the reduced weight and size of the packaging.

By selling concentrate in spouted pouches rather than premixed fence stain in rigid tubs, we’ve reduced plastic usage by up to 90%*,” enthused Christina Rowe, Head of Product Marketing at Sherwin-Williams.

“Our newly introduced solution has big potential for industrial applications, and we leverage our integrated value chain for pouch production, from the film extrusion to lamination to the spout insertion. We were careful to ensure high-quality printing, so the branding stands out on the shelf, and the mixing instructions are clear and easily readable,” explained Gary Knight, Regional Sales at Mondi.

Ronseal concentrated fence stain in a pouch is now available online, at DIY markets and through retailers across the UK. Mondi is continuously working on innovative and sustainable solutions for various industries and end-markets that help their customers to achieve their sustainability goals, such as developing a paint packaging that is sustainable by design.

* single unit comparison by weight of plastic content in the product packaging, when comparing a 950ml concentrate pouch vs a 5L bucket.

By: Epson

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. – Feb. 25, 2025 – Epson today announced it will be highlighting its ColorWorks^® on-demand color label solutions at Natural Products Expo West from March 5-7 at the Anaheim Convention Center in booth #2908. ColorWorks label printers are used for consumer packaged goods (CPG) and food and beverage labeling applications, helping brands and businesses boost operational efficiency and reduce waste by printing labels on demand. 

“Color labels and packaging not only enhance product branding but also help to tell a story, creating a deeper connection with consumers,” said Stevi Sterns, product manager, Color Label Printers, Epson America. “With the ability to cost-effectively print labels on demand and in color, businesses can streamline operations by eliminating long lead times and obsolete label inventory from third-party printers.” 

Epson will showcase several demos at the show, highlighting how ColorWorks printers deliver efficiency, quality and customization across a wide range of label printing applications, including:

• Product ID Labels: Bringing comprehensive connectivity and dynamic image quality together in a compact design, the ColorWorks C4000 label printer enables businesses to harness the power of communication through color. 

• Food & Beverage Labels: Designed with print speeds at up to 5-inches per second,¹ the CW-C6000A produces sharp, full-color labels. Combined with the Ishida Weight scale, the printer can incorporate variable data, ideal for food and beverage labels. 
• Shipping Labels: Label Boost™ software will be demoed with the CW-C6000P to show how the solution can transform traditional monochrome shipping labels into color labels. With Label Boost,² businesses can harness the full power of marketing by adding full-color coupons, ads, cross-promotion, and more to shipping labels, as well as improve processes with secondary labels to highlight critical information or provide special instructions. 

• Print-and-Apply Bottle Solution: The LabelMate Botlr applicator will be shown with pre-printed labels from the ColorWorks CW-C6000A, underscoring how the packaging process for various bottled products can be automated, allowing businesses to focus efforts on high priority tasks while reducing labor costs.
• Oversized Labels: As a printer fit for many applications, the CW-C6500A accommodates labels up to 8.34” wide and will be showcasing a 17.5” long label. Businesses can benefit from this model’s customization capabilities for labeling and branding products both big and small.
• High Volume, High-Performance Labels: The newest solution to the ColorWorks lineup, the CW-C8000, produces high-quality labels with vibrant image quality and crisp precision at print speeds up to 11.8″ per second.³ Designed with advanced connectivity for simple remote management integrations makes this printer ideal for busy, on-demand environments.

ColorWorks on-demand color label printers offer full-color capabilities, single-step simplicity and the powerful PrecisionCore^®technology to deliver state-of-the-art, high-quality labels in real time, eliminating the need for excess inventory and potentially reducing pre-printed label waste. For additional information, visit epson.com/colorworks. 

About Epson

Epson is a global technology leader whose philosophy of efficient, compact and precise innovation enriches lives and helps create a better world. The company is focused on solving societal issues through innovations in home and office printing, commercial and industrial printing, manufacturing, visual and lifestyle. Epson’s goal is to become carbon negative and eliminate use of exhaustible underground resources such as oil and metal by 2050.

By: Durst Group Company

Franklin, TN – February 2025: It is with tremendous excitement and pride that Vanguard Digital Printing Systems, A Durst Group Company, announces the opening of their highly anticipated experience center, located in Franklin, Tennessee. With the explosive growth Vanguard has experienced over the last several years, the addition of a designated experience center was a necessity to address the needs of a growing dealer and customer base. 

“This industry is our passion, and Vanguard is the way we show it. We have come a long way since we first opened, and it is awesome to look back on the journey,” reflected Jim Peterson, COO and Founding Partner of Vanguard Digital. “This experience center is the culmination of all our hard work, and we are humbled by all of the support we have received, and incredibly grateful to be here at this moment as a result of the trust we have been given by our partners and friends. Franklin embodies the roots of our company: salt of the earth, hard-working, wholesome, and comforting, and we couldn’t have picked a better place to be.” Peterson calls Franklin home, and is, “excited to show our visitors the historic and scenic beauty and the southern spirit of this incredible town.”

The opening of this Experience center symbolizes something else important to Vanguard history – it’s 10th year. Vanguard Digital Printing Systems was founded in 2015 by a couple of friends looking to corporealize their dream and make a difference in the print industry. In the ten years since its founding, Vanguard has grown from an idea into a 30+ employee operation, servicing a wide range of customer with the help of numerous devoted dealer partners, with three locations across the United States. This success has been due to one simple idea: Growing Your Business, Together. By viewing their customers as partners, and by investing in their success, Vanguard continues to build long-lasting partnerships that continue to grow in every direction. 

The new Vanguard Experience Center is now open at 117 Seaboard Lane, Suite D100, in Franklin, Tennessee, just twenty miles south of Nashville. The Experience Center joins their headquarters in Lawrenceville, Georgia, and their West Coast Demo Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Vanguard looks forward to welcoming current and future customers to the culturally rich and inviting town of Franklin to experience the vast solutions they have to offer the print industry.