Fast growing narrow web printer BlueStone Label Company is in the process of installing two Mark Andy Performance Series P7E flexo presses at its production facility in Morristown, TN.  The move is part of an ambitious growth program that will continue BlueStone’s phenomenal rise from a $700,000 business to more than $14m in the space of five years.

BlueStone Label has been a full-service label provider in Tennessee since 1986 and is now under new ownership led by CEO Brad Shuff, who has more than 30 years’ experience in the industry.  He explained his business philosophy: “Our primary commitment is to provide superior customer service and excellent product quality, whether it’s a short run of 500 or an order for millions of labels.  We offer a wide range of custom and stock products.”

The two new Mark Andy P7s are both 17” 8-color full-servo flexo lines fitted with hot-air drying and UV curing for maximum production flexibility.  Specification also includes Vetaphone corona treaters for filmic work, delam/relam units and a slitting capability. Capable of production speeds of up to 700ft/min on stocks from 0.5mil 14pt with a print repeat from 5.5” to 24” the Performance Series is the fastest selling narrow web flexo press in the Mark Andy history and is renowned for its adaptability.

And it’s this capability that will be crucial to BlueStone as its looks to extend its products into new market sectors.  Brad Shuff commented: “We know the most crucial factor in advertising a company’s products is high-quality, personalized labels.  We print labels for all packaging purposes in a variety of sizes, shapes, and materials using only the highest-quality inks and adhesive for crisp, clear images that look great.  If we are going to sustain these high standards, we need the best equipment and technology, and Mark Andy offers that in abundance.”

From early days of employing four people, the company now has a staff of 27 working in its modern 30,000 sq.ft. unit on a double-day shift pattern that runs Monday to Friday midday.  “We believe in working hard but also in the importance of a work/life balance and are currently busy recruiting what I call ‘A-Team’ players,” he concluded.

High-resolution images/file can be found here

For additional media information, please contact Lena Chmielewska-Bontron marketing@markandy.com 

Chesterfield, MO. May 10, 2023

St. Louis, MO – Mark Andy, a leading manufacturer of printing equipment and technology, is pleased to announce the upcoming Summer Symposium, an exclusive event for those looking to stay ahead of the curve in the rapidly evolving flexography industry.

The two-day symposium will be attended by some of the industry’s most respected names, including TLMI President Linnea Keen, Avery Dennison Smartrac RFID expert Doug Bourque, GEW Vice President Amir Dekel, Vetaphone Chief Sales Officer Kevin Mckell and Maxcess Vice President Kiki Chosid, as well as Mark Andy executives Greg Reiter, Gretchen Tobol and Dave Telken. Together, they will cover a range of topics, from energy conservation and sustainability to automation and the utilization of RFID technology.

“We understand the challenges that flexographic printers face in today’s fast-changing marketplace, and we’re committed to helping our customers stay ahead of the curve,” said Mark Andy CEO Jason Desai. “That’s why we’ve organized this exclusive event – to provide them with the knowledge, tools, and strategies they need to succeed.”

The Summer Symposium will feature a series of short, focused sessions that provide attendees with the most relevant and up-to-date information on the latest trends and innovations in flexography. The event will take place on Tuesday, June 20 and Wednesday, June 21 at the Mark Andy corporate headquarters in Chesterfield, Missouri.

“At Mark Andy, we’re dedicated to our customers’ success,” said Desai. “We believe that by providing them with access to industry leaders and experts, we can help them overcome the challenges they face and achieve their business goals. We’re excited to host this inaugural event and look forward to seeing the positive impact it has on our customers’ businesses.”

Seats are limited, and reservations are required to attend the Summer Symposium. Interested parties are encouraged to reserve their spot today to ensure they don’t miss out on this exclusive opportunity to learn from some of the most respected names in the flexography industry.
 

Daily Agenda

Tuesday, June 20

• Market Trends

• Importance of Proper Material Preparation

• Energy Crisis

• Consumables

Wednesday, June 21

• RFID Market Trends

• RFID Press Integration

• Converting Automation

• sMArt link on-press monitoring system

• Closing Statement 

Hotel Accommodations

Mark Andy has negotiated a group rate for symposium attendees at the Drury Plaza Hotel St. Louis Chesterfield. Every room features a microwave oven, refrigerator and free Wi-Fi, and the hotel is located a short drive from the Taubman Prestige Outlets and the St. Louis Premium Outlets. You must reserve by Friday, May 19, to receive the group rate, so do not delay. The group number is 10062915.

Drury Plaza Hotel St. Louis Chesterfield
355 Chesterfield Center East
Chesterfield, MO 63017
Telephone: (636) 532-3300
Drury Hotels telephone: (800) 325-0720

About Mark Andy

Mark Andy has been a printing industry and graphic arts pioneer for more than 75 years. In addition to being the world’s leading web printing and finishing equipment manufacturer, Mark Andy offers a comprehensive line of consumables, print products and pressroom supplies. Our solutions are designed to help our clients minimize downtime, improve efficiency and maximize revenue, and all Mark Andy products are backed by the industry’s largest and most capable customer support team.

If you would like to learn more about the Summer Symposium or the ways Mark Andy could help your business to reach its goals, you can call us on (800) 700-6275 or send us an email at info@markandy.com. You can also use our online form to ask us a question or schedule a consultation.

Safford, AZ, May 22, 2023—DRG Technologies, a leading custom label manufacturer, is excited to announce a collaboration with IFCO, a top supplier of reusable packaging containers (RPCs); fresh produce growers; and Avery Dennison, a labeling and functional material developer. The project resulted in an innovative label solution designed specifically for growers and packers.

The new solution addresses the issue of excessive label residue on (RPCs), which has been an industry challenge. Product traceability from farm to table is critical for the safe and efficient transport of produce as well as public safety. Labels used on RPCs must perform well in a variety of challenging   environments. During the RPC sanitation process, the labels must be easily removable to ensure complete sanitation and to prepare the RPCs for reuse.

The result of the collaboration is a completely removable, cost-effective label that will remain reliable throughout the supply chain. The new label, made from paper, has undergone extensive field testing by IFCO and DRG across several different commodities and pack types where film labels are currently being used, including field, shed, and cooler. The new label has shown equivalent functionality to film in those environments, providing growers and packers with a reliable labeling solution.

“We are excited to offer this unique solution to our customers,” said Paul Forsythe, DRG Director of Product Development. “Our first objective was 100 percent removability, and we accomplished that. Our second objective was cost containment – the label couldn’t cost more than the current labels being used. DRG not only accomplished this objective, but we beat it. The new material significantly lowers the cost of the label compared to any currently approved labels. This is very exciting for the industry.”

With the new label solution, growers and packers can be confident in the safety and efficiency of the produce supply chain, ensuring that consumers receive high-quality, fresh produce from farm to table.

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About DRG Technologies

For more than 30 years, DRG Technologies have provided product identification solutions that add value and deliver bottom-line results for customers across industries. With capabilities that include durable labels, blank labels, manuals, instruction sheets, ribbons, printers, and packaging tapes, DRG aims to provide the most cost-effective solution to its customers. Learn more at www.drgtech.com

About Avery Dennison

Avery Dennison Corporation (NYSE: AVY) is a global materials science and digital identification solutions company that provides branding and information labeling solutions, including pressure-sensitive materials, radio-frequency identification (RFID) inlays and tags, and a variety of converted products and solutions. The company designs and manufactures a wide range of labeling and functional materials that enhance branded packaging, carry or display information that connects the physical and the digital, and improve customers’ product performance. Learn more at www.averydennison.com.  

About IFCO

IFCO is the leading global provider of reusable packaging solutions for fresh foods, serving customers in 50+ countries. IFCO operates a pool of over 370 million Reusable Packaging Containers (RPCs) globally, which are used for 2 billion shipments of fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, bread, and other items from suppliers to grocery retailers every year. IFCO RPCs ensure a better fresh food supply chain by protecting freshness and quality and lowering costs, food waste, and environmental impact compared to single-use packaging. Learn more at www.ifco.com

Oak Brook, IL – 22 May 2023 – Maxcess, a global leader in innovative products and services for automated web handling applications, is pleased to announce the appointment of Javeed Ashraf Buch as Vice President and General Manager Americas. Mr. Buch brings over two decades of sales and service experience in web converting applications and machinery, including film extrusion lines, printing presses, business development, aftermarket service and customer support.

In his new role, Mr. Buch will be responsible for leading Maxcess’ sales and customer experience strategy for OEM and aftermarket customers across North, Central and South America. 

Prior to joining Maxcess, Mr. Buch served in a variety of positions for Windmoeller & Hoelscher Corporation, the North American headquarters of the W&H Group, a 150-year-old, family-owned, German company, and world-leading supplier of film extrusion lines, printing presses and converting equipment for the production of flexible packaging. In his previous positions, he successfully increased sales, grew profits, created new revenue streams, expanding into new markets and reinvigorated the service business.

“We are thrilled to have Javeed join our Maxcess Executive Leadership team as our new Vice President and General Manager Americas,” said Odd Joergenrud, CEO of Maxcess. “His wealth of knowledge and extensive industry experience will help Maxcess achieve our goals and grow our web handling business across several industries and help new and existing customers work better, faster and smarter. 

“I am honored to be joining Maxcess and look forward to collaborating with a talented global team to drive growth and exceed customer expectations,” said Javeed. “Maxcess is known for its commitment to innovation, sustainable solutions, and customer service. I am eager to contribute to the Company’s continued success.”

Javeed holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering for Aligarth Muslim University in India. He and his family will be relocating to Maxcess’ Oak Brook, IL headquarters.

Visit www.Maxcessintl.com or call 1-844-MAXCESS to learn more about our solutions to help you work better, faster, and smarter

Press Contact:  Keith Laakko – Global Vice President Marketing & Business Development

klaakko@maxcessintl.com

About Maxcess: Maxcess saves you time and money by optimizing your peak output performance. We do this by leveraging the world’s best web handling brands, offering customized, automated, end-to-end sustainable web handling solutions. Maxcess helps its customers maximize productivity through innovative products and services worldwide by combining global service and support across the storied product brands of RotoMetrics, Fife, Tidland, MAGPOWR, Webex, Valley Roller, Componex and Maxcess Vision Systems, Maxcess offers an unrivaled network of application experts and end-to-end web handling solutions to help you work better, faster, and smarter. Visit them online at www.maxcess.com

Chicago, IL, May 19, 2023 – Channeled Resources Group (CRG), a leading manufacturer of blank shipping labels, release liner, and the world’s largest supplier of value-priced laminated papers and films, has announced the installation of a new state-of-the-art coater at their ISO 9001: 2015 certified Marathon, WI facility.

Channeled Resources has been a longtime supplier of release liners to a diverse range of industries, including tape, envelopes, industrial applications, medical, automotive, construction, and more. Complementing their extensive lineup of standard materials, CRG offers tailored solutions, either matching existing products or developing custom release liners to precisely meet customer needs.

Todd Schweigert, General Manager of CRG, shared his excitement about the new addition, “We are thrilled to be adding this impressive piece of machinery in Marathon. It will allow us to produce a more consistent, high-quality release liner and the engineering of this machine will offer higher run speeds and improved efficiencies.” 

The new 70” coater, manufactured by SAM, a world-leading manufacturer of converting equipment, will complement the existing 65” coater in Marathon, and join the 40” and 22” narrow-width coater in the company’s Toronto location. Once fully commissioned, the new coater will increase efficiencies, more than double capacity, and allow CRG to expand its product portfolio.

Cindy White, President of CRG, added, “It was imperative that we expand our capacity and increase efficiencies to meet the needs of our growing release liner business, and this new coater will do exactly that, along with allowing us to expand our portfolio of liner products being produced in this facility.”

With this new installation, CRG is well-equipped to continue providing high-quality release liners to customers worldwide. To learn more about CRG’s release liner products and services, visit their website www.channeledresources.com.

STOW, Ohio – May 19, 2023 – Spinnaker, a Mactac® company, announces its launch of Bloom hi.mpact®, an ultra-thin, environmentally friendly release liner developed by Mactac.  

At only 1.6-mils, the highly refined glassine liner is greater than 30% thinner than traditional liners. Helping to reduce liner waste, it has a more positive impact on the environment. It also delivers significant efficiencies to manufacturing, converting, shipping, and transportation.

“Now that Spinnaker is part of the Mactac family, we are excited to have access to new sustainable solutions like Bloom hi.mpact,” says Joel Ulrich, Senior Marketing Manager, Spinnaker Specialty Products. “With these products, Spinnaker customers and our customers’ customers reduce their impact to the environment while increasing their bottom lines.”  

The environmental and productivity benefits of Bloom hi.mpact can be seen along the value chain. 

As a thinner liner, Bloom hi.mpact offers 10% more material on the same original diameter roll, increasing productivity with less change-overs during printing and application and less downtime. It reduces freight shipments and fuel usage for increased savings. Additionally, fewer shipments emit less freight CO2 emissions.  

“Fewer change-overs in applicating means less downtime and waste,” says Ulrich. “More labels per roll equates to fewer shipments, so less freight, lower fuel usage and reduced fuel emissions. All of this contributes to a sustainable and positive impact for customers both financially and environmentally.”

From a performance standpoint Bloom hi.mpact offers:

• An ultra-smooth surface, leading to better laydown of adhesive for an improved appearance (especially important for clear films) 

• A smooth, consistent and harder die-cutting surface than other liners, leading to superior converting 

Spinnaker customers can begin ordering Bloom hi.mpact products in direct thermal, thermal transfer and semi-gloss constructions. For more information on BLOOM hi.impact, visit www.spinps.com.

Mark Andy, Inc., a leading global in-line, flexo and digital printing technology innovator, announces PRO Series, a new class of fully servo-driven presses that expands the long line of proven printing solutions.  Designed to optimize single-pass pressure sensitive label printing, the PRO Series delivers extremely low operating costs with a proven print station design, built-in sMArt link production monitoring system, and distinct features that reduce operating costs and improve profit margins.   

PRO Series embraces the award-winning attributes of the Mark Andy Performance Series with economics and efficiency in mind.  This modular and flexible platform has been enhanced for pressure sensitive label applications and is available globally.  PRO Series is CE certified.  

PRO Series is configured and built to modernize the pressroom floor, driving efficiencies for shorter run work in larger operations and allowing small and medium label businesses to find a clear path to operational improvements.  It is an easy-to-operate machine for both seasoned operators and new trainees, PRO Series can help overcome today’s labor challenges.  

From the ground up, PRO Series maximizes waste savings and drastically reduces set-up/changeover times.  Then, incorporating efficient energy reducing components with distinct configurations PRO Series reveals an outstanding label print solution that delivers high quality products with a low total cost of ownership. 

UPGRADE TO DIGITAL – The modular Mark Andy PRO Series carries future value for adopters of the technology, as well.  The system is designed and built as an upgradeable ‘flexo-to-hybrid’ solution.  PRO Series possesses the ability to upgrade to a digital hybrid label press using Mark Andy Digital Pro MAX technology with the unique ability to run Left to Right to a Right to Left web paths.   

EASY ADOPTION – Mark Andy, Your Total Solutions Partner, has created a variety of options to make it easy for business owners who are looking to upgrade their pressrooms from older, first-generation in-line equipment.  Unique tooling and press room accessory kits can be included with overall capital investment, to help maximize profit and productivity goals right after installation.   

MEET THE PRO SERIES AT LABELEXPO EUROPE – The new PRO Series flexo press will be featured live at Labelexpo Europe, September 11-14, 2023, at Brussels Expo in Belgium.  Visitors will have the first up-close view of the platform and will feature LIVE demonstrations daily.  

To learn more about the new PRO Series from Mark Andy, visit – https://go.markandy.com/e/990852/ment-flexo-presses-pro-series-/8zmvm/101947110?h=6Yqla0npCobRNRFtbyuRCCrOyXcZsqAqgdB0R9SjoAE

Schaumburg, IL – May 17, 2023 – The deadline to submit entries for the fourth annual Colored by INX Can Design Contest is approaching. Brand owners, design agencies, marketers and metal decorators who used the INX Color Catalog to produce a commercial can design before December 31, 2022, are eligible. All entries must be postmarked by May 31 and contain the submission form, electronic design, and printed cans.

A new rule in effect this year is two INX colors must be used in the final can design. The INX Color Catalog is known as the only true color standard for metal decorating, containing over 600 removable color metal swatches. It helps reduce lead times to get labels to market quicker.

Combined with new judges added to this year’s panel, a new voting process, and defending champion Great Lakes Brewing Company trying to three-peat, excitement is building says Renee Schouten, Vice President of Marketing for INX.

“In each of the first three years, we have increased the amount of entries for the Colored by INX Can Design Contest. Based on the enthusiasm of the people we met with at the MetPack and Craft Brewing Conferences earlier this month, we are hopeful it will continue,” she said. “Great Lakes Brewing Company won it in 2021 and took it to another level last year with their TropiCoastal Tropical IPA beer can design. It should be interesting to see what they enter this year and how it stacks up with the competition.”

The independent panel of five judges who will review all of the entries and determine the five design finalists includes two holdovers from last year and three new additions.

The returning judges are Sarah Jacks, INX International’s Color Perfection Manager, and Scott Drucker, Managing Partner of Chicago-based marketing agency, The Drucker Group. Joining them are Alex Fordham, owner of The Metal Packager magazine in London; Janet Johanson, Founder & CEO of BevSource, an integrated provider of beverage development, sourcing and production solutions in St. Paul, Minn.; and Marshall Thompson, the co-founder of Canworks, a digital aluminum can printing company based in Austin, Texas.

Their selections will be announced on June 12. The public can vote on INX’s Facebook and other social media platforms from June 14-16; it will count as one vote along with the scoring of the judges. The winner will be announced on June 22 via the INX website and social media.

In addition to bragging rights, the Colored by INX Can Design Contest winner will be recognized several ways. They will receive a custom trophy, be the subject of social media posts on the INX website for the next year, and featured in a future issue of Color Perfection magazine.

UPM Raflatac, a global supplier of innovative and sustainable self-adhesive paper and film products, will showcase its graphics solutions at FESPA Global Print Expo 2023 in Munich, Germany on 23-26 May. UPM Raflatac will be participating in the expo for the first time under the Intercoat by UPM Raflatac brand name, after having acquired the AMC AG and the Intercoat brand in 2022.

At their booth, UPM Raflatac will exhibit the UPM Raflatac Graphics Solutions, such as their PVC-free Eco Collection, Smart Apply Collection for fast and easy short-term applications, Wonder Tack Collection for surfaces with low surface energy that require a special adhesive technology and advanced solvent free adhesive technology. The company will also exhibit their holistic 360-degree approach to sustainability.

“We look forward to welcoming visitors from all over the world to our booth. As the theme for the expo is “new perspectives”, we want to share our company’s new perspectives to graphics solutions after the acquisition last year. These include for example our advanced solvent free adhesive technology and holistic 360-degree approach to sustainability,” says Bernard Niemöller, Global Director, Graphics, Intercoat by UPM Raflatac.

FESPA Global Print Expo takes place at Messe Munich between 23-25 May. You can find Intercoat by UPM Raflatac at booth B2-A48 in hall B2.

To download examples of Intercoat by UPM Raflatac product images, please click here.