Wausau, WI — Wausau Coated Products Inc., a leading manufacturer of adhesive-based label products, is pleased to announce the promotion of Juan Pablo Orozco as the New Outside Sales Representative for the Northeast Region for Wausau Coated Products Roll Label Stock Products. Prior to his new role, Juan has been participating in a Wausau Coated Products 12-month sales training program that took him through every aspect of the Wausau Coated Products business and focused on growing his industry knowledge. In his new role, Juan will help serve our customers, both new and existing in the Northeast Region. 

“We are extremely excited to have Juan represent WCP in the Northeast Region,” states, Adam Frey, Business Manager, Roll Products, Wausau Coated Products. “Juan’s passion and motivation to serve customers paired with his hands-on training experience of producing pressure sensitive products will help him succeed in his new role.” 

Oak Brook, Illinois, May 4, 2023-Maxcess, a global leader in innovative products and services for the web handling industry, today announced the launch of the Tidland RD AutoScore, the next-generation of automation for tag and label and specialty material converting. The RD AutoScore offers automatic and repeatable trim width and cut depth positioning for score (kiss-cut) blades, optimizing job setups to improve safety, reduce downtime and enable running faster with more types of material.

“We’re excited to launch the RD AutoScore, which offers a new level of automation and efficiency for our customers,” said Aaron Powers, Global Product Manager at Maxcess. “With decades of knowledge working with pressure sensitive materials through our RotoMetrics brand, we understand that reducing setup times while maximizing line speeds is paramount to a successful label or specialty converting application. We believe this product provides significant value to our customers and will enhance their press productivity and operator safety.”

The RD AutoScore provides quick and precise setup of score blades, reducing setup time and allowing for consistent scoring of all liner materials, including film liners like PET. It also improves safety by eliminating the need for operators to make regular adjustments while reaching into the press. This enables users to run faster with less downtime, solving material variation challenges and offering superior performance. The RD AutoScore offers a return on investment in less than a year when compared to manual score systems, making it a valuable addition to any tag and label or specialty material converting operation.

The RD AutoScore is the latest addition to Maxcess’ portfolio of innovative web handling products and services, providing customers with best-in-class solutions for their unique production needs. 

For more information on the RD AutoScore, please visit https://www.maxcessintl.com/product/slitting-systems-winding-systems/slitting-systems/rd-autoscore/.

VIDEO

As part of its commitment to students at the Poland-based Technical Universities and Technical Schools, Mark Andy began a series of meetings at its Technology Center in Warsaw with an Open House.  On 21st April more than 100 young people and their teachers, representing two Technical Universities (Warsaw and Lodz), and three Technical Colleges (Kalisz, Poznan, and Zgierz), visited the company’s European Sales & Service hub. They took part in three demo sessions, including one with an Evolution Series E5 flexo press and two with hybrid models, the toner-based Digital Pro 3, and the inkjet-based Digital Series HD.  All three print techniques were shown doing live production, manufacturing different kinds of labels, including POD with participants’ pictures taken during the Open House.  Mark Andy Poland personnel were on hand to answer the many questions raised about the presses and their technological aspects, as well career possibilities in the label and packaging markets.

“This was the first time we had hosted such a large group of students at our Open House,”  says Lena Chmielewska-Bontron, European Marketing Manager Mark Andy.  “It was also the first visit of students from the Technical Colleges – previously we had only University students.  We were delighted with such a big attendance as we’ve been committed to educational aspects for many years.  As a manufacturer with more than 75 years of market experience, it’s a key part of our mission and legacy to share our knowledge with the people willing to join our industry in the years to come.  These events are also important because of the ongoing shortage of skilled employees in our industry.  Considering everything, we’re happy with the involvement of our guests in the technology and equipment we demonstrated.  We answered lots of questions, and difficult ones too, so we’re very encouraged with the success of the Open House,” she added.

Before the press demos, Lukasz Chruslinski, European Sales Manager, gave a short opening speech.  He underlined that printing, especially in the label and packaging markets, has huge potential and offers many opportunities for people seeking new jobs.  He cited market research data and pointed out the technologies that have become increasingly popular in recent years, like RFID.  “As a m

anufacturer of printing presses, we’re involved in RFID and the many projects it incorporates,” – said Lukasz Chruslinski.  “This technology has been available for many years, but its popularity only started to grow recently because of the way it supports the entire supply chain, in terms of sales, warehousing, and logistics”.

Lukasz underlined that many printers and converters have recently begun to modify their operational activities.  “They are changing from being a simple print house to a one-stop-shop, offering many other services, including data management, design, fulfillment, and distribution.  It’s an important change in attitude especially in terms of more advanced projects like ‘intelligent labels’, and RFID tags.  It’s not enough to be a simple printer anymore, you must be a technology partner and advisor, with the printing press being a part of the entire manufacturing line.  We’re pleased to see so many cases of this in Poland because it relates to our customers, too,” he said.

The presses were demonstrated by Lukasz Chruslinski and Michal Mokrzycki – Print Specialist at Mark Andy.  The toner-based Digital Pro 3 was first, and Lukasz explained how easy it is to enhance its capability with additional finishing and embellishment options, like a multi-purpose flexo unit and either rotary or semi-rotary die-cutting.  Digital Pro 3 is positioned by Mark Andy as an entry level press, devoted to short runs of up to 400m. However, as was mentioned, it is quite often used for printing longer runs, as well.

The next demo was devoted to Evolution Series E5 flexo press, which is servo-driven and was equipped with a hybrid curing system, incorporating different drying techniques. “An easy-to-use cassette system enables a quick changeover from one drying technology to another,” he explained.  “It enables the use and drying of different kinds of inks, such as UV, LED and water based.” With numerous other finishing and embellishment options, E5 is a very flexible, multi-purpose, and highly efficient printing platform.

The third demo session was devoted to Digital Series HD, Mark Andy’s flagship hybrid based on inkjet technology.  “It’s our best seller, and is extremely popular with our European customers,” said Lukasz.  Digital Series HD is devoted to longer runs than the previously presented toner-based solution DPro 3 and owing to its extended colour gamut (CMYK + OVG) it can reproduce approximately 96% of CMYK colours.  With its capability of printing a highly pigmented white ink, it offers results comparable with screen printing.  Like the other two presses, Digital Series HD can be upgraded with numerous finishing and embellishment options.  “Its modularity is highly appreciated by our customers,” said Lukasz, “and many of them upgrade their original configuration as the demand from print buyers changes.”

After the demo sessions, the students had an opportunity for individual chats and discussions with Mark Andy representatives. They were very interested in the numerous print samples, including the labels printed on Digital Pro 3 with the pictures of Open House participants, taken in a real-time during the meeting.

“We’d like to thank all the students and their teachers for taking part and showing such a huge interest in our technology.  We hope the press demos and discussions with our experts become a source of knowledge and inspiration for them.  It’s worth mentioning that several participants of the Open House asked about the opportunity of an internship at Mark Andy, as well as help with thesis they are preparing.  All these signs are very positive and encourage us to initiate and support other educational opportunities,” concluded Lena Chmielewska-Bontron.

PITTSBURGH, May 3, 2023 – eProductivity Software (ePS) is thrilled to announce its participation at Interpack 2023 in Dusseldorf, Germany from May 4-10, 2023. As the premier event for the packaging and corrugated industries, the company will showcase its innovative software solutions, which are purpose-built for the packaging industry and designed to optimize complex production processes and increase efficiency.

ePS Packaging will showcase its flagship product, ePS Radius® ERP, an enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution specifically designed for the labeling, folding carton, and flexible packaging markets. Radius ERP is the most comprehensive software solution of its kind available in these markets, offering tools that help companies manage their production processes from start to finish. With its newly redesigned and intuitive HTML5-based UI/UX, Radius ERP can significantly improve estimating, quoting, production planning, scheduling, raw materials, finished goods, and waste management. The software also features advanced reporting and analytics tools that provide real-time insights into production performance, enabling companies to make data-driven decisions and optimize their processes for maximum efficiency.

In addition to Radius ERP, attendees can view the company’s leading industry-enabling point solutions, including ePS PrintFlow® 4D (PF4D) and ePS Auto-Count® 4D (AC4D), which are designed to work with ePS, third-party, or homegrown ERP solutions. PrintFlow 4D is a dynamic cloud-based scheduling solution that revolutionizes how businesses plan complex, multi-site production processes by optimizing production planning up to 20 times faster than existing solutions and allowing them to improve productivity, reduce costs, maximize asset utilization, and increase profits. Auto-Count 4D is a cloud-based shop floor data collection solution that empowers businesses to collect and analyze data in real time so they can make informed, data-driven decisions anytime, anywhere, and from any device. 

ePS will also demonstrate the latest Suite releases of its eFlow Automator and Business Intelligence (BI) tools. These newly redeveloped modules provide businesses with comprehensive analytics and automation solutions. The ePS BI tool enables businesses to analyze data from all areas of their operations to build a holistic view of the company’s performance. Suite Automator automates repetitive tasks, allowing businesses to improve productivity while reducing errors and costs.

Interpack attendees can also experience ePS’ latest ERP ecosystem release for the Corrugated industry, Corrugated Business System (CBS), which offers a full range of highly flexible and modular software solutions that deliver tangible benefits to the businesses that use them.

The ePS stand will feature a range of market-leading solutions from its CorrSuite, including CorrPlan® for intelligent and adaptable planning for corrugated board manufacturers and converters, and CorrTrim® for flexible, real-time corrugated scheduling. 

Attendees can discover new features for its industry-leading ePS Escada® Corrugator Control Systems, including Smart SetPoint (SSP) process control. SSP module’s setpoint management system automatically selects the optimal process recipes and configurations based on multiple predefined factors to manufacture the best quality corrugated board. Alongside Smart SetPoint, the new Energy module will be presented. Energy is an intelligent steam management module that optimizes steam usage on the corrugator to help businesses reduce energy costs.

Aleks Zlatic, GM for the packaging segment at ePS, commented on the announcement, “We’re immensely proud to present our cutting-edge technology at Interpack 2023 in Dusseldorf, and we’re confident that our solutions will help businesses across the globe improve their productivity and reduce costs. We can’t wait to showcase our software solutions to the leading companies in the packaging and corrugated industries. These solutions highlight our commitment to providing businesses with the tools they need to become more competitive and profitable in today’s challenging times.”

Visit eProductivity Software at Interpack 2023 in Dusseldorf (Hall 8b, Stand H33) from May 4-10, 2023, to learn more about how ePS software solutions can help your business improve efficiency, reduce costs, and increase profits.

About eProductivity Software

eProductivity Software is a leading global provider of industry-specific business and production software technology for the packaging and print industries. The company’s integrated and automated software offerings and point solutions are designed to enable revenue growth and drive operating and production efficiencies. eProductivity Software is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with offices worldwide. With over thirty years dedicated to delivering best-in-class technology to the packaging and printing industries, it is the company’s deep-held philosophy that eProductivity Software succeeds when its customers thrive. For more information, please visit www.ePSsw.com

The Canadian flexible packaging specialist has improved the quality of its flexo printing and increased overall productivity by installing the first ThermoFlexX Catena-E 48 in North America. A trailblazer in sustainability, Tempo chose the UV LED exposure unit from XSYS due to the advanced automation, reduced energy consumption, and higher operational speed.

Willstaett, Germany. 02 May 2023 – First established in 1970 as a poly bag manufacturer, Tempo Flexible Packaging Inc. has spent the past two years implementing a large-scale investment plan. Over 10,000 square feet have been added to the sizeable facility in Innisfil, north of Toronto, Ontario, along with the installation of new equipment, including a new CI flexo press from Germany. The ambitious project also involved upgrading the plate room, which already contained a ThermoFlexX 48 imager and Xpress Thermal processor, before the new Catena-E 48 exposure unit from XSYS was introduced late last summer.

The family-run company is the largest employer in the area with over 170 employees and supplies a wide variety of flexible pouches, as well as roll stock and bags, to the food, pet food, and lawn and garden industries across North America. As a vertically integrated manufacturing facility, Tempo is certified to FSSC 22000 v 5.1 standards, with all processes contained within the business, from extrusion, coating, printing, laminating and slitting to final bag- and pouch-making. At the helm sit the children of co-founder Joseph Giglio; Lee-Anne Giglio is the company’s COO, while her brother Leonardo Giglio is the OPTIMIST & CEO.

Sustainability is the core focus for Tempo, and it is reflected in its drive for product innovation and commitment to environmentally-friendly production methods. “Our company vision is to be the preferred partner of sustainable and socially responsible flexible packaging solutions in North America,” states Lee-Anne. “And we always choose our partners, technologies and equipment with that vision in mind.”

The winning contender

Always striving to deliver exceptional packaging solutions for every client, Tempo Flexible Packaging continues to improve every aspect of its flexo printing operation. When it comes to choosing new equipment, the evaluation process is rigorous as technology from different manufacturers is subjected to close scrutiny before the final purchasing decision is made.

Craig Labossier is the Print Technical Services Manager at Tempo. He explained, “We had a pre-existing relationship with XSYS since we purchased the ThermoFlexX imager and Xpress processor in 2020, but we still did due diligence to ensure we got the best machine. Ultimately, we were down to two contenders, and it quickly became clear that the Catena-E technology had a strong advantage.”

The Catena-E 48 thermal system can image plates in sizes up to 900 x 1200mm (35 x 48”), enabling precise image reproduction and fine relief elements at faster speeds, perfect for the type of flexible packaging applications that Tempo specializes in. And in terms of sustainability, not only do the LEDs use less energy than conventional lamps, more savings are achieved when exposing smaller plates as only the LEDs directly below the plate are active.

Instant improvement in quality

The Catena-E 48 LED exposure unit replaced an older conventional bank exposure unit that was causing quality issues for Tempo. “Even though we are already an award winning printer, we were never really that satisfied with the old unit and had been aiming towards switching to LED exposure for a while, knowing that it would give us the quality push we needed,” said Craig.

Set up to work seamlessly with the ThermoFlexX 48 imager and Xpress processor, the Catena did not disappoint and immediately made its presence known. “Right away, the new unit solved our problems, and there was a dramatic improvement in the print quality,” Craig said with satisfaction. “With the Catena-E 48, we can hold much smaller minimum dots, and they stay clean throughout the print run, so we can print for longer, which improves productivity and reduces waste. Our customers are also noticing the much cleaner print they’re getting.” 

Further improving the results and the sustainability, Tempo is applying ThermoFlexX Woodpecker Sharp surface screening to their plates, which helps control the ink flow to deliver a smoother laydown, with less ink used and faster press speeds enabled. The pattern is not embedded in the job files, but applied directly during imaging, making the workflow less complex.

Smooth transition to LED

After witnessing a big difference in the productivity of the plate room, as well as the final print results, the team at Tempo was convinced that the Catena-E 48 from XSYS was the right choice. In addition, the ease of use and high level of automation provided by the unit made the transition process to the new LED technology quick and straightforward.

“The installation of the Catena-E 48 was very smooth; it simply slotted into the existing setup with the imager and thermal processor. It took less than a day to get the machine up and running, including the print trials on the press,” commented Craig. He concluded, “We now have the best possible workflow in our plate room and can run our presses faster for longer. With higher productivity, better quality and increased sustainability, we have truly taken our flexo production to the next level.”

ABOUT XSYS

Headquartered in Willstaett, Germany, XSYS operates globally and remains one of the largest suppliers 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 Silver 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 (Xpress, ThermoFlexX, and Catena), surface screening software (Woodpecker), plate mounting (rotec®), and washout solvents (nylosolv®). Brilliant products and services for brilliant print results and business success.

Kennesaw, Ga. April 27, 2023 – Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HEIDELBERG), the largest supplier and technology leader for the folding carton market, expects the segment to grow worldwide by more than two percent annually over the next few years. According to a study by the US market research institute Smithers, the total value of folding carton production will reach 160 billion US dollars by 2026. For HEIDELBERG, folding carton represents a strategic growth segment and already accounts for nearly half of the company’s sales. An important driver in the market is the growing environmental awareness of consumers, who are increasing their preference for more sustainable paperboard packaging over plastic. 

Recently, Diamond Packaging, a full-service packaging supplier and manufacturer of paperboard folding cartons, counter-top displays, and blister cards specializing in the cosmetic, personal care, and health care industries, installed a new Speedmaster XL 106 from HEIDELBERG. Equipped with UV, Prinect Inpress Control 3, and FoilStar, the press is specially designed to meet the demands of today’s Consumer Packaged Goods companies: high-end decorative effects produced more quickly, economically, and sustainably. Diamond’s newest XL 106-10-LYYL includes the 20,000th XL 105/106 printing unit to be installed since the press model was introduced – a testament to the quality and success of HEIDELBERG’s XL line. 

The Most Advanced Printing and Decorative Capabilities in the Industry

Recently awarded a Platinum rating for the second year in a row by EcoVadis, the leading global advocate for sustainability and corporate social responsibility, Diamond Packaging, based in Rochester, NY, is committed to integrating these two core principles into its daily business. Seeking business partners with similar values, the company recently installed a ten-color Speedmaster XL 106 – replacing two aging HEIDELBERG 40-inch presses. Diamond’s newest XL press, its fourth, is equipped with HEIDELBERG’s most advanced technologies, and will help the company “capture the essence of luxury and premium brands with the most advanced printing and decorative capabilities in the industry while minimizing environmental impact throughout the supply chain,” said Dave Rydell, President & COO for Diamond Packaging. The press includes innovative features like autonomous Push-to-Stop technology, AutoPlate Pro, and a completely new operating philosophy, the Heidelberg User Experience, which together with Intellistart 3 and other assistance systems, ensure short makeready times and the best possible support for press operators. The new technology will not only add substantial capacity and continue to drive growth for Diamond’s thriving business, but according to Rydell, “The efficiency of this press versus our older presses will significantly lower set-up costs and material usage. Additionally, the enhanced automation will be helpful to our operators while driving productivity gains.”

Diamond expects to see further efficiency gains via the built-in color management of Prinect Inpress Control 3. Impressed with HEIDELBERG’s color management technology, Diamond was one of the early adopters of Prinect Image Control closed-loop spectrophotometry to automatically measure and control color. The new XL 106, however, is its first press to feature Prinect Inpress Control – the completely inline spectrophotometer that measures and controls color and registers on press at any speed, delivering the first measurable result in less than 60 sheets. The company, who is committed to minimizing waste, sees Inpress Control as a tool to both advance its color monitoring technologies while supporting a sustainable use of resources. According to Rydell, “Moving to Inpress Control is a natural evolution of our spectral management system that should deliver consistent, stable color results more efficiently and with a higher level of automation.” 

Cost Effective and More Sustainable

Seeking additional measures to reduce its material and energy expenditures, Diamond chose to install its newest press with FoilStar inline cold transfer application. FoilStar helps the company meet its customers’ desires for high-end effects to reinforce the premium positioning of their brands while eliminating some of its offline foiling processes. “Our customers are very interested in our environmental practices and new material options,” said Rydell. “Inline techniques are cost effective and more sustainable, especially when considering the material and energy costs associated with multiple runs or off-line production processes.” Thanks to its indexing function, the new FoilStar unit optimally applies metallic decoration regardless of coverage, which helps to provide savings for printed sheets with minimal foiling. Diamond’s FoilStar unit has the additional capability of applying Cast and Cure holographic effects inline and is the first FoilStar installed in the world with this combined functionality. It is also Diamond’s first press to feature HEIDELBERG’s inline cold transfer unit, but it will begin retrofitting an existing 2016 XL 106 with FoilStar later this month. 

Today, Diamond’s packaging is designed utilizing recyclable or recycled paperboards (many FSC-certified), and manufactured using 100% clean, renewable wind energy, in a Zero Waste to Landfill and Carbon Neutral facility. Equipped with three other XL 105/106 presses, HEIDELBERG technology plays an essential role in what Diamond calls its “greenbox sustainability” initiative – a comprehensive approach to packaging that minimizes environmental impact throughout the supply chain. Through creative design, careful material selection, and best practices at the plant level, Diamond is able to reduce waste and shipping costs and increase efficiencies. “Sustainability is no longer a trend in packaging, it’s an expectation,” said Rydell. “The efficiencies we gain and the materials we save by using HEIDELBERG technology helps us lessen our environmental impact while continuing to cultivate a positive emotional connection to the customer’s brand.”

About Diamond Packaging

Founded in 1911, Diamond Packaging is a WBENC-certified, industry leader specializing in developing innovative and sustainable packaging solutions for leading consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies. Utilizing state of-the-art technologies, Diamond designs and manufactures paperboard folding cartons, counter-top displays, and blister cards. Diamond differentiates itself through award-winning creative designs, packaging innovation/technical expertise, and its greenbox sustainability initiative.

Following successful market validation in Europe, Asia, and Canada, XSYS is now launching the high-performance ThermoFlexX Catena-E exposure technology into the US. This will allow customers in the region to benefit from precise image reproduction, higher reproductivity, and greater flexibility in flexo platemaking.

Willstaett, Germany. 27 April 2023 – XSYS has announced the market launch of the ThermoFlexX Catena-E 80 T exposure unit in the United States. “The arrival of Catena-E is extremely timely, because the flexo industry is facing pressing needs for higher definition imaging, increased speeds, and more sustainable ways of making photopolymer printing plates,” said Dan Rosen, Sales Director National Accounts for North America. “On the back of having thoroughly tested this innovative technology throughout Europe, Asia, and Canada, where we have seen tremendous success, I’m very pleased to say that XSYS is now bringing Catena-E to the US.”

LED technology offers consistent output for higher quality and lower operating costs with LEDs that are instantaneously stable, which also means that no time is wasted waiting for the machine to warm up. “With increasingly automated production, the flexo pre-press industry is looking to LED as the next evolution in platemaking. Unfortunately, the options available have been extremely limited until now,” Dan continued. “What XSYS is bringing to the market is a completely open and much more efficient Hybrid exposing system with higher processing speeds and significant sustainability benefits in terms of less plate waste and lower energy usage.”

The ThermoFlexX Catena-E 80 T unit uses high-intensity precision LED’s for the Main Exposure process offering exceptional reproduction of even the finest relief elements and highest possible print quality. Suitable for nearly all types of plates on the market, the system eliminates oxygen effects, which allows customers to transition into flat-top dot exposure with standard plates or to process plates with inherent flat-top dot technology. This includes the nyloflex® FTV Digital, a new LED optimized plate from XSYS, which is aimed specifically at the high-end flexible packaging segment.

Visitors to the recently expanded XSYS technical center and demo facility in Charlotte, NC, will soon be able to experience the ThermoFlexX Catena-E 80 T live in action. The new unit will be set up in the technical lab to run in-line with a ThermoFlexX TFxX 80 imager to demonstrate fully automated plate imaging and exposure in one simple process. This is enabled by a unique interface with a rover plate moving system and bridge combined with intelligent plate transport and smart run-off, eliminating all the risks associated with manual handling. 

“Having the Catena-E 80 T unit in our demo center will allow people to test their own files and evaluate the operation of the equipment and the high speed benefits in real time. When they can see the operation up close, they will better understand the fail safes, the design quality, and the engineering that went into the development,” said Eric Gibbs, Managing Director for Plates. “We are excited for customers to bring their own production staff, so they can experience the big operational efficiency gains that are available to them with our very competitive solution.”

Across the border in Canada, two early adopters are harvesting the benefits of ThermoFlexX Catena-E technology. Tempo Flexible Packaging in Innisfil, north of Toronto, Ontario, installed a Catena-E 48 unit and quickly witnessed a big difference in the productivity of the plate room. The company needed to replace an older conventional bank exposure unit that was causing some quality issues. “Right away, the Catena-E solved our problems and there was a dramatic improvement in the print quality,” reported Craig Labossier, Print Technical Services Manager at Tempo.

Flexoleed in Montreal, which serves customers in all of the Quebec province, has also recently moved from bank exposure to LED technology. Dominic Desgagnés, Technical Director, expressed the company’s great satisfaction with the new equipment, saying, “We are very happy with the stability of the new ThermoFlexX Catena-E 80; the details are sharp, and the plate floors are even. The transition from our old exposure unit was also well executed and we found the whole process to be quick and efficient.”

For XSYS North America, the arrival of the Catena-E 80 T in the US represents a crucial step in the plan to install a fully automated ThermoFlexX Catena+ end-to-end platemaking line, which is due to be available for live demonstrations at the Charlotte facility later this year. Dan concluded, “As XSYS, we are investing heavily in operations across the globe to allow customers full access to our wide portfolio of solutions and to give them the opportunity to speak face-to-face with our experts. Now that pandemic restrictions are a thing of the past, it is full steam ahead for XSYS North America.”

ABOUT XSYS

Headquartered in Willstaett, Germany, XSYS operates globally and remains one of the largest suppliers 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 Silver 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 (Xpress, ThermoFlexX, and Catena), surface screening software (Woodpecker), plate mounting (rotec®), and washout solvents (nylosolv®). Brilliant products and services for brilliant print results and business success.

Schaumburg, IL – April 26, 2023 – Anticipation is building for the annual Craft Brewing Conference, being held May 7-10 at the Music City Center in Nashville. As the craft beer industry matures, it continues to grow and become more competitive. INX International Ink Co. (booth 363) has a solution that is proving to be the best way to successfully produce a new can design for the marketplace.

INX Color Perfection is a highly effective brand and color management program designed to build brand consistency, ensure color accuracy, and produce significant cost savings. It combines advanced digital proofing, color management tools, and a free educational platform with the first ever INX Color Catalog. A powerful tool, it incorporates over 600 removeable color swatches produced on metal and includes a digitized color library.

Renee Schouten, Vice President of Marketing for INX, says having these color management resources provides brand owners with advantages in getting their cans to market quicker. It also increases shelf appeal with accurate and consistent color that is available anywhere in the world.

“Interest in the INX Color Catalog grows year after year, and having so many metal color swatches to choose from allows design teams to get really creative. Its market penetration is at an all-time high with nearly 350 catalogs in the marketplace, and more than 50% of those belong to brand owners,” acknowledged Schouten.

“Many of the brand owners, including some large breweries, participate in our annual Colored By INX Can Design Contest. But it was a craft brewing company that repeated as our champion last year, and I think they are going to try for a three-peat.”

Great Lakes Brewing Company in Cleveland won the contest in 2021 and defended their title last year with an award-winning design for Tropicoastal Tropical IPA beer. Jameson Campbell, the creative leader for Great Lake’s design team, said the INX Color Perfection program is a tremendous asset that is helping them market products to their customers.

“The INX Color Catalog continues to be instrumental in serving the beautiful illustrations and designs on each of our cans, and appealing to customers with exciting visual appeal on the shelf,” remarked Campbell. “It helps us best match the color, capacity, and transparency of inks to maximize the boldness of each can’s final appearance. INX has helped us deliver each beer’s unique story and flavor promise to our customers, reach new drinkers, and build even stronger brands.”

Schouten said INX experts will attend the Craft Brewers Conference. They are available to talk to or schedule a meeting with in booth 363 to discuss all of the components of the INX Color Perfection program. They can also answer questions about the Colored By INX Can Design contest, where all eligible participants, including designers, metal decorators, and others have until May 31 to enter their designs. 

About INX International Ink Co.

INX International Ink Co. is the third largest producer of inks in North America, with full-service subsidiaries in Europe and South America and is part of Sakata INX worldwide operations. We offer a complete line of ink and coating solutions technology for commercial, packaging and digital applications. As a leading global manufacturer of inkjet inks, we provide a full palette of digital ink systems, advanced technologies and integrated services. To stay in touch with the latest developments, follow INX on Facebook and Twitter and visit www.inxinternational.com.

Two-Day Event Offered Training on Label Printers, Label Design Software, Complementary Solutions, and Media  

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. – April 24, 2023 – Epson and ScanSource recently hosted the spring “Label Summit” event, a ColorWorks® training event for partners. The two-day event was held in Indianapolis, Ind. from April 18-20 and was centered around equipping ProFocus resellers with the application and solution information to empower them to more effectively identify and sell ColorWorks solutions to their respective customers. The event included a tour of Epson’s Indianapolis Distribution Center, allowing all attendees to see first-hand how the transition from traditional thermal printers to Epson ColorWorks has yielded significant improvements in operating costs and operational efficiency.

“The event was a great setting to uncover new opportunities for growth and success with our partners, and showcase the innovative color labeling solutions, tools and programs that can benefit businesses of all sizes,” said Ansley Hoke, senior vice president of marketing, ScanSource, Inc. 

The event included training sessions from Epson ColorWorks partners UPM Raflatac, FoxIV, BarTender®, and DTG. The educational event was designed exclusively for value-added resellers and offered a deep dive into the Epson ColorWorks on-demand color label printer products and how color can elevate productivity and results.  

“It was exciting to welcome our reseller partners to Indianapolis for concentrated, in-depth, hands-on training with our leading label printers, complementary solutions, software, and media,” said Victor Gomez, director, Industrial Labels, Epson America, Inc. “This unique event also provided an inside look at Epson’s Distribution Center where ColorWorks printers are used for all warehouse labeling.”

The event specifically offered training for Epson’s ColorWorks on-demand color label printers that are designed for any business looking to eliminate two-step printing, bring color label printing in-house, add color to existing labels, or simply produce more consistent and better-quality black-and-white labels. Products demonstrated at the event included Epson’s newest ColorWorks C4000 compact printer and the ColorWorks CW-C6000-series industrial label printers with auto cutter and peel-and-present models. For additional information about Epson’s ColorWorks on-demand color label printers, visit www.epson.com/colorworks.

About ScanSource, Inc.

ScanSource, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCSC) is a leading hybrid distributor connecting devices to the cloud and accelerating growth for customers across hardware, SaaS, connectivity and cloud. ScanSource enables customers to deliver solutions for their end users to address changing buying and consumption patterns. ScanSource sells through multiple, specialized routes-to-market with hardware, SaaS, connectivity and cloud services offerings from the world’s leading suppliers of point-of-sale (POS), payments, barcode, physical security, unified communications and collaboration, telecom and cloud services. Founded in 1992 and headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, ScanSource was named one of the 2022 Best Places to Work in South Carolina and on FORTUNE magazine’s 2023 List of World’s Most Admired Companies. ScanSource ranks #773 on the Fortune 1000. For more information, visit www.scansource.com.

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.

Led by the Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, the worldwide Epson Group generates annual sales of more than JPY 1 trillion. global.epson.com/

Epson America, Inc., based in Los Alamitos, Calif., is Epson’s regional headquarters for the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. To learn more about Epson, please visit: epson.com. You may also connect with Epson America on Facebook (facebook.com/Epson), Twitter (twitter.com/EpsonAmerica), YouTube (youtube.com/epsonamerica), and Instagram (instagram.com/EpsonAmerica).