Midlothian, TX – Ennis, Inc. (the “Company”), (NYSE EBF), today announced its acquisition of School Photo Marketing in Morganville, New Jersey. School Photo Marketing provides printing, yearbook publishing and marketing-related services to over 1,400 school and sports photographers servicing schools around the country.

Keith Walters, Chairman, President & CEO of the Company stated, “We are delighted to have the opportunity to bring School Photo Marketing, their employees, and their customers into the Ennis family. This addition brings with it many exciting possibilities to service this new channel with products produced through Ennis manufacturing operations.”

School Photo Marketing operates through a similar wholesale manufacturer-distributor-end user channel as Ennis currently operates. School Photo Marketing specializes in serving photo labs as well as school and sports photographers by expanding their reach and becoming an invaluable asset to their business. 

Upon closing, operations will continue to operate as School Photo Marketing in their current locations.

About Ennis
Since 1909, Ennis, Inc. has primarily engaged in the production and sale of business forms and other business products. The Company is one of the largest private-label printed business product suppliers in the United States. Headquartered in Midlothian, Texas, the Company has production and distribution facilities strategically located throughout the United States to serve the Company’s national network of distributors. The Company manufactures and sells business forms, other printed business and commercial products, printed and electronic media, presentation products, flexographic printing, internal bank forms, secure and negotiable documents, envelopes, tags and labels, advertising specialties, adhesive notes, plastic cards and other custom products. For more information, visit ennis.com.

Caledonia, IL – KTI, a world-class manufacturer of automatic splicers, turret rewinders and other web converting equipment has recently completed installation of their ZL Series Automatic Butt Splicer for Papercone Corp. located in Louisville, KY. 

Papercone Corp., a manufacturer of specialty envelopes and soft packaging, designs and builds their folding lines in-house.  Papercone needed to add capacity, so they approached KTI for a solution that will allow the benefit of shaftless technology and butt splicing as opposed to lap splicing.  KTI proposed the ZL Series Automatic Butt Splicer because it offers many features that can simplify and optimize their processes. 

The ZL Series Automatic Butt Splicer is the perfect fit for Papercone Corp. as it is designed specifically for use with light paperboard and similar materials.  There are a number of configurations available to accommodate various web widths and materials and the integrated festoon allows for splicing at full line speed. The operator-friendly, single-method splice preparation assures reliable diagonal butt splicing with no overlap. 

Papercone Corp. plans to run TerraBoard, their eco-friendly 100% recycled content material. The ZL Series Automatic Butt Splicer was chosen for its additional capacity and innovative shaftless technology. The Butt Splicer’s two cantilevered roll positions feed a continuous supply of material into the press. The integrated storage festoon eliminates the need to stop while changing rolls, saving time and material waste. 

Through years of experience working together, Papercone Corp. knows the KTI product line to be reliable, a big reason they chose KTI for this application. Papercone Corp. currently has six KTI machines running in their distribution center making the ZL Series their 7th KTI machine.   

“KTI has provided us with great solutions for our varied needs in the past.  They have worked very well for us over the years”, says Tony Darnell, Project Engineer at Papercone Corp. 

Steve Reynolds, Regional Sales Manager for KTI added “Papercone Corp. has been a good customer to us.  We take pride in providing robust, reliable machines that can help them achieve their goals and increase their capacity.  We look forward to continuing to grow our relationship and offer them the excellent after-market support KTI is known for.” 

The ZL Series Cantilever Butt Splicer is available in web widths up to 50 inches (1270mm), roll diameter up to 72 inches (1828mm), splice speed up to 1000FPM (304MPM) and runs 12 inch (304mm) cores.  Standard features include PLC touch screen controls, automatic zero speed butt splice at process line speed, diagonal butt splice with no overlap, two-sided tape, automatic roll side lay and bi-directional unwind capability.  Optional features include in-register splice system for pre-printed webs, core chucks for alternate core sizes.  All KTI equipment is remote diagnostics ready. 

For more information on the ZL Series Automatic Butt Splicer from KTI visit www.ktiusa.com. 

About KTI
KTI, originally founded in 1985, is under the ownership of Quantum Design Inc. and shares its home with several product lines including CTC, Quantum Roll Sheeters and Quantum Design Control Systems. KTI currently has over 3,500 machines installed in 24 countries being utilized by printers and converters in the tag and label, printing, envelope, packaging, business forms, newspaper and folding carton industries. For more information on KTI or Quantum Design, please visit www.quantumdi.com or call (815)885-1300 today.

Machesney Park, IL – KTI, a world-class manufacturer of automatic splicers, turret rewinders and other web converting equipment, recently completed the installation of a PS Series Lap Splicer at Allegheny Envelope in Roaring Spring, PA.

Born in 2020, Allegheny Envelope began manufacturing operations in January of 2021 with one envelope machine.  Over the past 22 months, they have added 3 more and currently have 40 employees.  With the recent acquisition of a Smithe SW, the company is seeing rapid growth.  The envelope industry had seemingly slowed down in recent years, but Rob Herman and his partner, Bob Paltrow, saw a different vision and utilized the knowledge of employees, the experts living in Roaring Spring, PA area, which was once a booming envelope hub.   

Allegheny Envelope plans to run Poly Styrene Patch material on the new Lap Splicer.  The PS Series is a great addition to Allegheny’s production creating efficiencies and reducing waste.  The machine is designed to feed a continuous supply of material into the process line allowing for splicing at full line speed without stopping the line to change rolls.  With the small footprint of the PS Series, this lap splicer can be easily integrated into most web fed envelope lines.   

Robert Herman, Owner of Allegheny Envelope, says “We have utilized KTI previously and have always had a great experience. Our representative, Robin Sherlund, went above and beyond with this order and made the purchasing process very simple.” 

“It’s nice to see a new order supporting the envelope industry,” says Derek Wheeler, VP of Sales at Quantum Design.  “Activity from envelope producers had slowed over the years, so it has been encouraging watching as the industry has evolved over the past several years.  Our equipment is still a great addition to any envelope production line and we are excited to join Allegheny in their success and growth and look forward to supporting them for years to come.”

The PS Series Lap Splicer handles web widths up to 12 inches (304mm), roll diameters up to 20 inches (508mm), roll weight up to 150lbs (60kg), splice speeds up to 500FPM (152MPM) and can run a 3” (76mm) core size.  Standard features include PLC touch screen controls, an integrated festoon that allows splicing at full line speed, cantilevered spindles with pneumatic core chunks, automatic press stop for web break or no splice prep, and bi-directional unwind capability.

A 90 degree turn bar with web positioner is an optional feature available for the PS Series Lap Splicer.  Like all KTI equipment, the PS Series is remote diagnostics-ready. 

For more information on the PS Lap Splicer from KTI visit www.ktiusa.com. 

About KTI
KTI, originally founded in 1985, is under the ownership of Quantum Design Inc. and shares its home with several product lines including CTC, Quantum Roll Sheeters and Quantum Design Control Systems. KTI currently has over 4000 machines installed in more than 24 countries being utilized by printers and converters in the tag and label, printing, envelope, packaging, business forms, newspaper and folding carton industries. For more information on KTI or Quantum Design, visit www.quantumdi.com or call (815) 885-1300 today.

Through continued innovation and collaboration with brand owners, Ahlstrom has identified specific technology enabling highly developed base papers – the key to solving the barrier requirements in flexible packaging, while still utilizing the inherent end-of-life benefits that paper has to offer. Ahlstrom has the unique set of capabilities and wide breadth of technical applications to allow them to develop some of the strongest performing base papers available.

“Paper substrates can be engineered to exploit the inherent value of cellulose itself,” explained Zack Leimkuehler, Vice President Business Development for Ahlstrom. “Cellulose by itself is a very good barrier, and highly developed base papers can deliver barrier properties.”

Paper is an ideal material for flexible packaging applications, and already has a broad field-of-use from good flexibility and folding characteristics to printabilty. Paper is easily sealable and glueable, laminating well to other structures. In addition, paper functions effectively through challenging converting processes.

Through their research, Ahlstrom has continued to advance its base paper development to achieve barrier properties which are fundamental to unlocking the sustainability benefits paper can bring to flexible packaging applications. Base paper development and optimization dramatically improves paper performance in barrier properties.

“The base papers we have developed and continue to advance, are the best to create flexible packaging with combined barrier technology,” Leimkuehler continued. “The end-use packaging applications we have commercialized are the first in the world to exhibit all the necessary attributes needed to replace traditional plastic-based structures. We have already developed and launched the ability to solve the substitution for PFAS with our proprietary FluoroFree® technology, demonstrating grease-barrier equivalent to that of historic performance. As an example, using this knowledge we have unlocked the potential of replacing plastic-based components in a traditional pet food bag with materials that can maintain freshness and storage while providing a curbside recyclable solution.”

“We are well positioned to push the boundaries of what fiber-based flexible packaging can do,” said, Robin Guillaud, Executive Vice President Sustainability, Innovation, and Marketing. “A constant process of base paper innovation, product development and design is in Ahlstrom’s DNA and enables us to respond to the needs of our customers, which in turn are affected by end-user behavior. This enables flexibility throughout the value chain and speed-to-market of sustainable packaging solutions and continues to position Ahlstrom as the preferred specialty sustainable packaging supplier in the marketplace.”

To learn more about Ahlstrom’s development journey, view their white paper at: https://www.ahlstrom.com/Media/articles/highly-engineered-base-papers

Ahlstrom in brief
Ahlstrom is a global leader in combining fibers into sustainable specialty materials. Our purpose is to Purify and Protect, with Every Fiber, for a Sustainable World. Our vision is to be the Preferred Sustainable Specialty Materials Company for all our stakeholders. We serve five growing and distinctive end markets, which form the basis for our five divisions: Filtration, Food & Consumer Packaging, Healthcare, Building Materials, and Technical Materials. Our pro forma net sales 2021 for continuing operations amounted to EUR 2.6 billion and we employ some 7,000 people. Read more at www.ahlstrom.com

Tarsus Group, organizer of the Labelexpo Global Series, has announced the opening of registration for Labelexpo Mexico 2023.

This will be the first full Labelexpo exhibition to run in Mexico. It takes place between 26-28 April 2023 at the World Trade Center Mexico City, a world-class venue in the heart of Mexico City. Entry is free for registered attendees.

Labelexpo Mexico 2023 will be Latin America’s largest dedicated label and package printing show, featuring leading global suppliers of label printing and converting equipment and consumables. The show will feature a strong educational element of workshops and master classes.

Commented Tasha Ventimiglia, Labelexpo Mexico 2023 event director, ‘The event has been created following unprecedented visitor attendance at previous Mexican label summits and reflects the demand from Mexican converters for cutting edge label and package printing technologies.’

Jade Grace, Labelexpo Global Series portfolio director, added, ‘In recent years, the market in Latin America, and in particular Mexico, has grown strongly, This makes this one of the most exciting developing label and package print markets in the world, and we look forward to welcoming converters from across the Americas.’

Labelexpo Mexico 2023 is supported by Mexican label associations Acoban and Anpack.

To register visit www.labelexpo-mexico.com

Kennesaw, GA – Founded as a commercial printer in 1947, J.S. McCarthy, Augusta, ME, is experiencing unprecedented growth in its folding carton business. The company, needing a faster and more reliable press to keep up with its increased production, recently purchased a new Speedmaster XL 106 from HEIDELBERG. The new XL 106, which runs at 21,000 sheets per hour and is the fastest rated sheetfed offset press in the world, will be the first of its kind to be installed in the United States.

The Fastest Press in the World

J.S. McCarthy has seen “extreme growth” in its folding carton business since deciding to go “all in” with packaging five years ago through $20 million in infrastructure and equipment investments. According to Jon Tardiff, CEO & President of J.S. McCarthy, the company is expecting a 50% revenue increase from folding cartons during the next 2-3 years. J.S. McCarthy, who produces paperboard packaging primarily for the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic markets, will install its new Speedmaster XL 106 late next year to replace an older press of competitive technology. Its current press is no longer a “viable back-up” for the company’s 2018 Speedmaster XL 106 that runs 24/7 producing all the company’s folding cartons. “We’re in a position where we basically have one press driving the entire plant. The new XL 106 is going to help us digest all this new growth,” said Tardiff. The record-breaking speeds and reliability of the new XL 106 will significantly increase J.S. McCarthy’s throughput, which is essential due to the plant’s space limitations. The company, who recently added onto its plant and is planning another addition for 2023, is looking to the XL 106 to help “get large jobs through the plant as quickly and as productively as possible,” said Tardiff.

HEIDELBERG recently introduced the higher speed option for its industry leading Speedmaster XL 106 platform. By increasing the printing speed to 21,000 sheets per hour, the XL 106 is now the fastest press in the world and is projected to produce upwards of 100 million impressions annually with higher net output than the 18,000 SPH model. J.S. McCarthy anticipates ramping up its production to 50-70 million impressions, based on its current average run length, within the first year with a goal of reaching the press’s maximum output in the future. To achieve higher speeds and net output, HEIDELBERG has optimized over 200 components throughout the entire system, from feeder to delivery. The improved components and advanced Speedmaster technology, like new intelligent User Experience (UX), autonomous Push-to-Stop technology, and AutoPlate Pro, help to significantly cut down on makeready and waste – contributing to J.S. McCarthy’s overall efficiency and sustainability goals. Additionally, this is a carbon-neutral press, which means CO2 emissions that are generated during press production are compensated for by purchasing climate protection certificates (Gold Standard). Further sustainability efforts from the company include having its plant 100% wind powered and being FSC® certified.

50% Productivity Gains

J.S. McCarthy first made the switch to HEIDELBERG’s Speedmaster technology in 2018 with the purchase of an XL 106-4+LYY-P+4+L. The machine replaced two older presses of competitive technology and when installed, increased the plant’s productivity by 50%. The machine, which is less than four years old, has already acquired 200,000,000 impressions and runs consistently at its top running speed of 18,000 sheets per hour. Since installing its first Speedmaster, Tardiff and J.S. McCarthy have not looked back: “HEIDELBERG continues to show its overall value through its proven technology and the ‘day in and day out’ productivity we see with the number of sheets to the floor we get every day,” said Tardiff. Upon installation of the new XL 106 next year, a UV model which will also include Prinect Inpress Control, the company expects even higher productivity gains than its first Speedmaster due to its higher speeds.

About J.S. McCarthy
Since 1947, J.S. McCarthy has offered customers top-notch service, leading-edge technology, and high-quality products. As one of New England’s oldest and largest commercial printers, the company has been on the forefront of industry innovation, listening to what its customers need and providing them with solutions that make their businesses more successful. Strategically acquiring new technology throughout the years with an eye towards quality and meeting customer demand, J.S. McCarthy uses its commercial printing background to offer high-end folding carton packaging. Its investments in technology are matched by its investment in human resources. J.S. McCarthy is a 100% employee-owned company, where each and every member of its team has a vested interest in customer success because it directly relates to their success as business owners.

Sustainability, self-adhesive label materials and digital embellishment are three educational themes shaping the forthcoming Labelexpo Southeast Asia 2023, with learning opportunities at the three-day event in February to include a workshop, show floor themed café, and trail highlighting innovations from one of the industry’s fastest-growing areas.

The technical half-day Label Academy led workshop takes place on the final day of the show, Saturday 11 February, focusing on the extremely popular topic of self-adhesive label materials. Over six in-depth sessions, the workshop will cover: PS labels and the circular economy, given by Darren Milligan, VP/GM, ASEAN, Avery Dennison; paper and synthetic paper face materials; release liner substrates from Elkem; exploring different adhesive types; filmic face materials; and testing methods and procedures.

The show floor will also feature a Sustainability in Print Café, which will showcase some of the ways in which technology and products are already starting to reduce waste and contribute to a better environment. Visitors will be able to engage with projects and case studies, as well as learn how these can make a difference to their label and package printing business.

Thirdly, a Digital Embellishment Trail, recently seen at Labelexpo Americas 2022 and Labelexpo India 2022, aims to highlight the lucrative, fast-growing area of decoration and coating techniques. Examples and samples of these technologies will be available to view across the show.

Richard Quirk, Labelexpo Southeast Asia event manager, commented: “We’re delighted to be back in the ASEAN region for the first time since the inaugural edition of Labelexpo Southeast Asia in 2018. In that time, the label and package printing industry has moved on significantly, with exciting new trends such as digital embellishment emerging, and this has intensified the appetite for learning.

“At the same time, sustainability underscores the entire industry and is now high on the agenda, while self-adhesive label materials is always among our most popular taught topics. We can’t wait to host this face-to-face educational platform, however workshop places are limited, so I’d strongly encourage visitors to book as soon as possible.”

Workshop speaker Darren Milligan said: “As sustainability and the circular economy become inevitable for every business, we need to amplify the significance of a label’s role in the circularity of the entire packaging, and take more proactive steps in response to the need for sustainable label designs that will enable this. Industry collaboration is key to the success of this approach. I’d like to address key trends and behaviours in the packaging industry and how we can work together across the value chain to stay ahead, through the innovation of sustainable labels.”

Labelexpo Southeast Asia 2023 takes place from 9-11 February at BITEC, Bangkok, Thailand.

For full details of the Self-Adhesive Label Materials Workshop or to reserve a place, visit: https://go.brandprint-expo.com/e/707733/sive-label-materials-workshop-/8p2z19/1639065119?h=Ra8UZxin-epDzyPsYD5FshdB_54AoAf3uDGmZLMSOnw

UPM Raflatac and Orthex have joined forces to offer household products and their labeling made of recycled plastic saved from ending up as marine litter. The products include buckets, wash bowls and water scoops. To achieve this, both companies are part of value chains that collect the plastic waste and transform it back into raw materials.

Orthex is part of a value chain that produces raw materials from recycled plastic by collecting old fishing nets and ropes from harbors in Scandinavia, in the UK and in Northern Europe. The collected material is sorted, cleaned, shredded, and extruded into raw material pellets, from which the Orthex’s bucket, bowl and scoop products are made. The raw material has up to 94% lower carbon emissions compared to virgin plastic.

“To produce household products from recycled materials requires a great amount of expertise and collaboration in the value chain. By collaborating with UPM Raflatac, we can have even the product labels made from recycled ocean bound plastic. This is the icing on the cake, making our products even more sustainable,” says Alexander Rosenlew, CEO of Orthex.

UPM Raflatac collaborates closely with multiple partners in the value chain to produce the Ocean Action labels. The Ocean Action label materials are the world’s first label materials made from ocean bound plastic waste. The ocean bound plastic waste is abandoned plastic waste recovered from areas up to 50km inland from shores, defined by OBPCert as “at risk of ending up in the ocean”.

At the first stage in the value chain HHI, a Malaysian-based plastic recycling company collects and sorts the ocean bound plastic waste with its partners. HHI then uses chemical recycling to convert the waste into pyrolysis oil. The pyrolysis oil is used by SABIC to create high-quality PP plastic granulates. The plastic granulates are used in the process in which the film manufacturer Taghleef Industries produces the label film that is used to produce the final label material for product labeling.

“Orthex’s products made of old fishing nets are the perfect match for our Ocean Action labels. The combination is a concrete example of how we can create new products from recycled raw materials with close collaboration and some ingenuity within the value chain,” says Eliisa Laurikainen, Business Development Manager from UPM Raflatac.

The plastic waste used in the value chain of making Ocean Action label material is certified under the Zero Plastics Oceans program, and the final label material under ISCC PLUS. The label material is produced using sustainable recycled feedstock, replacing the equivalent amount of virgin fossil resources used in the production process, using a mass balance approach accounting for the amount of sustainable resources. These verify that the Ocean Action label material is traceable and sustainably sourced.

UPM Raflatac
UPM Raflatac is leading in sustainable labeling through our innovative self-adhesive label materials and services. We offer high-quality paper and film label stock for branding and promotion, informational labels, and labels with functionality. We operate a global network of factories, distribution terminals and sales offices. Our company employs around 3,000 people and made sales of EUR 1.7 billion (USD 1.9 billion) in 2021. UPM Raflatac is part of UPM. Find out how we are labeling a smarter future beyond fossils at www.upmraflatac.com.

BOBST has claimed another global top spot, with recent sales figures revealing that the company now has the largest share in the worldwide flexible packaging market for vacuum metallizing and coating technologies.

“Sales in these technologies have been particularly buoyant over the last two years or so and we are delighted to claim the leading position,” said Davide Garavaglia, Head of Product Lines Vacuum Metallizing, Coating, Laminating, Gravure Printing at BOBST. “The recent developments that BOBST introduced to the market combine our vision, based on connectivity, digitalization, automation, and sustainability, with our capability of producing machinery characterized by minimal downtime and superb quality at high speeds. Converters and brand owners are now seeing the benefits of this for their flexible packaging.”

It is a milestone that has been several years in the making. BOBST has many years of expertise in the vacuum coating process and in handling flexible substrates. This has led to the development of high technology vacuum metallizing and coating lines that can be used to produce a wide variety of products. The introduction of BOBST’s Centers of Excellence has also been key, with the Centers in Bobst Manchester and Bobst Italia containing specialist equipment and expertise in vacuum metallizing and coating respectively.

“This achievement is actually the culmination of a long-term vision and process, which we have progressed step by step, with quality always at the center,” explained Davide Garavaglia. “We have made significant investments along the way in terms of R&D, technical aspects, staffing and training, and the result has been high-quality technology that answers the needs of our customers.”

A defining moment in sustainable flexible packaging

BOBST’s in-depth knowledge of both coating and vacuum metallizing equipment technology and processes has also been a major benefit in its drive towards truly sustainable flexible packaging.

Overcoming the technical complexities of developing and manufacturing sustainable high barrier flexible packaging that is recycle-ready is a major challenge. But with the family of oneBARRIER sustainable solutions, BOBST and its partners have developed industrially viable recycle-ready mono-material ultra-high and high barrier duplex and triplex substrates for packaging designers as alternatives to non-recyclable metallized polyester film. oneBARRIER sustainable solutions developed to date include PrimeCycle, comprising EVOH and topcoat-free transparent AlOx-based or opaque AluBond-based full PE mono-substrates, and FibreCycle, a mono-material high-barrier paper-based structure coated with functional layers that can be recycled in the existing paper stream.

“oneBARRIER is a family of viable tested solutions that meet the industry’s requirements for packaging simplification, layer reduction and replacement of non-recyclable mixed polymer substrates with recycle-ready mono-material structures as a way to support circularity and recyclability,” said Mr Garavaglia. “It’s a defining moment. We believe oneBARRIER will become the benchmark for recycle-ready mono-material packaging.”

Always adding another layer of value

BOBST’s expertise in coating extends beyond the common uses. In the field of flexible packaging high performance functional substrates, BOBST is also leading the market in the field of aluminum applications such as lacquered aluminum foil, for example. Other applications where major international converting companies have chosen BOBST coating technologies in the past few years to increase their production capacity or enter new markets, include self-adhesive special tapes, medical applications, labelstock and release liners.

One of the reasons BOBST can continue to add value for its customers is that, uniquely in the industry, BOBST can be a single source supplier, offering end-to-end solutions that can address all requirements, for flexible packaging and other flexible material applications. BOBST has pioneered multiple ground-breaking innovations that enable better sustainability, efficiency and output quality in production, equipment, and processes.

The two Competence Centers in Manchester, UK and San Giorgio Monferrato, Italy are dedicated to converting technologies. Bobst Manchester offers vacuum coating processes for barrier, while the LEONARDO pilot coating line in Italy offers a multitude of coating and drying systems and can perform production scale applications.

“Given the very strong increase of demand for functional barrier coating for filmic and paper applications, as well as production of recycle-ready new high barrier substrates, the service we can offer brand owners and converters is truly unique,” said Mr Garavaglia. “With our Competence Centers, converters can test new packaging substrates and functionalities, checking which type of coating method, drying system, and consumables works best for each new packaging design and structure. They can also calculate productivity and profitability on wide-web pilot equipment to enable them to check the viability of their new developments.”

About BOBST
We are one of the world’s leading suppliers of substrate processing, printing and converting equipment and services for the label, flexible packaging, folding carton and corrugated board industries.

Founded in 1890 by Joseph Bobst in Lausanne, Switzerland, BOBST has a presence in more than 50 countries, runs 19 production facilities in 11 countries and employs more than 5800 people around the world. The firm recorded a consolidated turnover of CHF 1.563 billion for the year ended December 31, 2021.www.bobst.com