To many people, a label is purely a decorative item used to convey information and draw attention to a product. We are used to using labels to influence our purchasing decisions in a variety of places like supermarket shelves and pharmacies. But what about the environments through which these labels must travel? The label has to be able to withstand different conditions, without compromising quality. According to Mark Andy, growing expectations and requirements for the durability and strength of a label, including those made by climate change, have become an increasingly important issue in many markets worldwide. Brand owners challenged by high temperatures of up to 40C/104 F are a prime example. These labels need to be manufactured with special printing and finishing equipment. Mark Andy has been a long-term producer and supplier of presses offering inline, single-pass label production that meet the highest standards of consumers and brand owners. 

Climate-related challenges include all types of weather, with temperatures ranging from freezing to hot and arid, and high humidity as evident in equatorial regions. Labels must also withstand abrasion which may occur during transportation or by coming into and contact with sea water, blood, chemicals, and more.  Mark Andy’s view is that, considering all these factors, a label has become much more than a decoration and means of imparting information on packaging – it must also be durable and resistant to many different external conditions. 

The foundation of a durable label is a stronger and heavier gauge substrate than that of a standard label. And if they are pressure sensitive, the adhesive will need to be very aggressive to cope with sub-zero or beyond boiling point temperatures. Ink must also be a consideration; it should be lightfast and suitable for harsh conditions with good adhesion, rub and scuff properties. 

Phil Baldwin, Sales Manager for the UK, Ireland, and Scandinavia outlined the background to Mark Andy’s involvement with the sector: “The company has long supplied technology to this market and has extensive experience of applications from oil drum labels, wrist bands, and tree tags to animal carcass straps.  Mark Andy’s chill drums not only chill the web but allow it to be heated, which improves handling when running aggressive adhesive material.  The pre-tension web transport and Oldham coupling drives also ensure the press can handle special materials like Tyvek for wrist bands and plastic plant pot inserts.  If required, it can also supply inline spot hot melt glue heads, laminators to apply glassine strips or protective films, RFID insertors and many other options.” 

On the consumable side, Mark Andy digital inks have high lightfastness ratings and excellent adhesion, scuff, and rub properties.  The ink used on the Mark Andy Digital Series HD hybrid press is also autoclave and boiling-water safe, tested for solvent resistance to ASTM 5402-06 for solvents, grease, oil, fats, alcohol, and blood, tape test approved to ASTM 3359, has 7-8 on the blue wool scale, meets rub, scuff, and abrasion tests to industry standard ASTM 5264-98, and carries UL 969 certification for durable label applications. 

When discussing hardworking and durable labels, RFID tags are a good example, especially with its growing popularity and implementation to meet the evolving requirements of different worldwide markets. Speaking for the company, European Sales Manager Lukasz Chruslinski explained how Mark Andy became involved with this sector: “We started with logistics, shipping companies, and pharmacies, which were all areas that have thousands of different factors and where precision was the number one criterion.  To meet these growing needs, we have designed and built presses equipped with RFID modules that enable the application of tags. As far as label durability and structure complexity are concerned, we offer many other solutions that extend and upgrade the entire configuration, streamline the manufacturing process, and offer better control. We invite every company looking for a solution to producing durable labels to contact Mark Andy. We’re very keen to share our extensive knowledge and rich experience in this area, as well as offer a suitable, appropriate press configuration”. 

About Mark Andy Inc.
Mark Andy is a pioneer of the graphic arts and printing industry. As the world’s leading manufacturer of narrow- and mid-web printing and finishing equipment, it supplies leading global brands, including Mark Andy and Presstek printing presses, Rotoflex finishing solutions, as well as a complete line of Mark Andy Print Products consumables and pressroom supplies. All products are backed by the largest customer support team in the industry, minimizing downtime and helping customers be profitable, efficient and at the forefront of innovation. Mark Andy does what it takes to understand each customer’s unique business, the challenges they face and the pressures they feel. It strives to provide products and services that help customers solve their problems and solutions that go a step further, allowing them to excel in their day-to-day operations, ultimately increasing productivity and reaching their full potential. For more information, visit www.markandy.com.

UPM Raflatac, a global supplier of innovative and sustainable labeling materials, recently expanded their Direct Thermal (DT) Opticut Linerless labels portfolio. The OptiCut products in this portfolio are customized for various applications in hospitality, retail and weigh scales, transport and warehousing, and industrial food.

“We widened our OptiCut Linerless portfolio to enable brands to maximize efficiency and find solutions for each unique packaging type. The adhesive properties for each of our seven OptiCut products were designed for various application environments,” stated Brinder Gill, Director, Paper Laminates, UPM Raflatac Americas.

UPM Raflatac designed their expanded DT Linerless range with the specific functions of each end-use in mind. This includes retail and weigh scales; logistics for transport and warehousing; to-go orders for hospitality; and cold environments for industrial food. Examples of the unique adhesive properties of UPM OptiCut DT Linerless products include repositionability and resistance to high heat, moisture, and extreme cold.

DT Linerless also enables process enhancements and operational efficiencies including:

• Reduction in material costs with the ability to use variable lengths when labeling

• Reduced roll changes

• Lower storage and transportation costs due to 50 percent more length per roll

• No release liner waste

UPM Raflatac OptiCut products not only offer excellent adhesion and repositionability, but customers can also move closer to their sustainability goals. The carbon footprint of UPM Raflatac Linerless products is certified by the Carbon Trust and the full range is certified CarbonNeutral® product (not including use) by Climate Impact Partners in accordance with The CarbonNeutral Protocol.

“With these designations, our Linerless product portfolio not only provides brands with increased efficiency, accuracy, and a reduction in waste, but also a certified carbon savings,” stated Gill.

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.

Jorn P. Jensen is appointed Chief Financial Officer (CFO), and a member of the Group Executive Management Team, as of December 1, 2022. Jorn has 27 years of experience as CFO, most recently at Dyson Ltd and earlier at Carlsberg A/S.

CFO Sakari Ahdekivi leaves Ahlstrom end of December to pursue new opportunities outside the company.

Hans Sohlström, President and CEO, says: “I thank Sakari for his valuable work during nine years as CFO of Ahlstrom. During this time Ahlstrom has more than tripled in size and transformed into a much stronger and more profitable company. Sakari’s contribution has been material to the success of Ahlstrom. I wish him all the best for his future endeavors.”

Hans continues: “Jorn brings with him an extensive international CFO experience for the continued transformation and profitable growth of Ahlstrom. I welcome Jorn to our Team.”

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

“Vetaphone has been our preferred corona treater supplier since we fitted their first unit in 2013,” said Jim Driscoll, Executive Vice President of EMT International.  His comment relates to the strong working partnership that has built up between the two companies, and was most recently highlighted in Chicago, where the Danish manufacturer’s technology scored a double hit with both a web cleaner and a corona treater fitted to EMT’s Rotocontrol 2.0 Hybrid narrow web line at Labelexpo.

Founded 80 years ago in Green Bay as a toolmaking shop, EMT has grown to become an internationally renowned manufacturing business that’s now based in Hobart, Wisconsin and employs more than 200 staff.  Today, the company is known for its engineering and technical prowess in providing solutions for continuous web handling, specifically but not exclusively to the graphics and label markets, and this was significantly increased with the acquisition of Rotocontrol GmbH based in Siek, Germany, in 2016.

Asked why the company chose Vetaphone when American options were available and close-by, Jim Driscoll commented: “Everything about the technology spells quality – ease of use, reliability, and great local support – it was not a difficult decision to make, and we have never regretted it.”  Both Corona Treater and Web Cleaner draw praise for their simplicity of operation, with good and quick access to the working parts that need regular cleaning and occasional maintenance.  “All machines need looking after to perform at their best and the design of the Vetaphone units demonstrate that care and attention to the operator’s needs have been a high priority,” he added.

In particular, Driscoll draws attention to the simple and intuitive touch panel that operates both the Treater and the Cleaner.  “It’s indicative of the thought and care that Vetaphone has put into their design and manufacture – the fact that they can offer it as a competitively-priced solution speaks volumes.”  Former EMT staff member and now Vetaphone agent for the area Jeff Messenger commented: “EMT-Rotocontrol is a great business, so the opportunity to provide the company with sales and service support on surface treatment from the market leader made for the perfect marriage – and I’m keen to see how we can build on this cooperative partnership going forward.”

www.vetaphone.com

Scottish CV Labels has recently added another Nilpeter press to their line-up. The new FB-350 is the latest add-on and expands the company’s Nilpeter presses to a total of three.

Having worked with Pharmaceutical, Medical, and Healthcare labeling solutions for more than 30 years, CV labels is very well aware of the high standards they need to meet in order to deliver the best solutions to their customers. Investing in state-of-the-art technology is a key component of the company’s strategy. This rimes well to world-class engineering with Danish roots and Nilpeter.

The FB-350 is an ideal choice for CV Labels and is specialized in printing pressure-sensitive labels for pharmaceutical and medical products. The new press is a 7-color flexo press with a number of value-added features customized for CV Labels. One of the features is an inserter making it possible to create multi-page peel and read labels using different substrates. The FB-350 with this exact configuration, is the first of its kind on an FB-press in the UK.

Bob Veitch, Owner and Managing Director at CV Labels adds,
“We have always been very pleased with the Nilpeter presses we have had so for us it was an obvious choice to add another one to our production line. Our business is growing, and we needed more volume and more colors. We got that with our new FB-350. The new press gives us a number of new opportunities, and especially making it possible to create multi-page peel and read labels has been a valuable contribution”.

Some of the value-added features of the FB-350 for CV Labels are UV-curing, the latest version, rail system and rail-based auxiliaries, de/re-lamination, a turnbar, re-register unit for preprinted webs, video inspection, and standard die stations.

Nick Hughes, Managing Director at Nilpeter Ltd,
“I have known Bob for ages, and we have always had a great partnership. It’s always nice to see that our customer’s business is growing, and we are very happy to help them find the right solution in order for them to meet the constantly increasing demands of their customers. We managed to do it this time, and I am confident we will continue to do it in the future as well”.

A customer journey that started in 1983
The partnership between CV Labels and Nilpeter dates all the way back to 1983 when Bob visited Copenhagen, Denmark, to test a Nilpeter B-200 letterpress. Bob, who at this time worked at another company, was stunned by what he saw in Copenhagen,

“Honestly, I was blown away by what I saw in Denmark. The advanced technology was revolutionary compared to everything else. I consider Nilpeter as one of the top manufacturers in the world, and it matches the ambitions of CV Labels – we only want to deal with the best”.

About CV Labels:
CV Labels, based in Irvine, Scotland, was founded in 1989 and has 20+ employees. They recently expanded the production area to 2,000 sq/meters (21,000 sq/feet). They are specialized in labels for the pharmaceutical industry and hold a PS9000:2016 accreditation developed by the Pharmaceutical Quality Group (PQG). CV Labels is one of the UK’s leading pharmaceutical specialists.

www.nilpeter.com

TLMI announces that two of the association’s Sustainability Committee’s subcommittees have launched interactive maps that show the locations of recyclers and waste disposal sites for liner and matrix materials. The release liner subcommittee has launched a map that indicates paper and PET release liner recyclers across the United States and Canada and the matrix subcommittee has launched a map indicating matrix waste byproduct disposal sites. The subcommittees’ goals in making these interactive maps available to association members is to offer companies critical resources as they develop and carry out their own sustainability initiatives. 

Liner subcommittee chair, Adam Frey, Business Manager Roll Sales for Wausau Coated Products, comments, “This map was created to help spread the word that paper and film release liner does not need to end up in landfill and that there are much better options. If you want to be a central part of improving sustainability in our industry to assure its growth for years to come, you should join this awesome team!”

Matrix subcommittee chair, Marco Acevedo, Regional Sales Manager at Precision AirConvey, adds, “This interactive map of environmentally friendly landfill alternatives exemplifies the commitment of TLMI and its productive committees to find sustainability solutions and improve efficiencies to members and non-members alike. The Sustainability Committee and its subcommittees are dedicated to protecting the environment and becoming landfill-free.” 

TLMI started providing association members with sustainability resources that included recyclers and non-landfill matrix disposal sites a decade ago in the association’s Recycling Handbook. The publishing of the handbook was one of the central initiatives of the association’s Sustainability Committee to ensure members had resources available as they began their sustainability journeys and looked for ways to recycle liner waste and to keep matrix byproducts out of landfills. TLMI VP of Sustainability, Rosalyn Bandy, comments, “In making these maps available we are taking some of the sustainability resources that TLMI provides its members to the next level. I hope that companies will take the initiative to explore non-landfill disposal of their byproducts and can use this resource to help their customers. We understand that this is another piece of the sustainability puzzle for converters to figure out, however it’s well worth it to keep their waste out of the landfill and we hope TLMI can be instrumental in this process by offering members these important resources.”

The liner recycling and matrix disposal maps will be available on TLMI’s website in early January 2023.

Schaumburg, IL – INX International UK, a subsidiary of INX International, was recently awarded with a Silver medal for a Sustainability assessment conducted by EcoVadis. Recipients of this medal are recognized being among the top 25% percent of suppliers rated by the organization.

The assessment provides objective ratings for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of a supplier’s performance. It focused on four themes: Environment, Labor & Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement, and was evaluated according to industry, country, and company size by international experts.

“We understand the importance of developing a clear CSR strategy as a forward thinking and socially accountable business. Central to this was the use of EcoVadis as an established and recognized framework,” acknowledged Elizabeth Smith, QHSE Manager for INX International UK. “It provides INX and our stakeholders with independent validation of our achievements and what we have implemented. More importantly, it provides a clear feedback report which identifies areas to drive future improvement.”

Founded in 2007, EcoVadis has become the world’s largest and most trusted provider of business sustainability ratings. It has created a global network to assess the sustainability of over 100,000 rated companies, from more than 200 industry categories in over 175 countries.

The organization’s mission is to provide reliable sustainability ratings enabling all companies to reduce risk, drive improvement, and accelerate positive impact on the planet and society. The EcoVadis website also indicates research shows that 85% of consumers are more likely to buy from a company with a reputation for sustainability.

This aligns with the commitment INX and parent company, SAKATA INX Group, have devoted to sustainability for two decades. In 2020, a Coloring a Safe and Sustainable Future (CSSF) model was introduced to help brand owners, converters, printers and others involved in the packaging industry better understand INX’s sustainability position and future views. In the same year INX Europe joined CEFLEX, the European-based flexible packaging consortium that promotes a circular economy through sustainability practices.

“Delivering innovative, safe and sustainable solutions that enhance the customer experience is our top priority,” said Renee Schouten, INX Vice President of Marketing. “We want consumers, brand owners and customers to feel confident in their product choices. That’s why our products are developed to have minimal impact on the environment without sacrificing machine, processing and end-use performance. To assure minimal impact, we strive to use renewable, natural-based raw materials from ethical and sustainably managed sources for our products.”

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.

Flint Group Packaging, one of the largest consumables suppliers to the global print and packaging industry, confirms it commitment to ease of doing business and order efficiency for its customers with its Webshop platform.

Underlining the company’s vision of a connected future, the online store is designed with ease-of-use front of mind, with the company’s market-leading range of inks and coatings available to order 24/7 in just a few clicks. The purpose is to provide customers with more versatility, flexibility and performance in managing consumables procurement.

Designed to keep pace with the speed of today’s packaging market, the Webshop enables simple, fast ordering and reordering of inks and coatings.

Thomas Gray, Vice President Strategy & Market Intelligence at Flint Group Packaging, explains the significance: “With our dedicated online Webshop, we are giving our customers an additional digital channel that simplifies order processing. It’s no secret that the pressure is on for packaging converters to deliver when it comes to agility and on-time order fulfillment. We understand the importance of our customers’ procurement processes and personnel; therefore, we’ve designed Webshop to complement and support the detailed administration involved in procurement. Our aim was to develop a tool to assist with inventory management; particularly when it comes to repeat ordering.

“Webshop allows us to deliver a higher level of service and support to our customers. As well as being open for ordering 24/7, Webshop is available in multiple languages, so no matter where our customers are, we speak your language. Add in precise real-time order tracking and paperless invoicing, and the benefits are clear. Webshop goes beyond your standard online store, it’s a bespoke experience that is built around our packaging customers’ needs, not ours.”

Thomas concludes: “The concept of a web store isn’t new, but the way we have built this is led by the needs of our customers; an approach which is core to Flint Group’s strategy. For printers, time is precious and every moment counts. By taking the ordering process and translating it into a slick, intuitive online e-commerce platform, we’re enabling procurement to happen in a fraction of the time and on our customers’ terms. We are delighted with what we have created, and the feedback we have had from our customers so far has been extremely positive.”

Flint Group’s Webshop is available now. The company is continuously enhancing the platform with additional features to be launched first part of 2023.

For more information on Flint Group’s Webshop, please email info.packaginginks@flintgrp.com.

For more information on Flint Group and its activities, please visit www.flintgrp.com or email deanna.klemesrud@flintgrp.com.

About Flint Group
Flint Group is dedicated to serving the needs of the global Flexible Packaging, Paper & Board, Narrow Web and Publication industries, both conventional and digitally printed. The company develops, manufactures and markets an extensive portfolio of printing consumables and equipment, including: a vast range of conventional and energy curable inks, coatings and additives for Flexographic, Gravure & Offset applications; pressroom chemicals and printing blankets. Furthermore, Flint Group designs and manufacturers digital printing presses for labels, corrugated packaging, document and commercial applications. The company is a leader in colour management solutions which are supported by a Global Colour Centre to ensure colour consistency and standardisation. Flint Group strives to support its customers through a relentless focus on developing: innovative products, exceptional levels of service and the security of supply. Headquartered in Luxembourg, Flint Group employs some 5,600 people. Revenues for 2021 were €1.5 billion. On a worldwide basis, the company is the number one or number two supplier in every major market segment it serves. For more information, please visit www.flintgrp.com

On the 27th & 28th of October the Polish Chamber of Printing (PLFTA) organized the training & workshop meeting devoted to flexo specialists involved in production issues. The event, supported by three technological partners – Mark Andy, Emipak (the Polish representative of BTS) and PC Print, was held in Warsaw and comprised of two parts. The first day, conducted by Krzysztof Skrobot, Director of PLFTA, was filled with theory. On the second day, the participants – including press operators, printers, technology managers, production managers, prepress technicians and sales representatives – were invited to the Mark Andy’s Technology Center in Warsaw. The company, in a co-operation with PC Print and Emipak, hosted the workshops, including prepress and printing in flexo and hybrid presses (concerning different printing and embellishment techniques). During the two-day meeting the PLFTA guests received a huge doze of technological and practical knowledge, inevitable in their daily operations. The meeting was also an opportunity for exchange of experiences, industry integration and informal discussions between the participants.

The first day of the meeting was held in the Arche hotel in Warsaw. Krzysztof Skrobot, Director of the Polish Chamber of Flexo Printing, conducted the conference part and made the extensive speech concerning flexographic technology. He mentioned many aspects of this printing technique: its basis, key parameters, substrates, inks, sleeves, ink rollers, anilox rollers, ink ducts, doctor blades, flexo polymer plates as well as compression and mounting tapes. He also pointed out job approval processes as the important factor for every printing house. “We presented many aspects of flexo and systematized knowledge of printing production – says Krzysztof Skrobot. – We’re extremely happy that our conference attracted a big interest of narrow- and mid-web printers who delegated its employees involved in production processes, including press handling. We wanted to speak about many issues that seem to be not so obvious for our participants as well as inspire them to implement changes in manufacturing processes, if needed. The first day of our meeting was an introduction to the workshops held in Mark Andy Technology Center. Our guests took part in live demos of four presses using flexo and hybrid technologies. Moreover, they could set up parameters of printing test labels in different technologies and compare final results with each other”.

The second day was fulfilled with live demos of Mark Andy presses and accompanying solutions for embellishment and inspection. The Evolution Series E3 flexo press, equipped with 100% print control system from BST was presented as the first one. The representatives of Emipak took its/the opportunity to present the company’s offer and specification of BTS inspection systems. L. Kurz foils (offered in Poland exclusively by PC Print) were used for cold stamping of the samples printed in Evolution Series E3. The representatives of PC Print highlighted this embellishment technology, focusing on appropriate choice of transfer parameters, inevitable for the highest quality of finishing.

During a presentation of Evolution Series E3, the representatives of Mark Andy pointed out easy handling, flexibility and efficiency of the press. The participants could learn its functions as well as receive a doze of knowledge about flexo technology. They were invited to set up and regulate the press, preparing it for printing the test labels and comparing them with results achieved in other demonstrated presses.

There were two hybrid solutions among them: Digital Series HD and Digital Series iQ. Both of them tie digital (inkjet) printing technology with conventional embellishment and finishing units (e.g. foil stamping, embossing, die-cutting etc.). The participants were introduced with inkjet printing technology and functionality of both hybrids from Mark Andy. As before, they set up presses for printing of test labels printing. The last solution presented was a toner-based Digital Pro 3. Besides test jobs, it was used for printing occasional labels containing pictures of participants, taken during the event.

Krzysztof Skrobot underlines that a main goal of PLFTA and its partners was involving the participants in all practical presentations, including job preparation and production supervising. Another important topic was opportunity to compare the labels printed and converted in different technologies and equipment configurations. The participants could ask questions during the entire event as well as indicate problems they face during a daily operations.

Krzysztof Skrobot adds that, besides spreading knowledge among the event’s participants, another key goal of PLFTA was creating an opportunity to exchange and share their experiences. “When observing a big interest of our guests, we’re convinced that this “pilot” meeting was just a beginning of a series of similar workshops & trainings organized in future. I would like to take this opportunity to warmly thank our partners: Mark Andy, that hosted us in its Warsaw-based Technology Center and shared its presses with us; Emipak – vendor of BST print inspection system used for test jobs verification and PC Print – distributor of L. Kurz foils, used for cold stamping. We would like to invite other companies from printing industry to join us in the future events organized by PLFTA. We also encourage all flexo printers to launch issues and topics they’re interested in. We’ll consider them when scheduling next conferences and workshops”.

About Mark Andy Inc.
Mark Andy is a pioneer of the graphic arts and printing industry. As the world’s leading manufacturer of narrow- and mid-web printing and finishing equipment, it supplies leading global brands, including Mark Andy and Presstek printing presses, Rotoflex finishing solutions, as well as a complete line of Mark Andy Print Products consumables and pressroom supplies. All products are backed by the largest customer support team in the industry, minimizing downtime and helping customers be profitable, efficient and at the forefront of innovation. Mark Andy does what it takes to understand each customer’s unique business, the challenges they face and the pressures they feel. It strives to provide products and services that help customers solve their problems and solutions that go a step further, allowing them to excel in their day-to-day operations, ultimately increasing productivity and reaching their full potential. For more information, visit www.markandy.com.