The Polish-based MD Labels printer from Kalisz has recently purchased its second hybrid press from Mark Andy. The company opted for Digital Series HD model. Since the first day of working with a new press, the MD Labels’ owners have noticed many benefits of their latest investment. Digital Series HD became a response to the current needs of this rapidly growing company: increasing number of customers, bigger jobs diversity (incl. numerous versions of the same label) as well as faster delivery and higher quality of the labels. As their underline, Mark Andy’s press solved all these challenges. It works next to the Digital Series, delivered to Kalisz five years ago. MD Labels owners say that both presses (purchased among other solutions), a reliable partner – Mark Andy and its service team, as well as modern business ideas and flexibility in relations with its customers helped in market successes of MD Labels. To learn more about the company and its recent investment, please visit our YT channel: https://youtu.be/tFiUtqB2StQ

“If you want to win, you have to play”

“Winning for us means a situation when a consumer chooses our customer’s product with a label printed by MD Labels and decides to buy it. Playing means constant development, investment, and partnership with appropriate business partners. In our case Mark Andy became one of them five years ago – says Marcin Jasinski, co-owner of MD Labels. – Our first investment in Mark Andy’s press, just after starting our operations, boosted our growth. It was one of the first digital/hybrid presses in Poland at that time and after purchasing it we had a real “avalanche” of orders. It occurred very quickly that inkjet is a great response to the market needs. Printing several variations of the same label in one pass was impossible for flexo technique; and still is. We gained an increasing number of this kind of orders. On the other hand, the customers ordered shorter runs, especially those small ones operating in food, pharmaceutical, brewery and wine industries. They needed a smaller number of labels but paid a lot of attention to make them interesting and attractive for consumers. At that time Digital Series was the perfect response to all these needs and enabled us entering an ambitious path of growth”.

As MD Labels owners emphasize, the company has grown dynamically since its establishing in 2016. After installing the first Mark Andy’s press, it almost doubled customers base and increased a number of employees by 500%. Currently it is expanding its facility, doubling a production and administration area. MD Labels started its operations with finishing white labels but very quickly its equipment set was upgraded with a flexo press for multicolor labels, followed by a digital solution. “Since the very beginning we were committed to offer very interesting self-adhesive labels that distinguish a final product. We have specialized in top class, high quality premium labels with a wide range of flexo and digital embellishment options: gold ink, varnish (incl. 3D), spot varnish, lamination, Pantone colorsand metallic effects. Moreover, many of these additional options could be applied at once, in the same project, according to customers needs. We have been committed to manufacture labels that distinguish final product, to allow our customers winning their competitors on the store shelf. We are very satisfied observing a fast growth of many companies we co-operate with. It means that we have grown together for the last several years. Finally, the winners are customers, MD Labels and Mark Andy, too – as the vendor of solutions that enable us printing fantastic stuff very quickly, efficiently and with a high quality” – adds Dominik Glowacki, co-owner at MD Labels.

Faster and more efficient production with Digital Series HD

“Success of our well-established customers, increasing number of new ones, as well as growing market needs and expectations, especially in terms of VDP, made us invest in a “helper” of the first press – says Marcin Jasinski. – As we have been very glad about working on Digital Series, we decided to purchase Mark Andy’s solution again. One of the most important factors of this decision was a very good business relationship with Mark Andy and its representatives. We really appreciate work of its service team – it has been operating very reliably and supported us during training, after buying each press, as well as during the post-sales period, during a daily work with our hybrids. Considering a new press, we focused on higher efficiency, quality and profitability that are inevitable for every printing house. We also wanted to manufacture very attractive and distinguishing labels – therefore we wanted embellishment, die-cutting or laminating processes to be realized in one pass. Digital Series HD met all these expectations so finally we decided to buy this model”.

Digital Series HD combines wider color gamut (CMYK + OVG) and appropriate formulation of high pigmented white ink, enabling effects similar to rotary screen printing. MD Labels owners point out that applying white doesn’t affect speed of a press (max. 73 mpm). According to Mark Andy, its white ink offers tripled opacity comparing to a typical flexo ink (measured in 80% coverage). Printhead technology implemented in Digital Series HD enables 1200 dpi printing.

The press has a hybrid construction, offers printing in high resolution and – as MD Labels owners underline – guarantees high flexibility and efficiency. These factors have been also pointed out by a lot of Digital Series HD users worldwide. The press can include from 5 to 8 digital inkjet units and be upgraded with inline (or near-line) finishing and embellishment modules. Digital units allow for efficient printing of even very short runs as well as full variable data applying.

Basing on a very concrete path of development and experience in hybrid label printing, MD Labels decided for the following configuration of the press: five digital units (W + CMYK), six flexo stations, two cold foil and lamination units and printing on adhesive side. The press enables producing multilayer labels (peel-off) and is equipped with QCDC die-cutting module. Moreover, all important tools and flexo equipment used in Digital Series press are fully compatible with the recently purchased Digital Series HD press. “It significantly increased flexibility of the entire solution and upgraded our production capacity, while shortening delivery-to-market time” – says Dominik Glowacki.

Digital Series HD is very user-friendly press: easy to handle and intuitive. Three different configurations of printhead cleaning system (manual, semiautomatic and fully automatic) also impact on easier operations. This option results in a shorter stoppage of the press and reduces production costs. Longer lifetime of printheads means less trouble in a daily production and lower costs. “Considering all these aspects, after buying Digital Series HD we got rid off many problems and we can manufacture our labels more calmly, offering twice shortened time of delivery, with no compromise in quality” – Dominik Glowacki underlines.

What’s next? “We still have to play if we want to win”

“We’re heading difficult times, it’s obvious – says Marcin Jasinski. – The situation on the market and in the economy doesn’t fill with optimism. However, when pandemic started, we also were full of concerns when thinking about the future of MD Labels and its customers. Soon it occurred that demand for labels starts to constantly rise. We have grown even bigger during this uneasy period. Currently, the war in Ukraine and economic situation in Poland and Europe bring anxiety but we’re doing our best to serve the customers as usual, delivering them labels that distinguish their products and increase sales. So, we’re quite optimistic entering this new era. We know that we have the best employees who identify with MD Labels. We have good ideas and the best tools, including Mark Andy presses, so it gives as a feel of safety. We’re also keeping our fingers crossed when thinking about our customers. Many of them are small companies, also full of concerns. But we’re convinced that together we can make it!”

“Digital Series HD enables us manufacturing labels that respond to individual needs of our demanding customers – Marcin Jasinski continues. – Some of them need clear and transparent label – we can provide such ones in a very short time. Some of them, especially from premium sector, expect very demanding labels with a lot of embellishment which sometimes are very difficult to manufacture. We’re always ready to make such advanced projects, too. Quite often we handle jobs that occurred to be too difficult for other printers. We handle long runs but also make very short series of a label if a small, niche company orders it. Manufacturing several dozen designs of the same label is also not a problem for us. We always try to be very responsible when meeting customer’s needs, offering him the best product and solutions. We’re conscious that his success, his win on the market, will be our win, too”.

“Recipe for success”

“We don’t have such one – say MD Labels owners – but treating our customers’ needs as a priority builds close and strong relationships for many years. Our customer base is still growing. Majority of them are Polish companies, however we’re going abroad with our offer with successes, too. We’re trying to attend industry events, visited by the people looking for labels and new business partners. Market education is a very important factor in our opinion. Quite often a graphic designer doesn’t realize that we’re able to manufacture his project, a project that was impossible to manufacture by another printer. Investment is also a very important part of the business. In digital printing five years is a real era and many things changed in presses based on this technology. Therefore, you need to invest and choose appropriate partners. Mark Andy is one of them in our case. The solutions it offers have big impact on our development and we deeply hope it will not change in future”.

“We’re always very happy about our customers’ successes – says Lukasz Chruslinski, European Sales Manager Mark Andy. – MD Labels is yet another company from our country that decided to invest in Digital Series HD. It’s also the only one having two Mark Andy hybrid presses in a production hall in Poland. Its fast development and relationship with Mark Andy are reasons of big satisfaction for us. As a total solutions vendor, we’re happy with our customers when they win on a difficult market. Our press and its opportunities stand behind it, being one of the factors enabling them win. MD Labels understands the market and its needs. On the other hand, Mark Andy has been committed to meet its demands and expectations, enabling MD Labels realizing its owners’ plans”.

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.

Kennesaw, GA – Three years after the inaugural PRINTING United Expo, print industry professionals enthusiastically reunited at the Las Vegas Convention Center on October 19th. Drawing crowds of customers from across North America, HEIDELBERG USA’s booth featured an end-to-end modular Smart Print Shop – showcasing digital transformation across the entire manufacturing supply chain – and highlighted several initiatives the company is currently taking towards workforce development.

HEIDELBERG garnered attention with its new Speedmaster CX 104 equipped with IST UV. Featuring the latest sheetfed innovations, including the patented, navigated Push-to-Stop technology and new HEIDELBERG User Experience, the CX 104 not only offers a brand-new sheet size, but its advanced automation is designed to make operators’ jobs less physically demanding. The press was the focal point for HEIDELBERG’s presentations, which highlighted its Ecosystem of solutions that integrates People, Process, and Technology and is designed to take its customers’ businesses – regardless of size or segment – to the “Next Level.” To showcase the true flexibility of the press, HEIDELBERG produced 9 different jobs with 45 plate changes on the CX 104. The jobs were printed on a wide variety of substrates, including 100 lb. text and 16 pt. C1S board, and all were completed during a short 14-minute presentation.

“There was great enthusiasm from the industry for the live Smart Print Shop we had on the floor,” said Felix Mueller, President of HEIDELBERG North America. “While we can present these concepts at individual customer sites, nothing compares to seeing the full end-to-end connectivity in person – driven by our Prinect software.”

HEIDELBERG’s scalable Smart Print Shop also featured the Versafire EP digital press, POLAR N 137 PLUS cutter, and Stahlfolder 66 SSP. Each of these machines along with the CX 104 were connected via Prinect Production & Business Manager, which allows customers to centrally control each part of their production and business processes. “It was great to be back at a large show having meaningful conversations with our customers about their businesses,” said Mueller. “We saw heavy traffic at all of our product demonstrations and received multiple orders across our entire product portfolio.”

Continued Focus on Workforce Development

While much of the focus in HEIDELBERG’s booth was its new technology and process optimization, the company has also been working tirelessly on various initiatives to develop a new workforce for the print industry. At the show, HEIDELBERG presented a scholarship, its first of a five-year commitment, in the name of Thoro Packaging to Riverside Community College in Riverside, CA for its “Applied Digital Media and Printing” program. Jan Steiner, Former CEO of Thoro Packaging in Corona, CA, recently donated a Speedmaster SX 52 to the school. “Together with Jan, we hope the press and scholarship will help foster a new generation of print industry professionals,” said Clarence Penge, Executive Vice President of Product Management for HEIDELBERG USA. “Speaking with other companies and customers, it is evident that workforce development is an important topic for everyone.”

In addition to the scholarship for Riverside College, HEIDELBERG also donated $1.00 for every badge scan in its booth to SkillsUSA, a nonprofit national education association that serves middle-school, high-school and college/postsecondary students preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations, which includes Graphic Communications. By the end of the show, HEIDELBERG was able to make a $2500 donation to SkillsUSA.

For customers seeking to develop their current workforce, HEIDELBERG has recently opened its Print Media Performance & Training Center, which offers training programs designed to build and grow the skills of current and future operators and print industry professionals. Seeing training as an industry critical need, HEIDELBERG will offer most of the classes to participants for free. HEIDELBERG hosted its first series of classes, Sheetfed Feeder Training, Quality Printing, Commercial Folder Basics, earlier this year with much success. The company has recently released its schedule of training classes through early 2023.

“We cannot focus all of our energy on innovating new technology while neglecting the most important part of the Ecosystem, People,” said Penge. “While PRINTING United put a spotlight on the importance of our workforce development, we need to continuously work on new programs for the benefit of our customers and our industry.”

Labelexpo returns to BITEC, Bangkok, in February 2023 for Southeast Asia’s biggest dedicated label and package printing show.
 
Tarsus Group, organizer of the Labelexpo Global Series, has announced that visitor registration is now open for Labelexpo Southeast Asia 2023. The show takes place between 9-11 February 2023 at the Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Center (BITEC) in Bangkok, Thailand. Entrance is free of charge for registered visitors.  

Labelexpo Southeast Asia 2023 will include an educational program consisting of two in-depth technology workshops. Details will be announced shortly.

Like the 2018 inaugural event, the three-day trade show will attract label and package printing converters/printers, brand owners, designers and industry suppliers. Visitors are expected from Thailand and across the wider ASEAN and Oceania regions.  

“The Labelexpo Global Series remains committed to the label and package print industry across the ASEAN and Oceania regions,” said Labelexpo Southeast Asia event manager Richard Quirk. “We know from our other global events how much converters are looking forward to finally meeting in person to see the latest label converting technology and network with their industry peers and we want to facilitate that at Labelexpo Southeast Asia.”
 
Labelexpo Global Series portfolio director Jade Grace commented, “I am delighted to welcome the ASEAN label and package printing industry back to Thailand. Our operations team is committed to delivering a safe show environment for both visitors and exhibitors, and we are very excited to be bringing the latest in global print and converting technology to Thailand, the ASEAN region’s most dynamic printing hub.”
 
Labelexpo Southeast Asia 2023 is supported by the Thai Innovation Printing Trade Association (TINPA), formerly the Thai Screen Printing & Graphic Imaging Association (TSGA); the Thai Graphic Arts Suppliers and Manufacturers Trade Association (GASMA); and the Advertising and Sign Producing Association (ASPA).  

The last edition of the show took place in 2018, when it attracted 8,000 visitors from 62 countries, with 174 exhibitors taking part.
 
To register, visit www.labelexpo-seasia.com

The Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation (PGSF), a nonprofit organization working to build the future workforce of the graphic communications industry through educational scholarships, is pleased to announce new appointments to the PGSF board of directors.

The 2022-2023 board consists of thirty-one members representing the diversity of the graphic communications industry, including IT, communications, equipment manufacturing, publishing, education, and finance, as well as trade associations and commercial printers.

Foundation Chair, Jules VanSant, shared, “We welcome ten new board appointments and look forward to adding their energy and expertise to the board and our commitment to PGFS’s mission. It’s very exciting to work with such accomplished and dedicated professionals. We’ve made incredible progress since the Foundation’s inception in 1956, having passed the $12 million endowment fund mark in 2021 and in 2022 awarding over $550,000 in scholarships coupled with $100,000 in grants pledged to educators and institutions.

VanSant adds, “Our board members that are completing their tenure will be missed. Their contributions have moved PGSF forward and the entire board extends their appreciation and recognition of the valuable and devoted service to the Foundation and its goals.”

The exiting board members are:

Amela O’Gorman 2017 – 2022

Rod Sosa 2013 – 2022

Joseph Schember 2013 – 2022

Bill Michael 2013 – 2022

Doug Yeager 2013 – 2022

The 2022-2023 PGSF Board of Directors include the following members:

John Berthelsen Retired

Theresa Campbell PIA Mid America

Chris Curran Napco Media

Jessica Curran SLCC

Judy Durham Finseca

Rick Frank Quad Graphics

Nick Gawreluk Heidelberg Druckmaschinen AG

Ray Hartman Consultant

Stephanie Hill HP

Frank Kanonik Intellective Solutions

Jessica Kastello Lakeside Book Company

John Krueger Printing and Imaging Association of Georgia

Todd Luman Interprint

Ken Macro Cal Poly

Frank Mallozzi EFI

McKenzie Munson The John Roberts Company

Brian Regan Talent Acquisition Professional

Stephan Richards Richards Graphic Communications

Peter Schaefer New Directions

Ted Straus Suttle-Straus

Emily Swanson CGS Oris | Americas

Andrea Tancredi The Imagine Group

Heidi Thompson AcePR

Walter Vail Yakich Group

Jules Van Sant Bubble & Hatch

Matt Vertrees Olympus Press

Dan Wilson Accrediting Council for Collegiate Graphic Communications

Niels Winther Think Patented

Cindy Woods The CMO Team

Ed Young Heidelberg

___________________________________________________________

About PGSF

The Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation is a not-for-profit, private, industry-directed organization that dispenses assistance to talented youth interested in graphic communications careers and pursuing education at technical colleges and universities. The mission of PGSF is to promote the graphics industry as a career choice for young people and support them through their education process.

PPG (NYSE:PPG) announced that Tim Knavish, chief operating officer, has been named president and chief executive officer (CEO), effective Jan. 1, 2023. Knavish will join the company’s Board of Directors, effective October 20, 2022.

Knavish, 57, who has served as PPG’s chief operating officer since March, will succeed Chairman and CEO Michael McGarry, 64, in the role of CEO. McGarry, who has served as CEO since September 2015, will become Executive Chairman, effective Jan. 1, 2023. McGarry also has announced to the PPG Board of Directors his intention to retire as Executive Chairman and as a director of the Company, effective October 1, 2023.

“I want to thank Michael and the PPG Board of Directors for their trust and confidence as we continue to drive PPG forward. Our global business portfolio remains well positioned for future growth and to successfully navigate through the current global economic challenges,” said Knavish. “I look forward to continuing to work with the more than 50,000 PPG people across the world to support our customers, deliver excellent business performance and create additional shareholder value.”

“Tim is a highly respected business leader who has played an instrumental role in PPG’s growth across the markets we serve,” McGarry said. “His leadership has been invaluable as PPG has executed several important strategic actions, including PPG’s recent acquisitions and successful integrations of Tikkurila and Ennis-Flint, now PPG’s Traffic Solutions business. Tim’s proven ability to lead the implementation of our global business strategies, and his focus on continuously strengthening our operations and energizing our diverse workforce will be important in delivering on our growth strategy.”

“On behalf of the PPG Board of Directors, we want to congratulate Tim and also recognize Michael’s outstanding leadership and strategic vision in guiding PPG through some of the most challenging periods in its nearly 140-year history,” said Hugh Grant, PPG independent lead director and retired chairman and chief executive officer, Monsanto Company. “Michael’s leadership in completing several of PPG’s largest acquisitions has made a significant impact on expanding the company’s portfolio and reach in key growth markets. We thank him for his many contributions and look forward to benefiting from his continued leadership as executive chairman of PPG’s Board of Directors. As we look ahead, the board fully supports Tim and the entire PPG team as they work to achieve future growth and increased value for our shareholders.”

McGarry has served as chairman and CEO of PPG since September 2016. During his more than 40 years with PPG, he has served in a variety of key business and functional leadership roles in the U.S., Europe and Asia, and led several strategic actions that transformed PPG’s business portfolio. McGarry currently serves on the board of directors of United States Steel Corporation (NYSE: X), Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., and the National Association of Manufacturers. He is a former member of the board of Axiall Corporation, and former chairman of the board of directors of The American Coatings Association (ACA).

Knavish joined PPG in 1987 at PPG’s global headquarters in Pittsburgh. He advanced through roles of increasing responsibility in several key businesses and functions, including serving as plant manager for the East Point, Georgia, architectural coatings manufacturing facility. In 2005, Knavish moved to Australia as managing director, Australia and New Zealand coatings, and general manager, automotive refinish. In 2007, Knavish returned to the U.S. where he assumed responsibility for automotive coatings, Americas, and in early 2010, he was named a vice president. In 2012, he was appointed global vice president, protective and marine coatings and in 2016 became senior vice president, automotive coatings.

Knavish was named senior vice president, industrial coatings in 2017. In addition to global leadership of PPG’s industrial coatings, packaging coatings and coatings services businesses, Knavish was responsible for the global procurement function and for PPG’s Asia Pacific region. In January 2019, he was appointed senior vice president, architectural coatings and president, PPG Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Prior to being named chief operating officer, Knavish served as executive vice president beginning in October 2019, where he was responsible for PPG’s global architectural coatings businesses; the global automotive refinish business; the Latin America region; and the digital and information technology functions.

A native of Pittsburgh, Knavish earned both a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and an M.B.A. from the University of Pittsburgh. He currently serves on the board of directors of the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania.

PPG: WE PROTECT AND BEAUTIFY THE WORLD
At PPG (NYSE:PPG), we work every day to develop and deliver the paints, coatings and materials that our customers have trusted for more than 135 years. Through dedication and creativity, we solve our customers’ biggest challenges, collaborating closely to find the right path forward. With headquarters in Pittsburgh, we operate and innovate in more than 70 countries and reported net sales of $13.8 billion in 2020. We serve customers in construction, consumer products, industrial and transportation markets and aftermarkets. To learn more, visit www.ppg.com.

We protect and beautify the world is a trademark and the PPG Logo are registered trademarks of PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.

Minneapolis, MN – AWT Labels & Packaging (AWT), a leading provider of custom labels and packaging for healthcare, food, beverage, personal care, and specialty end markets, today announced the acquisition of Label Innovation.

Headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, Label Innovation is a custom converter and label manufacturer of precision technical solutions. The company serves leading global customers in the medical device, technology, and security markets. Label Innovation offers a range of flexible material converting, unique process design, and customized supply chain management services.

“We are very excited to partner with Label Innovation as we continue to add highly complementary capabilities and talent to the AWT platform”, said Bruce Hanson, CEO of AWT. “Kelly Youngdale and the Label Innovation team have created a unique client experience through sophisticated and highly engineered products that solve complex needs in the healthcare industry and other similar end markets that we support today. We believe there is significant value for our collective customer base as we work to unlock the engineering depth and capabilities across AWT”.

This is AWT’s first acquisition in Canada and it further expands the company’s reach from coast to coast, with the Label Innovation site adding their sixth site for the growing Labels and Packaging platform.

“I’m very pleased with the added capabilities, increased footprint and strategic alignment that AWT brings to the table. We see tremendous growth opportunities as part of the AWT team”, said Kelly Youngdale, President of Label Innovation.

About AWT
Founded in 1991, AWT is a custom converter of labels and flexible packaging focused on servicing the complex needs of Healthcare, Personal Care, Food, Beverage, and specialty end markets. The company brings together advanced printing and converting capabilities, broad technical experience, and deep end market expertise. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, AWT operates six facilities across North America.

More information about AWT can be found at www.awtlabelpack.com

About Label Innovation
Label Innovation is a custom converter and label manufacturer utilizing roll-to-roll rotary and laser die-cutting technology to produce products and components for the medical, technology, and security markets. For over three decades, Label Innovation has built a strong reputation delivering innovative solutions, stringent quality, and customer partnership.

More information about Label Innovation can be found at www.labelinnovation.com

Elgin, IL – Xeikon America, a world-class developer and manufacturer of digital printing presses and related equipment, today announced the opening of its new North American headquarters in the Chicago suburb of Elgin. Xeikon executives were joined by Elgin mayor Dave Kaptain, Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Carol Gieske and Economic Development Group Director Tony Lucenko for a gala ribbon cutting to inaugurate the facility.

Eighty percent of the 39,000 square feet of space at the Elgin facility is dedicated to customer support functions, including the company’s state-of-the-art Innovation Center which offers customers greatly expanded demonstration and training capabilities, both virtually and in person. The Innovation Center features Xeikon dry toner; UV-IJ printer solutions that serve the print and packaging industries who then serve the food, beverage, beer, wine and spirits, health & beauty, pharmaceutical, agriculture, and the nutraceutical industries as well as the commercial print/graphic arts industries. In addition to our production print solutions, Xeikon’s NA Headquarters will showcase the company’s software solutions. Additionally, the Elgin location provides improved warehousing and office space.

The new facility at 350 River Ridge Road is located within Elgin’s Prologis business park. It underwent a floor-to-ceiling renovation to Xeikon’s specifications.

Xeikon, the digital division of Flint Group, was founded more than 30 years ago. The company provides large-scale solutions to print and packaging suppliers in a variety of consumer and business-to-business markets worldwide. “Customer needs continue to evolve and a company must be adaptive and agile to remain competitive,” said Benoit Chatelard. “This new facility was designed and developed with that in mind.”

All of the more than 60 employees housed at the company’s previous offices in Itasca have elected to make the move to the Elgin location. Much of the Xeikon America workforce is virtual, working from their homes and other locations across the United States and Canada.

About Xeikon
Xeikon, a division of Flint Group, is a long-standing leader and innovator in digital printing technology. Grounded in the principles of quality, flexibility and sustainability, Xeikon designs, develops and delivers web-fed digital color presses for label and packaging applications, document printing, and commercial printing. These presses utilize different imaging processes, open workflow software and application-specific consumables.

In 2015, Xeikon joined Flint Group to create a new “Digital Printing Solutions” division for the leading global print consumables and solution provider to the packaging and print media industries. Flint Group develops and manufactures an extensive portfolio of printing consumables. These include a vast range of conventional and energy-curable inks and coatings, press room chemicals, as well as pigments and additives for use in inks and other colourant applications. The Flint Group is based in Luxembourg and employs around 7,900 people. Globally, the company is number 1 or 2 in all market segments it serves.

For more information about Xeikon, visit www.xeikon.com

Flint Group, one of the largest consumable suppliers to the global packaging and print industry, reveals the details of its upcoming webinar focused on Circular Central Impression (CI) Flexographic Printing.

This free webinar will take place on Thursday, the 1st of December 2022. The event features an experienced panel of speakers who will discuss the technologies available for today’s printers and converters who seek circular and sustainable packaging. 

As well as the next generation of press machinery, plates, and sleeves, the webinar highlights Flint Group’s ONECode range of solvent-based inks and varnishes for flexible package printing. The range includes products formulated to enhance performance in flexible package printing as well as next-generation inks such as the Cradle-to-Cradle® certified ZenCode.

With expert representation from key parts of the flexographic supply chain, the webinar aims to better prepare converters to meet today’s sustainability goals. Topics include current challenges in low-carbon flexographic printing, the use of de-inking to create circular packaging, the latest technology in printing plates and long-life sleeves, plus the role of machinery & equipment in minimising waste.

Stephen Butler, European Flexible Packaging Product Manager, Flint Group, said: “We are delighted to welcome guests to our CI Flexo webinar focused on sustainability. Staying competitive is an immense juggling act for printers and converters. The pressure to deliver quality, speed, and precision remains critical. In addition to that, boosting efficiency, reducing waste, and designing for recycling is more vital than ever before. 

“Alongside our partners at XSYS and Windmöller & Hölscher, we are proud to be a key contributor to this event, exhibiting how we can provide sustainable options to deliver a true competitive advantage. On the 1st of December, we look forward to engaging with delegates from across the industry with this enlightening event.”

During this informative webinar, attendees will hear insights from plate and sleeve technology experts, XSYS Global, as well as press manufacturer, Windmöller & Hölscher.  Flint Group, will present its circular vision and provide insight into effective recycling processes for flexible packaging.

To register for attendance, please click here

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

BOBST also announces One complete solution – providing perfect flexible packaging workflows, based on individual converter production needs

Together with its partners, BOBST today revealed one of the most exciting milestones in the journey towards truly sustainable packaging: oneBARRIER, a family of new alternative and sustainable solutions.

At K 2022, taking place in Düsseldorf, 19–22 October, BOBST and its partners have revealed Generation 3.0 “hero samples” of oneBARRIER PrimeCycle – a polymer-based mono-material, which is recycle-ready while retaining excellent barrier qualities, making it a potentially groundbreaking development for sustainable packaging. PrimeCycle is an EVOH-free, top-coat free solution for full PE barrier and is an alternative to metallized polyester film. The Generation 3.0 samples, which are various examples of food packaging, are another significant evolution from the 1.0 version first presented at K 2019 – they are now converted and printed on real scale equipment, assuring quality and barrier performance along every successive conversion phase.

The reveal comes just weeks after Institute Cyclos – the respected expert in the classification, assessment and certification of recyclability of packaging – awarded BOBST an EU-wide certification of recyclability for oneBARRIER PrimeCycle, with a recyclability level of 98%. This is an exceptionally high recyclability level for a high barrier film. BOBST’s partners involved in oneBARRIER PrimeCycle include Dow, Michelman, Sun Chemical and Zermatt, who are all present during K 2022 to demonstrate their vital contributions to this exciting development.

A second major oneBARRIER breakthrough is also on show for the first time at K 2022. oneBARRIER FibreCycle is a full paper, mono-material, recycle-ready solution created together with partners Michelman and UPM, in response to increasing demand in the industry for more paper-based packaging options. Together with Finnish-based converter Huhtamaki, BOBST has revealed the first ever hero samples of converted packaging using the FibreCycle solution, representing another exciting and significant milestone for sustainable packaging.

“The oneBARRIER solutions presented at K 2022 are the real deal – sustainable, recycle-ready packaging with excellent barrier properties,” said Sara Alexander, Marketing and Communications Manager, Flexible Packaging Industry, BOBST. “This success is testament to the great collaboration between all our valued partners, and we are proud to have played an integral role. Sustainable packaging has represented one of the great challenges of the modern era, and one of the most necessary. Now at BOBST, together with our partners, we are ready.”

One complete solution

Sustainability is not the only hot topic for BOBST at K 2022. BOBST also announced the launch of One complete solution – a new tailored package of end-to-end solutions to create a perfect flexible packaging workflow for converters, based on their production needs.

One complete solution is a portfolio of end-to-end workflows that connect all steps, from production file and pre-press through to the reels of printed or laminated substrates, or of high barrier functional films or paper.

BOBST is hosting an Open House event in Bielefeld, which is running concurrently to K 2022 (19-26 October), where attendees will be able to see an example of One complete solution in action. The workflow on display will include full pre-press set up with smartGPS, plus sleeve mounting with our partner, AV Flexologic, plus a CI Flexo press with the VISION CI, plus quality control with the BOBST digital inspection table, plus lamination with the solventless NOVA SX 550 LAMINATOR, plus all essential data and digital services with BOBST Connect.

“One complete solution provides everything converters need tailored to their specific needs,” said Sara Alexander. “Uniquely in our industry, BOBST has the knowledge and portfolio of solutions to create complete and seamless quality production for converters, offering end-to-end solutions for more productive flexible packaging. The workflow is more efficient, the whole process is smoother, and servicing is considerably easier. It really is the whole package.”

A second BOBST Open House took place on 18 October at Bobst Manchester Open House, focused on the FibreCycle solution with partners UPM and Michelman, and giving attendees the opportunity to see BOBST`s latest vacuum metallizing solutions in person.

BOBST Connect

An integral element of One complete solution, and also on show at K 2022, is BOBST Connect. BOBST Connect is a user-centric digital platform that links different steps of the production process through a digitalized and automated workflow. It improves efficiency, control, and data knowledge, driving quality and productivity across the value chain.

BOBST has announced that as of 1 July 2022, BOBST Connect Essential – the first subscription plan of this very powerful tool – has been made available on all BOBST machines as a standard supply. This is a unique offer within the industry.

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