Since its inception in 1973 by Pietro Prati, the Italian manufacturer of converting and finishing technology has always held true to the belief that quality breeds success.  Today, almost 50 years later, the company is acknowledged worldwide as one of the leading manufacturers in the narrow and mid web sectors of the market, with an annual output of more than 200 machines valued in excess of €20m.  Its modern high-tech headquarters in Faenza boasts a string of ISO certifications and its products are manufactured in accordance with CE, UL/CSA, and Industry 4.0 standards.

So, what makes Prati so special?   According to Sales & Marketing Director Chiara Prati: “It’s our eye for detail.  At every stage from R&D to delivery and commissioning we maintain a high level of quality control that gives reliability to our products and success to our customers.”  The proof of this can be found in the company’s global network of sales and support, which since 2018 has included a facility in Dallas Texas, to serve converters in the US and Canadian markets.  Today, 80% of Prati’s business comes from exports outside Italy, with around 45% to Europe and 35% to RoW.

Much of its success is based on what it calls its ‘Futura’ technology – a scalable architecture for all converting and finishing applications that allows a customer to grow his or her Prati machine inline with changing business requirements.  As Prati’s product range developed from high-speed slitter/rewinders to more complex inspection and finishing lines, the need to include ancillary technology from external suppliers became evident.  The choice of these manufacturers was crucial to the company maintaining its reputation for quality, according to Chiara Prati.

“We first encountered Vetaphone when we were working on a special laminating line for one of the World’s largest manufacturers of tube laminates.  It was 450mm wide and required a 4KW corona system for secure over-printing on a difficult substrate.  We soon came to realise why Vetaphone was the most popular brand on the market – when you invent something you have more experience than anyone else – and it matters!” she explained.

Since that time the two companies have worked closely together on a number of special projects as well as Vetaphone corona units becoming the standard fit for Prati’s successful DIGIFASTone and DIGI COMPACT converting lines.  Currently, the two companies are working on a special 630mm project in Spain that will handle linerless labels but needs the facility to spot-coat hotmelt adhesive.  “We enjoy working with Vetaphone because our company philosophy aligns with theirs – we both like a challenge and using our expertise to find the best solution,” she added.

The cooperative partnership is a good fit for both.  Prati’s requirements are for web widths from 370mm to 760mm, a sector in which Vetaphone has a large share of the corona treatment market, and for substrates that include PSL, PET, monofoils, multi-laminate and alufoil, amongst others – all substrates for which surface treatment was invented and over the years has been progressively developed and refined by the Danish manufacturer.  Applications for this combined technology include industries from food and beverage to security and logistics as well as a range of industrial products.

Currently, work is progressing on Prati’s new DIGIFAST20000 model that’s being developed for the HP 20000 and 25000 lines.  This 760mm wide machine will need a 4KW corona system from Vetaphone, and global sales projections are ambitious.  Looking ahead, Giuseppe Rossi, Vetaphone’s Sales Manager for Italy commented: “We are delighted to be working closely with Prati on a number of exciting new products that will be hot prospects for the market.  I think both companies appreciate each other’s attention to detail and the investment made in R&D.  This can only bode well for the future.”

With plastic packaging coming under increasing pressure from environmentalists, Prati is aware of its responsibilities towards a ‘green footprint’.  According to Chiara Prati: “We believe every action represents our commitment to sustainable development and confirms our sensitivity to the environment.  Our technology is designed to meet this commitment, our offices are required to minimise impact and the conduct of our people reflects the ecological approach that are the basis of our corporate ethics.”

www.vetaphone.com

The Istanbul-based UNIFOL is a compelling technological player, having developed innovative, resistant and long-lasting PVC films for 3D applications on large surfaces. The acquisition is part of the Fedrigoni Group’s strategy to continue to diversify its product range in adjacent sectors, expand its global presence and reinforce its position as a leading player in the global self-adhesives space

The Fedrigoni Group, the top global player in the production of high value-added specialty papers for luxury packaging and other creative applications, and a leader in the premium labels and self-adhesive materials markets, announces an agreement for the acquisition of UNIFOL, a global market player based in Istanbul and the only PVC self-adhesives manufacturer in Turkey. Founded in 1994 by its current owners, the company has approximately eighty employees and specialises in PVC CAST technology for vehicle wrapping with its UNICAST brand. Its film materials are used to protect the body of a vehicle, change a vehicle’s colour or apply graphics.

UNIFOL has made significant investments in this technology by creating state-of-the-art plants and cutting-edge materials to provide products compliant with current standards. This acquisition presents an excellent opportunity for Fedrigoni’s self-adhesives division – already present in the world of graphics and visual communication solutions – to enrich its already broad offering.

“UNIFOL is an extremely interesting technological player for us” – states Marco Nespolo, CEO of the Fedrigoni Group – “because it has developed innovative, resistant, long-lasting self-adhesives that can be used for 3D applications on large surfaces. This acquisition will allow us to make our offer more attractive and to continue our strategy to expand into promising segment, adjacent to those we are already present in, as we have previously done with our entry in the smart labels sector with the acquisition of the French company Tageos”.

“We are greatly satisfied with this operation that allows us to expand our portfolio of solutions in the graphics and visual communication sector” – adds Fulvio Capussotti, Executive Vice President of Fedrigoni’s Self-Adhesives division – “The combination of the UNIFOL technology and the global geographic presence of Fedrigoni will allow us to be ever more competitive in a rapidly growing niche market in Europe and throughout the world”.

Birol Çakır and Erkut Cilvez, the shareholders of UNIFOL also expressed that: “We are delighted to reach an agreement with a solid and expanding international company such as the Fedrigoni Group. We believe that following the completion of the transaction, UNIFOL will accelerate its global growth path and ability to invest in research and development of increasingly high-performance and innovative solutions”.

Fedrigoni
Since 1888 Fedrigoni has stood for excellence in the manufacture of specialty papers. It is one of Europe’s largest players in the production and sale of various types of high value-added paper for packaging and graphics, premium labelling products, and other self-adhesive materials. With more than 4,000 employees in Italy and abroad and 25,000 products, the Group sells and distributes in more than 130 countries and has become the third global player in the self-adhesive materials sector also thanks to recent acquisitions. The Paper business unit includes the Cordenons Group and the historic Fabriano brand, and the Self-Adhesives business unit includes Arconvert, Manter, Ritrama (since February 2020), IP Venus (since December 2020), Acucote and Ri-Mark (since June 2021), Tageos (March 2022). The American distributor GPA is also part of the Group.

For more information: www.fedrigoni.com

Labelexpo India returns to the India Expo Center & Mart in Greater Noida, Delhi NCR in November. 

Registration has opened for Labelexpo India 2022, South Asia’s leading labels and package print exhibition. The show will be held from 10-13 November 2022 at India Expo Centre, Greater Noida, Delhi NCR. Visitors can register free at www.labelexpo-india.com.

Labelexpo India 2022 brings together suppliers of full range of label and package printing technologies including digital and conventional printing presses, label and packaging materials, pre-press and platemaking technology, finishing and converting systems, inspection and label application equipment, inks and coatings, security solutions and software and interactive technology.

The four-day show will feature new exhibitors, live demonstrations and new developments in label and packaging technologies.

Commented Pradeep Saroha, event director, “Labelexpo India 2022 is an unmissable opportunity for the industry to come together under one roof and reunite with industry peers to witness and be a part of the future of print technology. This year’s show will feature the changes and trends that the industry observed over the last four years such as the rise in e-commerce, emergence of start-ups, the developments in food packaging and labeling during the pandemic and commercial printers diversifying into packaging as a result of the pandemic.”

For more information about Labelexpo India 2022, follow Labelexpo on Twitter at @Labelexpo or visit the LabelexpoIndia website.

Austin, TX – LPC, Inc., a leading marketing communications and market research firm serving the printed packaging industries, announces that Jackie Kuehlmann has joined the firm as Senior Principal. Kuehlmann brings decades of B2B marketing, communications and public relations experience including fifteen years at Inland Packaging where her most recent role was the Director of Marketing and Business Development.

Kuehlmann has a proven track record in building B2B marketing organizations from the ground up and aligning marketing and sales teams to drive efficiencies, shorten sales cycles and achieve revenue growth goals. In her new role at LPC, she will take leadership over the marketing, communications and PR division, responsible for helping to build upon LPC’s double-digit growth and bringing the organization into a new era of strategic partnerships. Kuehlman will be responsible for maintaining and managing the client experience and expanding the firm’s offerings.

LPC co-founder, Jennifer Dochstader, comments, “We are beyond thrilled to have Jackie Kuehlmann joining our team. We have always said that a dream team member would be someone with extensive strategic marketing experience at a prominent label and packaging converter and this is exactly what we have in Jackie. She’s handled all aspects of marketing at one of the industry’s largest and most prominent independent converting companies, from content development to social media to demand gen to measuring the success of fully integrated campaigns. Jackie has an outstanding reputation in the industry and I look forward to working with her and to continuing to make sure our clients are successful in this constantly-changing marketplace.”

About LPC, Inc.
LPC, Inc. provides industry research, consulting services and marketing communications support to companies in the printing and packaging industries. We work with companies at every level of the packaging supply chain: Fortune 500 consumer products companies and retailers, printers and converters, and equipment and consumable goods suppliers.

For more information, visit lpcprint.com.

Surface treatment pioneer Vetaphone, has appointed Gustav Hansen as Chief Procurement Officer as part of its strategic growth programme for the 2020s.  His role as CPO will be to develop the supply chain and provide greater security for the company’s production team and customers alike, while ensuring that the price level remains competitive.

Trained initially as an machinist, Hansen spent time as an AP graduate in production technology before moving into purchasing and managment.  Most recently, he was Purchasing and Planning Manager at another leading Danish manufacturer, Tresu.

Married to Anne and with two teenage children, he enjoys running and hiking as well as having a passion for restoring old motorbikes!

www.vetaphone.com

Mark Andy introduces the new digital press incorporating Konica Minolta AL400 print engine, along with flexo, finishing and workflow products.

Mark Andy has announced its participation at Labelexpo Americas 2022 with a strong focus on digital transformation and end-to-end workflow, embellishing, die-cutting and production automation.

Labelexpo Americas 2022 sees the first public showing of Mark Andy’s digital press incorporating Konica Minolta’s Accurio Label 400 (AL400) toner-based print engine. The press is configured as standard with five colors, CMYK and white, printing at speeds up to 130 fpm in roll to roll and hybrid configuration.

“Through our strategic partnership with Konica Minolta, Mark Andy is extending its solutions for digital print production to be optimized for mid-to-high volume converters,” commented Greg Palm, executive vice president Sales & Marketing at Mark Andy.

Under the terms of the partnership agreement, Mark Andy is the exclusive provider of Konica Minolta’s AL400 print technology to the labels and packaging industry.

Mark Andy is excited to showcase its latest production ink jet press the Digital Series iQ. The iQ is built on Mark Andy’s proven Evolution Series flexographic platform for application flexibility and bosting proven award-winning web handling and digital implementation. The iQ was developed for converters looking to start their digital transformation using proven inkjet printing and converting technology.

Completing the digital lineup will be a Digital Series HD press – configured with four flexo units – and with inline flexo varnish and die-cutting.

Rotoflex finishing equipment on the Mark Andy stand includes VSI and VLI inspection-rewinders and the new AT4 quick-change auto turret rewind, configurable for in-line or off-line label finishing. Auto core gluing and label closer options are available.

The company’s division Mark Andy Print Products (MAPP) will exhibit a full range of flexo plate imaging and processing equipment from leading prepress suppliers including DuPont Cyrel plates and FAST processor, Tesa mounting tape and Esko digital imaging equipment and software.

Mark Andy will also have representatives on the booth from Kluge and Presstek.

Show attendees will also have an exclusive opportunity to find out more about Mark Andy’s digital transformation journey during a period of market complexity at the accompanying two-day show conference program.

A Mark Andy expert, Tom Schelmbauer, chief business officer, will be joining the panel discussion “How are supply chain complexities impacting market growth?”, which takes place between 11.05am-12.05pm on Tuesday 13 September.

Lisa Milburn, managing director of Labelexpo Global Series, commented, “I am delighted Mark Andy has chosen Labelexpo Americas 2022 to showcase the launch of their new digital products. It is yet another powerful reason for label converters to visit the show.”

Labelexpo Americas 2022 takes place at the Donald E Stevens Convention Center, Chicago, between 13-15 September. For more information and to register for the show visit www.labelexpo-americas.com.

www.markandy.com

Woolwich-based Empress Litho handles the print requirements of a number of highly demanding London design agencies, and has a plethora of awards to show for their work. UV LED has played a part in this success by enabling the use of new substrates and a move into prestige packaging work.

David May, Managing Director at Empress Litho, is animated when explaining what he believes are the key reasons for the company’s ongoing success in a fiercely competitive market: “We’re a highly flexible, award-winning printing company who have been collaborating with the best of the creative industry for over 30 years. We’re more of a trusted partner than a supplier, advising and working closely with clients to realise their creative vision. Our reputation for exceptional print is matched only by our commitment to impeccable service. From self-publishers to large corporates, we give everyone the same love, attention and guidance.

“Our position in this high-end market demands that we have to have the latest in tech to stay ahead of the field, to remain competitive and to be able to meet ever-decreasing turnaround expectations. This is the key reason why we first looked at UV LED curing, back in 2017. We’re a B1 house and if we were going to introduce digital back then, it would have had to have been B2, but we decided instead to install UV LED on our existing litho press. By doing this we are sweating an existing asset, and at the same time we solved our need for faster throughput of work, particularly on shorter to mid-length runs. We can now achieve better-than-digital quality but in digital turnaround times, and at the same time our production costs are lower than digital, so we are competitive and we get a better margin.”

Empress’s 6-colour Heidelberg CD102 has been retrofitted with a GEW LeoLED UV curing system installed in the press delivery. Its two 100cm-width LED lampheads have a width-switching function down to 80cm, enabling energy to be saved when printing smaller sheet sizes. The UV LED system is complete with its own chiller unit, integrated power supply, and an HMI touchscreen which gives the press operator complete control over the UV curing process.

The press was retrofitted over the course of four days. Two of these days were for the installation of the ancillary chiller unit and power supply system, which took place alongside normal press production. On the third day the UV lampheads were installed in the press delivery, with the machine back up and running on day four. May comments: “Disruption was minimal, the installation team had clearly seen it all before. The integration had all been 3D computer-modelled in advance, so any potential problems could be resolved at that stage and not on the shop floor.”

The UV system is also remotely monitored by GEW, over the internet. This enables encrypted system performance data to be sent live to GEW’s Service team, ensuring a fast and precise service response should the need arise. The full service history of every lamp is recorded and viewable, including all parameters, faults and operator commands. A preventative maintenance program will recommend software or hardware updates and can highlight and correct out-of-tolerance parameters before any issue arises on site. This remote monitoring platform also enables comprehensive monthly system performance reports to be sent to Empress, including such information as energy use and machine uptime, so that their press productivity can be monitored more closely than ever before.

When researching the viability of UV LED for Empress, May became aware of the higher cost of LED inks versus conventional inks. He explains his decision to go ahead with an LED retrofit, despite this: “The cost of ink typically ranges from 3% to 6% of the cost of a job, when all things are taken into account. Even with this rising to around 9% in the case of LED inks, this is more than offset by the productivity benefits created by instant drying, not to mention the elimination of spray powder and machine sealer. As a result, our downtime for press cleaning is minimal. We have also eradicated the problems of set-off and dryback… colours remain vibrant on uncoated stock, so when a customer has visited us for a press-pass they can be sure that what they have seen is exactly what they will get.”

A further consideration for May when reviewing LED, was that the technology seemed to be targeted squarely at the four-colour market, with the infrastructure for specials and Pantone inks still in its infancy. He explains: “Most UK ink suppliers only offer four colours. Pantones, metallic and fluorescents are still regarded as specialist and only a few support this. Most suppliers cite lack of demand. More importantly LED ink does not come in the usual Pantone base mix colours, so you need your ink-makers’ secret recipe to mix from their LED base colours. On the positive side, LED also supports opaque white ink which can then be overprinted, so you can print strong and vivid four-colour images on non-white paper and that ability has led us into more specialist packaging work, where our ingrained ability to do the difficult and demanding projects has paid dividends.”

Solving specials was challenging, but May openly admits he has found a high level of efficiency in working with LED, as he explains: “With LED you don’t wash up, you don’t use spray powder, the machine is hugely productive and will just eat work. The productivity and revenue benefits far outweigh any downsides.” He continues: “What you also get with LED is predictability of your finishing processes because you have no set-off, no marking or scuffing, or any of those type of problems that bring in hidden costs that eat into your margin.”

May’s original reason for investing in the UV system retrofit was purely to speed up production and push more work through to the bindery. He explains how the investment has brought other, unexpected benefits: “With LED we can now print on an awful lot of very difficult papers and other substrates, which is key to our move into more and more high end, high quality work. While it was not necessarily part of the original plan, it has enabled us to capture so much prestige work that would otherwise be unattainable.”

As was the case with all commercial printers, Empress Litho’s business was severely reduced during the COVID pandemic. Traditional commercial work dried up almost overnight, but this was largely replaced by a rapidly increasing demand for packaging. May describes how the change evolved: “Our business plan was thrown into turmoil at first, but because we have Heidelberg CDs that can print on 1.2mm carton board, and we have the UV LED that can print foodsafe low migration inks, we were increasingly approached by UK-based firms looking to fulfil their food packaging requirements more locally. This got the business through COVID and I think if we did not have the LED capability, we might not have done that.” He concludes: “What’s more, that new business stream is still with us, on top of the returning corporate printing work, so it’s a win-win.”

www.gewuv.com

BOBST has announced the launch of the first subscription plan of BOBST Connect, the user-centric platform which connects converters and brand owners to a digitalized and automated workflow, giving them clear visibility and control of the production process.

The new package – BOBST Connect Essential – is available from 01 July 2022 and offers a host of features and functionalities to help customers optimize their packaging production at every stage. By linking different steps of the process, BOBST Connect improves efficiency, control, and data knowledge, driving quality and productivity across the value chain.

BOBST Connect Essential includes an end-to-end digital solution, a powerful set of data and digital tools together in one fully connected platform and puts the power and knowledge of BOBST at the fingertips of its users. As a live platform, it will continually evolve to include new functionalities, new machines and more machine data. BOBST Connect can link directly to customers’ existing systems and platforms and integrates with third party cloud-based applications across the value chain, making the experience seamless. In terms of security, BOBST Connect is hosted in a fully secure, ISO 27001-certified environment,providing complete reassurance of data security and privacy

“In today’s packaging environment, data has become king, and can provide a significant competitive advantage,” said Léonard Badet, Chief Technology Officer. “BOBST Connect helps customers to take advantage of the wealth of data produced by their machines,providing the insights and range of solutions that can unlock advances in efficiency, quality, and productivity.”

Features and functionalities

The first solution package, BOBST Connect Essential, offers a host of features and functionality to help users optimize their packaging production at every stage. These include:

• Accurate performance data: Through BOBST Connect, users can see a quick view of machine status and health, machine error alerts and current production performance. It can inform users how different aspects of OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) are impacting production and help to identify and eliminate losses.

• Progress indicators: BOBST Connect highlights the difference between estimated and actual finishing times for each job, enabling operators and plant managers to intervene in a job quickly and at the right time.

• Reporting: BOBST Connect delivers live and interactive reports, which can be used to identify, review and track trends. The reports show reasons for machine downtime.

• High priority remote assistance: BOBST Connect enables remote connection to customer’s machine. This service allows customers to have access to augmented reality video streaming with BOBST Technical Services Specialists for quicker trouble shooting and issue solving. It is estimated that around 80% of electrical issues can be solved directly on-line. By using video streaming, problem solving can be extended to clarify mechanical issues, too. Through BOBST Connect, technical support can quickly diagnose problems based on historical and real-time data.

BOBST Connect is an integral part of the BOBST vision to shape the future of the packaging world based on four cornerstones – connectivity, digitalization, automation and sustainability.

“At BOBST, we are helping to connect our customers to a digitized and automated workflow, while at the same time providing best-in-class machines and a great service experience,” said Raphael Indermühle, Head of Business Unit Services & Performance. “BOBST Connect achieves all this and puts our customers fully in control of their own production process. What’s more, BOBST Connect will continually evolve as new solutions are added, meaning the potential competitive advantage will simply continue to grow.”

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

Schaumburg, IL – As shrink sleeves gain more traction in the packaging arena, INX International Ink Co. continues to meet market demand with innovative new ink products. The latest development is INXFlex™ Contour, a dynamic UV and LED dual cure flexographic ink system designed to help produce distinctive shrink sleeve label solutions for brand owners.

INXFlex Contour follows the successful introduction of Genesis™ GS washable label inks, a recycle-friendly product that recently added a new flexo version and UV Curable primer that makes INXFlex Contour washable too. With various market research reports projecting the Shrink Sleeve market to expand considerably by 2026, both ink systems offer significant advantages.

In addition to high performance capabilities, these colorful and vibrant inks were carefully designed to address pertinent brand owner issues including efficiency and sustainability, says Renee Schouten, INX’s Vice President of Marketing.

“INX shrink sleeves are formulated for optimal print and press performance, making the labels stand out on store shelves and attracting the attention of consumers,” she said. “Our ink and coating systems are versatile, adaptive, and work on all common substrates such as PET, cPET, OPP, OPS and PVC. That’s a critical consideration since INXFlex Contour is designed for tamper evident sleeve applications, an expectation most brand owners are seeking.”

One of the biggest benefits of INXFlex Contour is it corrects label and packaging industry issues of post-shrink adhesion loss and ink cracking, and delivers superior flexibility that far exceeds any other product available in the market. Schouten explained that in addition to increased efficiencies, faster lead times and lower applied costs with a dual cure version, it also addresses sustainability concerns with patent pending recycling capabilities.

“It was essential for us to design INXFlex Contour to work with a wide array of substrates while maximizing press speeds and ink strength. These inks give our customers flexibility in choosing the best substrate and the most cost effective solution for their application,” indicated Schouten, who said it is available as a dual cure or regular UV cure system.

“It also addresses the key needs of shrink sleeve converters – including shrink maximization in both orientations – while eliminating post-shrink adhesion loss and ink flaking,” continued Schouten. “Curing LED provides several sustainability advantages including energy savings with less power consumption, instant on-off access and no ozone being produced. This gives brand owners looking to strengthen their recycling efforts another solid option, in addition to our Genesis™ washable label inks.”

Genesis GS has proven to be a popular gravure solvent ink system as it meets the PET-CG-02 Critical Guidance Protocol established by the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR). Schouten said in addition to Genesis GS and the new washable Genesis FS flexo solvent version, INXFlex Contour with its UV Curable primer gives brand owners better options for the lifecycle of their labels.

“When used in combination with INXFlex Contour, the new UV curable primer enables the ink to be washable from shrinkable cPET,” remarked Schouten. “The primer allows the ink to be removed in a caustic wash bath prior to recycling for the circular reuse of recovered materials.”

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