Kennesaw, Ga. July 25, 2023 – Manufacturing custom packaging for the Canadian market, Beneco Packaging strives to provide its customers with the utmost print quality, competitive pricing, and unrivaled turnaround times. The company’s highly efficient operation boasts an impressive seven die cutters and six folder gluers across its two production facilities near Toronto, Ontario. To further boost its efficiency and print capacity, Beneco recently installed a new Speedmaster CX 104-7+L equipped with Prinect Inpress Control 3 from HEIDELBERG at its Coburg, ON location. The new press, together with Beneco’s 2018 Speedmaster CX 102, are amongst HEIDELBERG’s highest performing presses in their category worldwide.

High Performers

“We provide a unique solution to the market,” said Carol Jiang, President of Beneco Packaging. “Small companies can’t compete with us on pricing and delivery dates, and large companies can’t match our run length flexibility. Having the right equipment plays a key role in this.” Previously only equipped with a six-color Speedmaster CX 102 with UV curing at its Scarborough, ON location, the company could no longer keep up with the increasing demand from its food packaging customers. Beneco, pleased with the speed, value, and versatility of its CX 102 purchased in 2018, installed a new seven-color CX 104 at the end of 2022 – doubling its print capacity. Thanks to its 15,000 sph running speed, the press is very cost-effective for the company’s medium to long runs, and according to Jiang, also gives the company the flexibility for short runs due to its efficient makereadies. 

Equipped with HEIDELBERG’s latest autonomous Push-to-Stop technology, AutoPlate Pro, and its new operating philosophy, the HEIDELBERG User Experience (UX), Beneco’s new CX 104 ensures short makeready times and the best possible support for press operators throughout the press run. “We’re able to consistently run the press at top speed while maintaining superior print quality,” said Jiang. The run speeds and swift makereadies coupled with excellent press uptime – thanks to “minimal maintenance issues” – means Beneco’s CX 104 and its older CX 102 are rated near the top of HEIDELBERG’s highest performing CX presses worldwide. The presses’ superior performance, according to Jiang, stem from how Beneco decides to run and schedule the machines. “It’s our team and HEIDELBERG’s team working together to reduce downtime and improve productivity.” Maintaining a high level of efficiency is also key to helping the company reduce costs and enables Beneco to pass these savings onto its customers.

Beneco experiences further efficiency gains thanks to Prinect Inpress Control 3, the industry’s leading inline spectrophotometer that measures and controls color and registers on the fly at any speed, delivering the first measurable result in less than 60 sheets. This was Beneco’s first time purchasing a press with Inpress Control, and the company made the decision to ensure it’s producing the highest quality products for its customers. Since installation, Jiang says, “Inpress Control saves a lot of time for our pressmen, especially during the press run. They don’t have to stop the press to adjust the color. It’s all done automatically.” 

In addition to HEIDELBERG’s technology, the knowledgeable service team available in Canada plays an essential role in Beneco’s decision to continue to purchase from HEIDELBERG. “I don’t think that another press manufacturer has as good of a team,” said Jiang. “We can’t afford downtime, so it brings us peace of mind knowing they’re always making sure that we can keep our machines running.” The company also credits HEIDELBERG’s excellent installation and training process at start-up as the basis for Beneco’s success with the machine. “Richard Carter’s team and our trainer, Larry St. Thomas, made this the best installation and training experience we’ve ever had,” said Jiang. “In my experience, HEIDELBERG machines do everything they’re promised to do. They’re very robust, easy to operate, and from an overall value standpoint, I think HEIDELBERG is the best choice.”

About Beneco Packaging

Beneco Packaging promises to give its customers innovation, speed, quality and service. Understanding that speed and accuracy mean everything in the fast-paced manufacturing world, Beneco Packaging ensures to get its customers’ custom print packaging done – from design to delivery – on time and on budget.

July 2023:  At this year’s Labelexpo Europe, Flint Group’s Narrow Web business and Digital team (Xeikon) will showcase solutions and services that contribute to the seamless and sustainable growth of label converters.

The booth, located in Hall 5 C28 & C29, will highlight how the company’s products and services enable a thriving label business environment while prioritising environmental consciousness.

Xeikon, Flint Group’s Digital business, will exhibit a range of new solutions including:

• Cheetah 3.0 technology for label printing, which incorporates Xeikon’s brand new environmentally and food-safe ECO Toner technology, as well as a new Quality Measurement Module (QMM) which can be fitted on all Cheetah 3.0 CX Series presses.

• The latest Panther digital press technology configured with Xeikon’s new PantherCure LED inks in its first public demonstration in Europe.

• The Xeikon TX-500 digital press running live and using Xeikon’s new TITON toner technology, designed to meet industry demands for paper-based flexible packaging applications and consumer’s concern for the environment. 

• Flint Group’s Narrow Web business is looking forward to discussing its next-generation ink and coating technologies including:

• EkoCure® UV LED inks and coatings for all narrow web applications with dual cure capabilities supporting converters seeking to transition to UV LED curing technology

• EkoCure® ANCORA F2 inks and coatings specifically designed for food packaging and labelling applications.

• Evolution Primers and Varnishes – new sustainable solutions focused entirely on improving printed label recycling performance.

Notably, Flint Group is eager to debut and register customers onto its customised and customer-bespoke B2B platform – FlintLink. This personalised environment gives Flint Group customers timely access to support and information which makes collaboration, communication, and doing business easy.

Furthermore, both the Narrow Web and Xeikon business teams will participate in additional features of the Labelexpo event, including the Automation Arena, Sustainability Trail and the Flex Pack Trail.

Labelexpo Europe is the world’s largest event for the label and package printing industry and will be held September 11-14 at the Brussels Expo, in Belgium.  To find out more, please visit www.labelexpo-europe.com.

For more information on Flint Group products and services please visit www.flintgroup.com and www.xeikon.com.

Autumn Graphics Ltd. has successfully completed the latest Miraclon Certification Program for KODAK FLEXCEL NX Plates at all locations in Canada and the United States. The certification program evaluates FLEXCEL NX System users’ ability to meet stringent international flexo platemaking standards set by Miraclon. It represents a feature set that drives industry-leading efficiency, repeatability, and consistent quality in flexo platemaking, and is also supported by extensive data measurement and analysis.

Autumn Graphics has been a FLEXCEL NX Plate provider since it was introduced in 2008, and has been utilizing the consistency, efficiency and quality benefits offered by FLEXCEL NX Plates for 15 years. “Our printer customers come to us with the expectation of adding value and efficiency to their print processes. FLEXCEL NX Plates are one of the components we provide in support of that expectation,” says Ben Abray, President of Autumn Graphics.

Ben continues: “The Miraclon Certification for FLEXCEL NX Plates has always been a very important part of our own quality control standards and allows us to demonstrate consistency in what we deliver across all our sites. It is also essential to provide our customers with extra peace of mind. By completing the certification program at regular intervals, it helps ensure our platemaking processes continue to meet the high international standards set by Miraclon, and I’m proud of our prepress teams for completing it with flying colors, once again.”

Wausau, WI — Wausau Coated Products Inc., an independent family owned and operated, leading manufacturer of adhesive-based label products, is pleased to announce the appointment of Rick Laliberte as the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). 

Rick joins Wausau Coated Products with an extensive business and finance background. Prior to his new role at Wausau Coated Products, Rick held several executive positions in industry leading companies including Solid Comfort, Inc, Ingersoll-Rand Company, and Bobcat. 

In his new role as CFO, Rick will be responsible for the areas of Accounting, Purchasing, and IT. He will be actively involved with these teams at Wausau Coated to ensure continued success of the company and preserve our ability to reinvest in the business and our employees. 

“Rick’s extensive financial and business experience will be a huge asset to our organization,” states, Ben Reif, President/Owner, Wausau Coated Products. “We are extremely excited to have Rick in his new role as CFO and we welcome his knowledge and look forward to watching him succeed.” 

“I am very excited to join an extremely talented team that is guided by solid company values, a spirit of innovation, a mindset of operational excellence and a customer centric business model,” states, Rick Laliberte, CFO, Wausau Coated Products. 

About Wausau Coated Products: 

Wausau Coated Products, Inc. is an independent family owned and operated manufacturing company with distribution facilities located throughout the USA and Mexico as well as distribution channels throughout Central and South America, the Caribbean, New Zealand, and Australia. As a leading manufacturer of adhesive-based products, Wausau Coated is a one-stop resource worldwide for premium quality stocked products and custom engineered constructions to meet customer specific applications and end user needs. For more information on Wausau Coated Products, visit our website: http://www.wausaucoated.com. 

LEF2 UV printer, V-BOND UV Ink, and new GTS media allow for the transfer of detailed graphics onto objects, with no weeding or surface material necessary, to customize products that are difficult or impossible to print on.

Irvine, Calif., July 18, 2023 – Roland DGA has introduced the new Graphic Transfer System (GTS™) that enables users to apply pre-printed UV ink graphics to irregularly shaped items – including those with uneven surfaces, rounded corners, or extended edges – that are difficult or impossible to print on directly, or not suitable for decals. GTS makes it quick and easy to transfer vibrant, detailed designs, logos, or text onto a wide variety of objects and substrates.

The Graphic Transfer System consists of multiple components needed to print and transfer graphics, including Roland DGA’s new GTS Print Sheets and GTS Transfer Film, V-BOND UV ink, and LEF2 Series benchtop UV flatbed printers (each sold separately). Current LEF2 owners can purchase the other necessary system components, including the inks, print sheets, and transfer film, to take advantage of the new opportunities and applications made possible by the GTS.

The GTS process is a breeze, with just a few simple steps required. After the desired graphic is printed onto the GTS Print Sheet with an LEF2 printer and V-BOND ink, the user overlays the GTS Transfer Film onto the graphic. Once that has been done, the graphic is ready for transfer to the desired object using light manual pressure. The transfer sheet is then gently peeled away, leaving the UV ink adhered to the item. Transferred graphics are durable and scratch- resistant, plus they have been dishwasher tested with no reported issues.*   

Perfect for retail applications, small businesses, and print service providers, GTS makes it possible for anyone – even those with no printing experience – to customize or personalize just about anything. Print providers equipped with GTS can provide clients with the pre-printed graphics on transfer sheets and the customer can easily perform the transfer.

“Just because objects are large or unusually shaped doesn’t mean you can’t enhance them with stunning UV-printed designs,” said Roland DGA Product Manager Kitt Jones “Our new Graphic Transfer System makes it incredibly simple to decorate items that can’t be direct-printed on, or even those that could but where an alternative is beneficial. With the pre-printed transfer in hand, you can apply colorful, detailed graphics and unique dimensional and textural effects in seconds.”

The LEF2 printer and V-BOND Ink components of GTS can be purchased through authorized Roland DGA dealers, while the GTS Print Sheets (available in 25 packs or 100 packs), and GTS Transfer Film (available in 25 m or 50 m rolls) can be purchased through authorized resellers or at the Roland DGA Online Store.

For more information on the Roland DGA Graphic Transfer System, visit https://www.rolanddga.com/gts. To learn more about Roland DGA Corporation, or the full Roland DGA product line, visit https://www.rolanddga.com.

*Testing for the specific material application is recommended.

About Roland DG Americas

Roland DG Americas serves North and South America as the marketing, sales, distribution, and service arm for Roland DG Corporation. Founded in 1981 and listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, Roland DG of Hamamatsu, Japan is a worldwide leader in wide-format inkjet printers for the sign, apparel, textile, personalization and vehicle graphics markets; engravers for awards, giftware and ADA signage; photo impact printers for direct part marking; and 3D printers and CNC milling machines for the dental CAD/CAM, rapid prototyping, part manufacturing and medical industries.

Based out of the company’s new Texas manufacturing facility, the industry veteran is leading the way in driving growth and expanding market share.

SheetLabels.com (SLI), a digital and flexographic label manufacturer headquartered in the heart of New York’s Adirondack region, has announced the addition of Barry Wendell as its new vice president of sales. He brings to the growing label manufacturer extensive package printing industry experience and expertise. Prior to joining SLI, he’s held business development, sales, and management positions at Bobst, Domino, HP and Hyde Park Label Company, among others.

Based out of SLI’s second label manufacturing facility in Austin, TX, as sales team leader Wendell aims to grow SLI’s business by leveraging its innovative printing and converting technologies with the company’s collaborative and dynamic work environment, as well as its ability to meet any and all customer needs across a wide variety of end-use markets.

“I strongly believe in our commitment to excellence, innovation and customer satisfaction,” Wendell says. “SLI’s industry reputation, coupled with a focus on cutting-edge technology and manufacturing processes, convinced me that this was an exceptional opportunity. I’m impressed by the passionate and talented leadership already in place, and I look forward to leading and motivating this dedicated, talented team to achieve even greater sales success.

The Texas location is outfitted with the same extensive flexo, digital and laser finishing capabilities that are in place at the flagship Upstate New York facility, an attribute that helps SLI meet all of its customers’ requirements nationwide. What began as an e-commerce specialist, SLI has evolved into a full-service label manufacturer, now offering flexographic, both UV inkjet and electrophotographic printing, and most recently laser finishing – all through a streamlined, easy-to-use online ordering system.

Wendell joins SLI at a pivotal time for the company, and he looks forward to helping clients grow and enhance their individual brands. He adds, “Labels are not just adhesive and paper; they are a vital part of a company’s identity and marketing efforts. By helping businesses achieve their labeling goals, we can make a meaningful impact on their success and brand recognition. I am very excited to help drive sales growth, enhance customer satisfaction, and solidify SLI’s position as a leader in the industry.”

Alan Etheridge, SLI’s senior vice president, comments, “As we expand our North American sales team, Barry’s strategic leadership and industry knowledge perfectly complements both our culture and vision. We are excited to see how broad his impact will be both internally, and with our partners.”

According to Robert Parker, CEO and owner of San Diego based Label King, having Vetaphone corona treaters on his flexo presses and finishing line gives him additional production capacity.  “We save around $10,000 a year on varnish on our Mark Andy P5 press by having Vetaphone corona and it has given us a very short ROI on our Rotoflex DF3 line because it effectively adds an extra print station,” he explained.

Parker founded the company back in 2002 having sold packaging for 11 years previously and studied flexo at a local college to fully understand the process.  “I always wanted my own business but needed to find a niche that wasn’t being served – it turned out to be labels,” he added, and set up with a used Webtron 650, an experienced press operator and a large stack of dies acquired from a label company liquidation. 

Beginning with supplying thermal labels as a trade house, and still predominantly trade today, Label King expanded with two additional Webtrons and enlarged premises until moving into the present 9,300 sq ft location on Distribution Avenue in 2012.  By this stage the company had acquired a 10” Mark Andy 2200 8-color press to which it has since added a Mark Andy P5 flexo line with 13” web width and 8-color capability, as well as the Rotoflex DF3 finishing line with two flexo print stations.

The association with Vetaphone dates back to 2021 when after long research into the digital print options, Label King chose and installed a Domino inkjet press.  “After carrying out extensive trials, we decided we preferred inkjet to toner technology because of the greater ink vibrancy, and the Domino was by far the easiest to set up and run,” he said.  It also came with a highly recommended Vetaphone corona treater, the first in Label King’s history. 

David Sommay, Production Manager takes up the story: “From the experience we had with Vetaphone on the Domino, it was a simple decision to specify the same on the Rotoflex that we installed last year, and for consistency’s sake we have now standardized our Mark Andy P5 press with Vetaphone corona.  We like their ease of use and maintenance and the fact that they have excellent parts and service support in the US.  Around 70% of our substrate is now BOPP film, so surface treatment is important – but even on paper stocks, it makes a difference, and we have no need to buy expensive pre-coated paper now.”

Robert Parker believes there is still plenty of room for growth in the Southern California label market and that much of the consolidation that the market is witnessing plays into his hands.  “We are well equipped with the latest technology, have a highly skilled workforce, and have real-time production flexibility that allows us to accommodate last minute orders and job changes,” he commented, hinting that a sales turnover of $9m is well within his reach this year.

Much of the company’s success is down to shrewd planning and investment.  During the period when substrate supply was affected by the pandemic, Parker bought ahead to secure the materials that would allow the company to meet its deadline commitments on future business.  It required additional warehouse space, but has proved invaluable, just as did the recruitment of an experienced graphics specialist prior to installing the Domino.

“Being pro-active gives us an edge over the competition,” he said, stating that the company’s business is still 60% trade, which mitigates against any conflicting interests.  “If you do your homework and invest wisely you give yourself the best chance of succeeding.  In my view, Mark Andy and Vetaphone are the Cadillacs of this market!”  he concluded.

Commenting for Vetaphone, Rod Ambrose who represents the Danish manufacturer on the West Coast said: “It’s always good to receive a glowing testimonial from a customer and we are pleased to hear that our corona treaters are providing Label King with consistently high-quality surface treatment – but to be told that they also increase production capacity by effectively adding an extra print station and reduce substrate cost by removing the need for pre-coated paper is a real bonus!”

Kennesaw, Ga. July 13, 2023 – Thanks to printers and packaging converters seeking higher productivity and throughput via investments in new technology and automation, HEIDELBERG USA closed out its most recent fiscal year with very strong sales numbers. Positive amongst most product lines, sales reached record breaking numbers for HEIDELBERG’s Prinect Production Manager and Versafire product lines in the US. Customers who invested in Prinect and Versafire selected these technologies due to their ease-of-use, flexibility, and outstanding price point.

Less Complexity, Better Functionality

First introduced at drupa 2016, Prinect Production Manager is a volume-based subscription offering that ensures customers pay only for their actual usage of Prinect’s smart workflow without needing to purchase individual licenses up front. The monthly usage fee covers the full portfolio of software modules as well as updates and upgrades. This means customers always have access to the most recent version and the latest functions, including hotline and remote support. 

In the previous fiscal year, HEIDELBERG USA recorded the highest number of Prinect Production Manager subscription sales since the product was introduced seven years ago. Additionally, the company sold more “standalone” Prinect subscriptions than ever before – meaning the purchase was not associated with the sale of an offset or digital press. According to John O’Donnell, Vice President of Prinect Product Management for HEIDELBERG USA, more and more customers are choosing Prinect due to its “ease of use and better functionality over other more complex workflows.” In fact, despite the challenges and business interruptions that switching workflows can pose, nearly 25% of HEIDELBERG’s Prinect sales in the previous year were from customers switching from a competitive workflow. 

To learn more about how Prinect Production Manager works, click here.

“Best Value for the Investment Dollar”

In the past year, an increasing number of printers discovered that HEIDELBERG’s Versafire EV and EP digital print engines are amongst the industry’s most cost-effective solution for short run, high quality commercial work. “The print quality, substrate compatibility, color and registration consistency, and rock-solid reliability of Versafire make it – hands down – the best value for the investment dollar in electrophotographic systems from any supplier,” said Dan Maurer, Vice President of Digital Product Management for HEIDELBERG USA. When combined with the Prinect Digital Front End (DFE) RIP, workflow, and color management technology, Versafire enables shops of all sizes to match offset quality printing on a broad range of substrates.

HEIDELBERG USA is so confident in its product that the company allows customers to try the Versafire “risk free” for 90 days. If the customer is not satisfied with the product, HEIDELBERG will remove the machine from the floor and refund the customer’s money. “We have never had to remove a single Versafire,” said Maurer, “which says a lot for the machine’s performance and customer satisfaction.” Many of Versafire’s newest customers have come from “word of mouth” experiences from other customers that have tried Versafire’s “risk free” program. “We are getting new customers forming relationships with us through a Versafire purchase who never bought from HEIDELBERG before,” said Maurer.

“The quality of the Versafires compared to our previous machines is night and day,” said Josh Rovig, Director of Sales & Production, XPress Printing (Columbus, GA). “The Versafire’s efficiency allows us, as owners, the time to pursue new customers and provide a better experience for our current customers.”

To learn more about Versafire, click here.

A Front End Designed Especially for Commercial Printers

In addition to outstanding Versafire unit sales, HEIDELBERG is also seeing an increasing number of customers choose to purchase the Prinect DFE as the control system for their digital devices. In the U.S., over 2/3 of Versafires are sold with Prinect DFE, which enables automated and standardized print production for excellent efficiency, greater transparency, and faster job flow. Equipped with the performance for complex variable data applications that other controllers have, Prinect DFE was designed especially with commercial printers in mind. “Simply, the Prinect DFE was designed for what industrial commercial printers do on a daily basis and to make that as smooth and efficient as possible while integrating into an offset environment to make real time decisions of whether jobs are printed offset or digitally,” said Maurer. 

The success and versatility of Prinect DFE has influenced some customers to try Prinect Production Manager that have not done so before – and vice versa. “There is a price advantage for customers who combine a Prinect DFE purchase with Prinect Production Manager,” said Maurer, “but Prinect DFE integrated with Production Manager makes the steps from job acquisition to the press all that much smoother as well as color management throughout the shop, preflighting, and job balancing.”

Eric Elder, Production Manager at Impact Printing (Hayward, CA), decided upon Prinect DFE due to its seamless integration with his plant’s Prinect Production Manager workflow. “We love the built-in color management technology of Prinect DFE, but my operators love the ease of being able to set-up and correct multiple jobs at the machine on the fly – ensuring every job prints the way it was intended.” To learn more about Prinect Digital Front End, click here. 

Customers interested in learning more about Prinect Production Manager, Versafire, or Prinect DFE should contact their local sales representative or email info@heidelberg.com.

Domino is proud to share the news that packaging solutions provider, Independent II, has been recognized in the 2023 Digital Labels & Packaging Awards for its Jeptha Creed Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey RSC corrugated box solution, produced on the Domino X630i digital aqueous inkjet press.

Independent II, located in Louisville, KY USA, is a privately-owned and operated corrugated manufacturer, providing total packaging solutions to their customers.  Independent II designs, manufactures, warehouses, and delivers corrugated and packaging that protect their customers’ products in-transit and sells them on shelves.

Having previously won for ‘Excellence in Flexography’ on the Jeptha Creed box in 2020, for Independent II, this subsequent award in the ‘Analogue-to-Digital’ category signifies that “brands now have choices without compromise”. With Domino’s X630i, Independent II further improved the print quality while eliminating the need for ink plates.

“This award validates our vision and investment with Domino,” says Finn MacDonald, President, Independent II.

The Digital Labels & Packaging Awards were introduced in 2022 to represent the full depth and breadth of work produced using digital printing and converting equipment. One of 14 awards bestowed on printers and converters involved in the digital print for packaging supply chain, the ‘Analogue-to-Digital’ category recognizes solutions previously printed using conventional processes, but now progressed digitally to benefit the converter and their customers.

Commenting on the Independent II award submission, the judges noted: “Changing from flexo to inkjet in a challenging heavily inked design, opening detail in the logo while eliminating noticeable fluting marks scored highly.”

Finn MacDonald adds: “Independent is thrilled to receive this award. It recognizes our goal to bring brown, branded, and digital packaging success to our market. The Domino X630i single-pass digital press produces award-winning, aqueous-based, four-color print on uncoated and coated corrugated sheets – which our business is built on. Independent and Domino share a vision to deliver ‘everyday digital’ impact to markets where the pop and flexibility of single-pass digital create bolder business opportunities.” 

Launched in June 2020, the X630i is designed for everyday corrugated production. The press allows corrugated box printers to maximize productivity and efficiency, enabling the profitable development of short- and medium-run market opportunities and facilitating new business streams.

Matt Condon, Business Development Manager, Domino Digital Printing North America, concludes: “Domino is delighted that Independent II has been acknowledged within these prestigious awards for its innovative work with Jeptha Creed and Domino’s X630i. This is an industry-leading example of what can be achieved with today’s digital inkjet solutions, and we are proud that our technology has facilitated such success.”

We caught up with Finn MacDonald, President of Independent II, to learn more about his business, the impact of digital printing, and the benefits realized with the Domino X630i digital aqueous inkjet corrugated press.

Highlights of our visit were captured in this quick 2-minute VIDEO: Finn MacDonald of Independent II & Domino X630i

To learn more about the Domino X630i corrugated press, please visit: Domino X630i