6 June 2023 (St. Louis, Missouri) – Mark Andy and Lemu Group introducea partnership to offer Mark Andy owners and users extended automation and inline roll-finishing on award-winning flexo and digital presstechnology.   

The collaboration offers label converters the MA-GTU automatic turret plus additional automation with “unwind to palletizer” printing and converting solutions.  The MA-GTU eliminates the need for manual transfer of finished rolls to an offline finisher, minimizing additional work processes and operator oversight thus improving productivity and profitability for the converter.  

The Lemu turret rewinder will integrate seamlessly with most Mark Andy presses, accommodates web widths up to 20 inch (530 mm), and supports speeds up to 830 fpm (250 m/min). Printed labels can be slit, counted, sealed with a glue-less closure, and released, all in a single-pass in line with printing.  The MA-GTU delivers finished rolls ready for passing to an automated labeling solution.  All components of the MA-GTU workflow will be accessible by Mark Andy sMArt link, providing real-time visibility of production and equipment performance. 

Greg Palm, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Business Development said, “Our customers have been asking for an automated end-of-press solution for a long time. This partnership with Lemu opens a key opportunity for Mark Andy to better meet the needs of the converter.  As the market embraces automation solutions like this automatic turret, and converters realize their benefits, we look forward to further expanding the relationship with Lemu to find additional opportunities for pressroom optimization.” 

Customers will benefit from Mark Andy’s more than 75 years of printing expertise and Lemu’s 60 years of end-of-line automation experience with this combined offering that reduces downtime and optimizes press utilization by increasing productivity, quality, and profitability.

Mark Andy Marketing Team

For more information on the product offering, visit https://go.markandy.com/e/990852/equipment-turret-/9z7xk/122959354?h=MhLLpm4eDr8cfKmc1VHqkqzA2NGZ1du2MyP3I2ktCvI 

High-resolution images/file can be found here

Picture 1: Lemu equipment Gray GTU

PR File ENG

For additional media information, please contact Lena Chmielewska-Bontron lena.chmielewska@markandy.com 

Schaumburg, IL – June 12, 2023 – INX International Ink Co. has completed an investment in Debut, a vertically integrated synthetic biology company that is developing innovative and complex active ingredients for natural colors, among other materials.

Debut’s proprietary biomanufacturing platform uses “cell-free” and other advanced approaches, such as continuous biomanufacturing, to address the limitations of traditional methods, dramatically reducing the need for space, water, and expensive and unsustainable inputs. In addition to producing rare, high-value, and novel compounds, Debut’s technology also improves traditional ingredient manufacturing. By overcoming the limitations of cell-based fermentation, Debut can produce high-value ingredients rapidly and more sustainably.

As an investor, INX plans to leverage its technical and market expertise to help Debut identify attractive product applications and evaluate ingredient performance requirements, all in service of developing and delivering natural, lab-developed ingredients that meet customer performance and sustainability requirements.

Shane Bertsch, INX Senior Vice President of Strategic Planning and Innovation, said, “INX and Debut share a common goal of designing and delivering more sustainable materials at scale. Debut’s hybrid biomanufacturing technology platform presents a new path forward for bio-based colors, and we are excited to partner with the Debut team to explore opportunities in the inks and coatings space.”

Joshua Britton, Debut’s Founder and CEO, said “We appreciate INX’s support and belief in our mission, and look forward to partnering with the INX team to identify areas where our synthetic biology platform can address customer needs.”

In May 2022, INX established a $50M INX Venture Capital investment program to support technology and materials science startups that are relevant to the printing inks and coatings value chain. Debut represents INX’s third closed investment since the launch of the program. 

“We established our corporate VC fund to accelerate growth for promising startups that are connected to INX’s strategic missions,” said Bryce Kristo, INX President and CEO. “We see Debut Bio as an emerging leader in the synthetic biology space that can play a key role in moving ingredients and materials to a more sustainable, circular economy.”

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.

About Debut

Debut is an unconventional innovation company, setting a new standard for the next generation of beauty. With breakthrough technology, Debut’s team of expert scientists and brand specialists work to develop novel bioactive skincare ingredients and products at unprecedented rates through their scalable creation model. With a human-centric and climate-positive approach, Debut is committed to creating purposeful brands that push humanity forward. Learn more at debutbiotech.com.

A next-generation direct thermal film that aligns with corporate sustainability goals.

APPLETON, WI  – Today, Appvion expands its Next Generation Technology product offering by launching CleanSlate™, a direct thermal film that enhances traditional direct thermal performance by offering a higher level of environmental durability. Appvion’s CleanSlate™ film can be used in standard direct thermal printers for pressure-sensitive labels. With its unique color, CleanSlate™ is easily distinguishable and recognizable as a direct thermal film free of phenolic developers.

 “Appvion’s R&D team developed a unique direct thermal film that creates a physical reaction leaving a permanent image behind. Its heat stability and long-term resistance to sunlight provides peace of mind for businesses and customers alike,” says Appvion Product Manager, Katie Sell. 

Appvion recently introduced its Next Generation Technology, a patent-pending direct thermal coating design which produces heat stable, high-performing labels, films, and ticket and tag products. The following direct thermal paper face stocks are currently coated with the Next Generation Technology chemistry –

·       Résiste® 185 – A top-coated, direct thermal face stock that is resistant to oil, heat, and room temperature plasticizers used in short-term weigh scale, retail, and logistic label applications.

·       Résiste® 15% PCW – A recycled, top-coated paper label face stock that includes at least 15% post consumer waste and performs like a virgin fiber product.

·       Résiste® Rx – A durable top-coated, direct thermal paper label face stock engineered for pharmacy prescription labels.

·       Wavex® PD – A heat-stable, durable top-coated paper face stock designed for package delivery labels that are scanned with near-infrared scanners up to 670 nm.

·       CleanSlate™ Film – A direct thermal film label facestock that delivers environmental durability and heat stability for indoor and outdoor applications made with more natural components. 

“With our recent launch of Next Generation Technology, CleanSlate™ is a one-of-a-kind product in our sustainable portfolio,” added Katie Sell, Appvion Product Manager. “Our forward-thinking initiatives propel Appvion toward a sustainable future.” 

Appvion’s direct thermal papers and films are used worldwide in pressure-sensitive labels, linerless labels, tickets, and tags within retail, grocery, warehousing, e-commerce, and gaming applications. For more information about Appvion’s CleanSlate™ Film and direct thermal coated products, please visit appvion.com or contact an Appvion sales representative.

About Appvion

Appvion is a pioneer in the specialty and high-performance coatings market, based in Appleton, Wisconsin. Appvion’s coating solutions are applied to a wide variety of flexible substrates, including products from an FDA-compliant facility. Primary product offerings include direct thermal labels and film solutions and renewable, fiber-based consumer and industrial packaging solutions.

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Kennesaw, Ga. June 9, 2023 – Uniquely positioned as the only manufacturer in Utah to provide commercial printing, folding carton, and flexible packaging all under one roof, Aspen Press and Packaging recently recorded one of its best sales years in its twenty-year history. The Salt Lake City based company produces everything from straight-line and six-corner folding cartons to booklets and catalogs to pouches and shrink sleeves for the food, nutraceutical, health and beauty, cannabis, and high-tech industries. Seeing its work continue to migrate from commercial to packaging, Aspen recently installed a new Diana Easy 115 from HEIDELBERG to alleviate a bottleneck in its folding-gluing department. The Diana Easy is Aspen’s third folder gluer in production and first investment in HEIDELBERG folding carton converting equipment. 

 “Our Operators Love It”

“We have a lot of customers who utilize our whole offering,” said Mark Mandel, CEO of Aspen Press & Packaging. “They like that we can produce not only their folding cartons but the inserts that go inside of them. All of that plus sachets or stick packs that are included in the folding carton.” With increased demand for Aspen’s comprehensive services, its existing equipment could no longer keep up with its continued growth. Mandel says the company, who was previously equipped with only two folder gluers, was “swimming in unfinished cartons on its production floor. The productivity of our die cutters was significantly outpacing our abilities to fold and glue.” Needing a swift solution, Aspen installed a new Diana Easy 115 from HEIDELBERG in April. The Diana, with speeds up to 984 ft./min, is a significant speed upgrade over the company’s other machines and instantly increased Aspen’s throughput. 

In addition to faster speeds, job set-up and makeready is quicker thanks to the machine’s operator friendly design and “DigiSet” function that helps the operator set-up a job for the first time by providing advice on where to position the carriers in each module. “DigiSet” also saves the settings for repeat jobs, which shortens the changeover process. According to Mandel, “The Diana is just amazing. The operators love it. I’m having a hard time keeping them on the other machines. They all just want to run the Diana.” The Diana has boosted productivity so much that it has helped Aspen dramatically improve its turnaround times for its customers. 

Quality is Key
Having recently completed its Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) certification to ensure its products are consistently produced and controlled according to quality standards – particularly for the pharmaceutical industry, Aspen strives to achieve only the highest in quality. One of the features that drew Aspen to the Diana was its solidly built design that minimizes vibration during the production run. “It’s very smooth,” said Mandel. “If a carton is not running through the machine, I have to look at the belts to make sure it’s running because it’s so quiet.” The lack of vibration during production runs has helped Aspen run the machine at the top-rated speeds and produce more consistent products.

Prior to purchasing the Diana, the company involved its entire folding-gluing team in the decision. “It’s important to Aspen that the team running the equipment has a say in the investments we make,” said Mandel. “When they’re involved in the decision, they’re going to make sure the equipment works when it hits your floor.” While the company has worked with HEIDELBERG since it started in 2003 and currently runs three Speedmaster presses, Suprasetter CtP, Versafire EP, POLAR cutter, and Prinect Production Manager, Aspen has not previously invested in HEIDELBERG’s line of folding carton converting products. Aspen’s relationship with HEIDELBERG, in addition to price point and product availability, played a large role in its decision to purchase the Diana. “We know the quality of product that HEIDELBERG produces,” said Mandel. “We didn’t have to guess whether it was going to be a good machine. We’ve gone down that road with other manufacturers and been disappointed, but we’ve never been disappointed with HEIDELBERG.” 

About Aspen Press & Packaging

Whether it’s packaging that’s part of a product presentation or an oversize 8-color picture book to sell properties in Jackson Hole, the people at Aspen Press and Packaging love what they do. Founded in 2003, the owners bring a combined century of printing experience to their customers’ projects. No matter if it’s full-service printing, ingenious packaging or fulfillment of the simplest job that needs to deliver on time, Aspen Press & Packaging can handle it. With the equipment to handle large-scale projects with ease, the company is also efficient enough to make its work cost-effective.

The first low migration (LM)-related workshop, organised by Mark Andy and associated partner suppliers was declared a mega success, attracting more than 120 people from countries around Europe. 

The event was held in the Company’s Technology Center in Warsaw (Poland) and included the first ever demo of a new flexo press – the Mark Andy PRO Series.  Joining this first workshop were tech partners J.S. Hamilton, a certified research lab involved in packaging industry work, ink manufacturer Siegwerk, UV curing specialists GEW, and substrate supplier UPM-Raflatac.  All participated in the workshop that also saw live presentations of three Mark Andy presses, including the new PRO Series.

“A high attendance and keen interest in all of presentations during the event, including the lively Q&A sessions, confirmed the growing importance of low migration in the label and packaging market,” says Lena Chmielewska-Bontron, European Marketing Manager Mark Andy.  “It’s especially relevant to printers working in ‘sensitive’ industries like food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.  As a press manufacturer, we feel a dual responsibility for delivering top class equipment devoted to label and packaging production and spreading knowledge of the different issues faced by our customers.  LM is one of these and we’re very happy that it attracted the interest of such as international audience.”

The visitors were welcomed by Przemyslaw Polkowski, General Manager Mark Andy Poland, who underlined the importance of the events organised by Mark Andy in line with its ‘Total Solutions Partner’ maxim: “Besides offering top class printing presses, based on conventional and digital techniques, ancillary equipment, software and consumables, we’re committed to being a trusted partner and technology advisor.  These events are an integral part of this strategy that includes close co-operation with leading manufacturers and companies active in the label and packaging markets, such as those offering curing systems, inks, and substrates.  It’s a great pleasure to have three of them – GEW, Siegwerk and UPM-Raflatac as technology partners in this LM workshop.  For the first time we also welcome J.S. Hamilton as a partner. This company supports printers and brand owners in research and testing substrates and final label and packaging products, in the context of legal compliance.”

When Low Migration Becomes a ‘Must Have’ Issue

The conference was opened by Adam Fotek, Research Expert at J.S. Hamilton.  He invited the participants to take a ‘virtual walk’ around the company and its lab located in Gdynia, Poland.  He also presented  types of packaging tested at the LM workshop.  The research work included the possible migration of particles from packaging and labels to fresh food.

Mr Fotek presented the research methodology used by his company on different types of labels and packaging, including printed tubes, self-adhesive labels, shrink sleeves and IML. He pointed out different types of migration, its characteristics and the possible impact on food or cosmetic products.  He presented several kinds of tests run by J.S. Hamilton: sensory analysis, global migration, specific migration, including PAA and printing, and heavy metal content.  He also highlighted the special equipment used in research and testing work.  Legal compliance topics attracted interest from participants as they differ, depending on the region of the world and market specifics.

Low migration was also the main topic of two following presentations.  Marcus Greenbrook, International Sales Director at GEW, talked about his company’s curing systems that are fitted to today’s printing presses.  He compared different types of curing, including air-cooled UV and LED UV.  Focusing on LED UV, he underlined its suitability for LM inks and its impact on energy saving.  GEW is a key provider of curing systems on Mark Andy presses, and recently introduced a hybrid solution that uses different ink curing technology. 

Marc Larvor, Head of Technology Business Unit Narrow Web EMEA at Siegwerk, presented LM solutions manufactured by the company specifically for labels and packaging printed on narrow-web presses.  He pointed out various market areas that offer a big capacity for LM inks, including the food industry.  Siegwerk has developed a special LM-oriented series of products named SICURA Nutriflex.  These include inks, varnishes, primers, adhesives, and consumables.  

PRO Series – a new line of flexo presses from Mark Andy

The LM workshop was the first public opportunity to show this new flexo press recently introduced by Mark Andy and devoted to self-adhesive label production.  Lukasz Chruslinski, European Sales Manager, listed its key benefits: “PRO Series is based on well-proven, reliable servo technology from our Performance and Evolution Series.  It has a modular design that means, depending on the user’s needs, it can be upgraded with toner units and transformed into a hybrid press.  The toner-based module is installed between flexo units and PRO Series then becomes a Digital PRO Max press.  We anticipate that its flexibility, compact size, and opportunity for upgrading, combined with additional finishing and embellishment and VDP printing options using the toner technology, will attract interest from many printers.” Pro Series works with the same anilox rolls, print and magnetic cylinders as Performance Series and Evolution Series. 

Following this presentation in Warsaw, the PRO Series will be one of the highlights of Mark Andy’s booth at the forthcoming Labelexpo Europe in Brussels this September.  Scheduled presentations at the expo will also include Digital Series HD hybrid press, which was demonstrated at the LM workshop.

“By presenting three presses our visitors had the opportunity to learn more about our comprehensive portfolio of technology, including different printing techniques that included the toner-based Digital Pro 3 press installed in our Technology Center in Warsaw.  We hope that the presentations and press demos will encourage other printers to engage with Mark Andy to confirm to our existing users that they have made the right choice.  We’d like to thank all the workshop participants as well as our technology partners, and we look forward to welcoming everyone to our booth at Labelexpo in Brussels,” Lena Chmielewska-Bontron concluded.

High-resolution images/file can be found here

Picture 1_Przemysław Polkowski Mark Andy Poland Director made a intrucutions to the Low Migration Idea

Picture 2_Adam Fotek Research Expert from J.S.Hamilton was explaining the unique research methods

Picture 3_Marcus Greenbrook International Sales Director from GEW was presenting the different curring systems

Picture 4_Marc Larvor Head of Technology Business Unit Narrow Web EMEA from Siegwerk was explaining the ink migration aspects

Picture 5_QA session at the end of the workshop days

By investing in the modernization of its Center of Excellence in Annemasse, Siegwerk once again underlines the great importance of the French site for the EMEA region. An official opening ceremony was held to celebrate the reopening together with employees and local authorities end of May 2023. 

Annemasse, France, June, 7, 2023. – Siegwerk, one of the leading global providers of printing inks and coatings for packaging applications and labels, today announced the successful completion of modernization activities at its Annemasse site, the company’s second largest Center of Excellence for packaging inks and coatings in Europe. End of May 2023, employees and local authorities came together to celebrate the reopening of the revamped facility, shining in a bold and modern look now.

“We are happy to finally present our new building design to our employees and partners here in Annemasse,” says Christopher van Laack, Vice President Business Units Paper & Board EMEA and Liquid Food Packaging at Siegwerk. “Next to our headquarters in Germany, Annemasse belongs to our most important sites in Europe. By investing in our locations, we do not only keep our production and laboratory facilities up-to-date in terms of technology and safety, but we also give our buildings a modern look.” Apart from large-scale modifications to the administration building including the modernization of offices, meeting rooms and sanitary facilities, the recent renovations in Annemasse also included the renewal of the façade, showcasing the bold Siegwerk branding. The entire renovation project already started in November 2021, but had to be partially paused due to the pandemic.

The Annemasse site is one of 15 Centers of Excellence worldwide that manufacture Siegwerk’s basic inks and coatings in a standardized process. With a production capacity of more than 25,000 tons per year, it accounts for 10% of the Siegwerk group’s annual output. Today, the French site is home for 275 employees and counts as Siegwerk’s European leading location for water-based and inkjet solutions. As a modern technical center, it combines R&D, production and testing capacities under one roof. “Today, Annemasse already belongs to the state-of-the-art industrial printing facilities in Europe and we will continue making every effort to also stay at the forefront going forward,” adds Christopher van Laack, who works closely with local colleagues as country sponsor for Siegwerk France. From an automated Blending Center for the production of solvent- and water-based inks to laboratory and production facilities concretely dedicated to the development and production of inkjet solutions – Siegwerk has already invested millions of euros over the last decade to build up a sustainable, efficient and competitive Center of Excellence for the region.

About Siegwerk
Siegwerk is one of the leading global manufacturers of printing inks and coatings for packaging applications and labels. Based on 200 years of expertise, we provide customized solutions for all types of packaging needs – from functional and eye-catching to safe and sustainable. As a sixth-generation family business, we have long been aware of our responsibility for future generations. Under the motto “rethINK packaging”, we are therefore actively driving the transformation to a circular economy by developing eco-friendly solutions that enable packaging circularity. Here, 30+ country organizations and ~5,000 employees worldwide ensure consistent high-quality products and customized support around the world. Learn more at www.siegwerk.com

Media Contact:
Nathalie Müller-Samson
Manager Corporate Communications
Tel.: +49 2241 304-237
E-mail: press@siegwerk.com

(UPM Raflatac, Mills River, NC, USA, June 6, 2023 at 18:00 EET) – UPM Raflatac’s OptiCut™ Direct Thermal (DT) Linerless product line is now qualified on the Epson® TM-L90II liner-free compatible thermal label printer. This will enable the global supplier of innovative and sustainable labelling materials to offer improved linerless label performance for quick service restaurants, fast casual establishments, and other brands in the hospitality segment.

“Our incredible ongoing partnership with Epson allows for more end-users to benefit from the efficiencies, high performance, and sustainable design of our OptiCut products,” stated Brinder Gill, Director, Paper Laminates, UPM Raflatac Americas.

With its OptiCut solutions for all major end use environments, UPM Raflatac is poised to meet the strong growth in demand for DT Linerless material, despite supply chain disruptions still common in many markets.

“Our high production capacity and global distribution network enables us to face the fast transition to DT Linerless in the market,” said Gill.

Customers can also make informed choices as the carbon footprint of the UPM Raflatac Linerless product range is certified as CarbonNeutral® product by Climate Impact Partners. Additionally, the range’s carbon footprint calculation is certified by the Carbon Trust.

“Packaging trends have evolved and businesses need to choose from different label options that provide a wide variety of adhesive patterns and strengths,” said Ian Livesay, associate product manager, Thermal Labels, Epson America, Inc. “Epson’s goal is to enable partners, such as UPM Raflatac, to expand compatibility and options for their customers by ensuring solutions like the Epson TM-L90II are optimized to support a broad portfolio of media.”

Click here to read more about UPM Raflatac’s linerless labels »

To download photos, click here.

For more information, please contact:

Stephen Abel
Senior Communications Specialist, UPM Raflatac
Mon-Fri 8.00-15.00 ET
tel. +1 828-290-4954 
Stephen.Abel@upmraflatac.com

UPM, Media Relations 
Mon-Fri 9:00-16:00 EET
tel. +358 40 588 3284 
media@upm.com

UPM Raflatac 
UPM Raflatac offers high-quality self-adhesive paper and film products including label materials, graphics solutions and removable self-adhesive products. We operate 12 factories and deliver our sustainable and innovative products through our global network of distribution terminals. We are one of UPM’s growth businesses and employ around 3,300 people. Our sales reached almost EUR 2 billion (USD 2,1 billion) in 2022. Find out how we are labeling a smarter future beyond fossils at www.upmraflatac.com.

As part of its ongoing process of product development, Vetaphone, which invented the corona process back in the 1950s, took surface treatment to the next level when it introduced the M-model for the narrow web sector of the market in 2019.  Still ahead of the game, the VE1A-M corona station brings all the benefits you would expect from a market leader committed to supplying leading-edge technology.  As new and more complex substrates are introduced, and printing and finishing processes make greater demands on the quality of the web, the VE1A-M brings a raft of new features that boost productivity and increased flexibility.

Mark Andy has installed one on a hybrid line in its European showroom facility in Warsaw, Poland, where Demo Room Manager, Lukasz Kaczynski commented: “The M station is one of three Vetaphone corona treaters fitted to our Digital Series HD press.  Because of the intricate work we are doing with quite complex substrates on this press we needed the extra power that it offers.  We also like the easier top access for cleaning and maintenance, and the improved ergonomics for sliding the cartridge in and out.  I’d say the upgrades are well worthwhile and it’s just as reliable and simple to run as the previous Vetaphone treaters we have.” 

The VE1A-M model has a modular design to allow for easy upgrading, but still has the same compact footprint as its predecessor with identical mounting holes – it is of course also fully CE and UL approved.  It is available with 2, 4, 6, and 8 high-power ceramic electrodes in treatment widths of 292 – 872 mm and higher running speed of up to 300 m/min.  It is fitted with an embedded rotation sensor, easy turning roller with low energy requirement, and an HP connector isolated from dust and ozone for longer life. 

Midlothian, TX. June 2, 2023 – Ennis, Inc. (the “Company”), (NYSE: EBF), announced its acquisition of the operating assets of UMC Print in Overland Park, Kansas. UMC Print has been a leading trade-only printer and provider of commercial printing services since 1936. As one of the largest sheet-fed commercial printers in the area, UMC Print’s capabilities serve a wide range of distributors and trade sales organizations throughout the Midwest and beyond.

“The addition of UMC Print continues our commitment to adding strategic locations and capabilities to drive growth with our distributor partners,” said Keith Walters, Chairman, President & CEO of Ennis, Inc. “For more than 85 years, UMC Print has been serving this same industry. Their expansive capabilities are in demand by our customers, as well as our recent acquisition School Photo Marketing.”

Upon closing, UMC Print will continue its normal operations at its current location in Overland Park, Kansas and can be reached at 800.524.5860 or umcprint.com. 

About Ennis:

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

For Further Information, Contact:

Ennis, Inc.

2441 Presidential Pkwy

Midlothian, TX 76065

Phone: 972.775.9801

Fax: 972.775.9820

ennis.com