Leading American manufacturer of non-stop unwind/splice and rewind technology, Martin Automatic, has announced that Tekaxess, headed by Gaëtan de Charry, will take over responsibility for sales in Spain, Portugal, Greece, Turkey, Africa, and the Middle East – markets formerly served by Martin’s Southern Europe Sales Manager Ed Pittman, who has retired after 22 years with the company.

Gaëtan de Charry is well acquainted with Martin technology, having been the manufacturer’s sales representative in France since 2017, and brings with him more than 30 years of print industry expertise in both the narrow and wide web fields and security printing with manufacturers including Talleres Lemu.

Speaking from his base in southern France he commented: “I am delighted to be extending my sales territory for Martin Automatic technology, which is rated highly throughout the world for its operational efficiency and ROI.  It also gives me the opportunity to be back in Spain and Portugal where I began my career.”

Gavin Rittmeyer, VP Sales & Marketing at Martin Automatic echoed these thoughts: “Martin has made significant inroads into the French market since Gaëtan joined the team five years ago and we have high expectations of what he can achieve with his new and extended responsibilities – everyone at Martin wishes him well.”

Gaëtan looks forward to meeting existing and potential customers on the Martin Automatic Stand 1846 at the upcoming ICE-Europe expo in Munich on 14th- 16th March.

Contact details:

Email: gaetandecharry@tekaxess.com

Tel: +33 6 76 23 32 91

A new ThermoFlexX Catena-E 80 exposure unit from XSYS has allowed the UAE-headquartered company to elevate its plate-making capabilities to new heights. By integrating this innovative UV LED technology, NDigitec can now supply customers with higher-quality digital flexo plates and enjoy faster processing times than before, while reducing plate waste and energy consumption.

Willstaett, Germany, 09 January 2023 – Namma Int’l Digitec FZ LLC – known as NDigitec – is a family-run business founded in 2005 in Dubai (UAE). As the industry leader in the MEA region in terms of production facilities, staff members, and square meter consumption, the prepress division of the company supplies a complete package of services – from file reparation to final processed flexo printing plate. 

Employing a total of 125 staff across two branches in Dubai, a facility in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), and an office in Yerevan (Armenia), NDigitec also offers digital printing solutions, e-commerce, creative media production, and fabrication of exhibition equipment. Some 500 customers in 25 countries avail themselves of the company’s many high-end competencies, which also include Online competencies: the DUBAIPRINT.COM web-to-print platform with solutions for the widest variety of print applications, and FLEXOEASY.COM, an unprecedented digital platform that makes flexographic plate-making easy and allows customers to access high-quality Prepress and Premedia services from anywhere in the world.

Plate innovation leader with big ambitions

NDigitec Prepress is known as an innovation trailblazer, always seeking out the latest plate-making technologies to stay ahead of developments and to deliver leading solutions to its global brand owner customers. Some 55% of the annual 50,000 sqm plate output is supplied to the flexible packaging industry, another 25% goes to the corrugated segment, while the remaining 20% is divided between folding cartons and labels.

 “We were the first prepress company in the region to bring in LED exposure technology for making flexo plates with the Flint Group nyloflex® NExT system back in 2016,” said Shahe Kavlakian, Executive Manager for Prepress at NDigitec and brother of the company’s CEO Vatche Kavlakian, who as a pioneer of integrated prepress and printing services, laid the roots for the business in the early 1990s.

 “Now we are once again taking the lead as the first to install the XSYS ThermoFlexX Catena-E system; an investment we have made because we believe that this solution will best support us in responding to the many varied customer demands we are currently facing and to allow us to continue our global expansion.”

Improving quality and reducing waste

Providing high-performance LED exposure for precise image reproduction, the ThermoFlexX Catena-E 80 is an open system that can process plates in sizes up to 1270 x 2032mm (50 x 80”) and all thicknesses for any type of flexo printing. With a very high level of automation, the unit can also be combined with a ThermoFlexX imager and Catena washer, dryer, and light finisher units for a full end-to-end plate production. 

line, an option that NDigitec is closely evaluating as part of its future strategy. While the Catena-E 80 has been installed in Dubai, there are more immediate plans to upgrade the company’s exposure hardware across the other sites.

“The effect of the new Catena unit has been very noticeable,” said Shahe Kavlakian, who explained more about the team’s criteria in evaluating the technology. “We are looking for standardization, durability, efficiency, and stability in plate production; these aspects are key to maintaining productivity and quality. Particularly in flexible packaging, consistent solid ink density with perfect highlights is a challenge, but with the Catena system and our own micro surface screening, we can deliver results that are much better than with other LED solutions.”

Among the other immediate benefits enjoyed in Dubai was a reduction in waste compared to the existing system. “The Catena-E is definitely helping to improve the sustainability of our plate-making operation because we can combine different jobs on the same plate. By our latest estimations, plate waste has gone down from around 26% to 16%, and we know that with the latest LEDs in the machine, energy consumption will also be less. So, from an environmental point of view, as well as in terms of costs, this is a great improvement.”

Quick and effective implementation

With any new technology, there is inevitably a learning curve, but the near plug’n’play nature of the Catena system meant that the unit was in full production at NDigitec within a week. Mr. Kavlakian praised the simplicity of the design and the user interface, and in particular, highlighted the ability to access the unit controls remotely.

“The Catena is very easy to operate with straightforward instructions and options, so training was pretty quick. It also comes with remote capabilities which means that calibration and regular maintenance checks can be done without having anyone coming on-site. This is of course a fantastic feature as we can avoid unwanted downtime because we don’t have to wait for an engineer to attend in person,” he said.

Supporting future growth

Looking to the future, NDigitec has major plans to take more of the global market share. To further this goal, it opened a new state-of-the-art 50,000 sqm factory in Dubai Production City in 2020. Another 3,000 sqm facility operates as an incubator for joint venture projects aimed at advancing innovation in flexo print production, complemented by more investment in best-in-class imaging, processing, and screening technologies.

“In addition to the immediate benefits we have already experienced, the ThermoFlexX Catena-E 80 exposure technology will give us a stable platform to build our future plate-making infrastructure, stay competitive, and support our ambitious growth strategy,” concluded Shahe Kavlakian.

ABOUT XSYS

Headquartered in Willstaett, Germany, XSYS operates globally and remains one of the largest suppliers offering both flexographic and letterpress prepress solutions, including plates, sleeves, processors, workflow solutions, and expert professional services, designed to help these industries move forward with increasing innovation, improved productivity and profitability, and a reduced environmental footprint.

In recognizing our endeavor to bring more brilliance into the packaging industry – into the lives of our customers and colleagues – XSYS has achieved a Silver Medal rating from EcoVadis for its sustainability. This distinction goes beyond our commitment to protecting the environment by also evaluating our dedication to social responsibility, diversity, and human rights.

The broad XSYS portfolio comprises some of the industry’s best-known brands of consumables (nyloflex® and nyloprint® plates), plate processing equipment (Xpress, ThermoFlexX, and Catena), surface screening software (Woodpecker), plate mounting (rotec®), and washout solvents (nylosolv®). Brilliant products and services for brilliant print results and business success.

Siegwerk, one of the leading global providers of printing inks and coatings for packaging applications and labels, has partnered with German startup Wildplastic and the Hamburg University of Technology (TU-Hamburg) aiming to increase the recyclability of plastic waste. One way to achieve this is by successfully deinking the collected waste before entering the recycling extrusion process. The partners conducted initial trials at the end of 2022, with very successful results.

Siegburg, Germany, February 2023 – Of the billions of tons of plastic that have been produced worldwide, only about 9% has been recycled, and about 12% ends up in landfills. The rest can end up leaking into the environment, polluting oceans and rivers and breaking down into microplastics that are hazardous to human health. There is a clear and urgent need to improve recycling processes and to ensure that more packaging enters the recycling stream. Deinking packaging prior to regranulation helps to prevent the packaging inks from contaminating the materials to be recycled, and ensures that the packaging stays in the recycling stream.

The partners to the initiative recognize that it is only through cross-industry collaboration that progress can be made. Wildplastic is a German startup founded in 2019 aiming to clean the environment from plastic waste. In cooperation with communities of collectors, the start-up works globally to collect “wild” plastic from beaches, landfills, and illegal dumpsites. In spring 2019, Wildplastic started selling the first trash bag that is 100% made of recycled plastic. Currently, their focus is on sourcing Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) such as bubble wrap or certain food packaging. LDPE cannot yet be widely recycled, so the market collection incentive for it is still limited. Wildplastic wants to change this by creating a demand for this material and showcasing the potential of post-consumer LDPE recycling. After collection, the plastic is transported to a recycling partner who washes, melts and processes it into granules. These recyclate granules are then sent to a production partner and used as a substitute for virgin LDPE material. This material is then used to create trash bags and mail bags. A broader scope of applications may be possible if the materials could be successfully deinked first.

In 2021, Wildplastic and the Institute of Circular Resource Engineering and Management (CREM) of TU-Hamburg started a cooperative research and development  project, financed by the Investment and Development Bank of Hamburg (IFB) to study the feasibility of improving the quality of LDPE-recyclates from post-consumer sources. Evonik is supporting this project as a cooperative partner.

“We started to conduct research on deinking of post-consumer plastic waste with Wildplastic  about one year ago. As a technical university, it is important to carry out meaningful research relevant to the real-world problem. From our project, we have learned that a successful circular economy only works by motivating all the stakeholders involved. Siegwerk as the producer of printing ink, can play an important role in this context since it brings the producer’s perspective to solve the problem in the beginning.” said Jinyang Guo from the Institute of Circular Resource Engineering and Management (CREM) from TU- Hamburg during a kick-off meeting between the partners in November 2022.

Siegwerk is supporting Wildplastic in this initiative by providing the deinking chemistry and knowledge to enable the creation of clean recyclates. In order for successful deinking to occur, a precise combination of the right ink chemistry, the right deinking detergent and the right process needs to be applied. Inks on packaging can often be a hinderance to recycling, as the inks degrade during the recycling process and can contaminate the recyclates, leading to unpleasant odors or unsightly colors. Even if the inks are not totally removed, the opportunities for recycling are increased exponentially.

“It is a pleasure to work with our partners from Wildplastic and from the University of Hamburg on this topic. We have a strong can-do attitude in common. The scientific perspective and the conscientiousness contributed by Jinyang helps us to maintain a fact-based and objective view. Not only in the design of experiments but also in the interpretation of results. Wildplastic has the ambition to benefit from deinking in their recycling activities in just a few months and brings in an industrial perspective,” said Ingo Fehr, Senior Project Manager at Siegwerk.

“We have started this collaboration with Jinyang and the University about one year ago following our deep interest to find a solution for specific washing needs for highly challenging post-consumer plastic film materials in a small scale batch operation. From day one we have worked together in a very open and solution-orientated way and with shared passion. It´s all about getting the right people together, therefore we are extremely happy to share our results and to extend our collaboration with the team at Siegwerk,” said Wildplastic co-founder Dieter Gottschalk

Donnie Hopkins of JDH & Associates will be hosting surface treatment specialist Vetaphone at this year’s Converters Expo South in the Charlotte Convention Center, Charlotte, NC, on February 22nd.

Donnie says: “We’re looking forward to welcoming many visitors to Booth 91 and highlighting the cutting-edge corona and plasma equipment that Vetaphone offers.”  Donnie will be supported by Ted Wolski, Vetaphone’s Sales Manager for the Americas.  Both are looking forward to meeting new and existing customers and explaining to them the background to Vetaphone and the vast depth of surface treatment knowledge available for converters to tap into.

Ted commented: “Converters Expo South comes at an ideal time for companies to engage in discussions on improving production efficiency with Vetaphone’s highly controllable technology.  As the market continues to recover from the pandemic and supply chain issues, there has never been a better time to do this, and it starts with surface treatment.”

Vetaphone has enjoyed rapid growth in the US market in recent years and now has an extensive sales network covering all States supported by locally based engineering and technical support, and a fully stocked parts warehouse in Texas.  With a family history of corona that dates back to its invention in the 1950s, no company is better placed than Vetaphone to manage the expectations of today’s ultra-competitive package print market.

The Polish packaging manufacturer has installed a ThermoFlexX TFxX 48 flexo plate imager to meet demands from customers for faster delivery, more flexibility, and increased sustainability. The company chose to invest in the XSYS technology for the first time as part of a determined drive to expand the capabilities of its in-house prepress department with innovative solutions.

Willstaett, Germany. 02 February 2023 – The flexible packaging market is moving towards more sustainable solutions and manufacturing methods that have less impact on the environment. Flexo platemaking is an area where significant progress in reducing waste has been made, with new technologies and higher levels of automation that improve the process while remaining cost-effective.  

As part of its strategy for future success, KB Folie Polska Sp. z o.o., in Poland, wanted to introduce a new digital imaging technology that would allow them to deliver consistent print quality at speed, but also reduce plate waste, operator time, energy consumption and overall costs. After surveying the market for some time, the company was convinced by the advantages presented by the ThermoFlexX TFxX 48 and signed on the dotted line. The investment also includes ThermoFlexX Woodpecker screening technology for adding microstructures to the surface of flat top dot plates to help maintain print quality at top press speeds.

“We are one of the first printing houses in Poland to leverage the many tangible benefits of the ThermoFlexX system with Woodpecker surface screening,” said [Jan Marcinkowski – Deputy Production Director]. “XSYS is known for its fresh and innovative approach to technology, and ThermoFlexX imagers for their high levels of automation and waste saving features. Our new machine is definitely proving that point by levelling up our in-house platemaking capabilities as a greener, more cost-efficient proposition.”

Exceeding expectations

Based in Warsaw, KB Folie specializes in flexible packaging, mainly for the fresh and frozen food industries, but also the chemicals and cosmetics sectors. Originally founded as an aluminum trading company in 1996, the family-owned enterprise set up its flexo printing department in 2000 when the first wide web flexo press was installed, and later also added rotogravure printing. Currently employing 200 staff, plans are underway to expand further and build a completely new printing facility, as the company continues its growth trajectory.   

The product portfolio spans the breadth of flexible packaging for both dry and liquid foodstuffs, including mono-material packaging solutions, laminated packaging, bags, ready-made doypacks and other types of pouches with closure sealing, various types of notches and perforations, cold seal, and variable coding on the inside, among the many options.

In 2016, KB Folio established an R& D Center with funding from the Polish Ministry of Development, followed by additional funding from various institutions, to support customers with innovative solutions and to forge new relationships with suppliers and manufacturers. “That was really a breakthrough year for us,” said [Michał Sikorski – Head of Scientific Research and Development Department.]. “Since then, year by year, our R&D activities have brought us more and more benefits, allowing the introduction of new types of packaging products that meet and even exceed the expectations and needs of our customers.”

[Jan Marcinkowski – Deputy Production Director] added, “We place a vast emphasis on research and on production of high-quality and increasingly more environmentally friendly packaging; and because we also strive for the production plant itself to be as green as possible, the equipment we buy must support that vision.”

Finding a new solution

KB Folie has been making flexo plates in-house for many years. The new ThermoFlexX TFxX 48 from XSYS is the latest digital imager acquired for this purpose and it came through long-term supplier Scorpio Sp. z o.o., a distributor of ThermoFlexX products in Poland. “Like every company with over 20 years of experience, we started out with analog methods. In 2008, we moved to digital imaging, which we are successively updating to stay at the forefront of developments, most lately with the new ThermoFlexX, which is an exciting technology.”

In order to accelerate profit projections, the company analyzed its workflow to decide on the best route to follow to improve the print quality and the production speed. “We were looking for a machine that would let us meet customer requirements, without wasting time and without adding more costs,” said [Jan Marcinkowski – Deputy Production Director]. “We live in the fourth industrial revolution; in an increasingly digital world where we can save time by automating more and more processes. These were the main reasons for switching to a new solution.”

Known for its high-quality imaging, low waste, and impressive productivity, the ThermoFlexX TFxX 48 can produce plates up to 900 x 1200mm (35 x 48”). Featuring the built in FlexTray, it can automatically load and unload plates with one touch of a button, which reduces the risk of damage due to manual handling. The automatic resolution switching function matches laser optics to file resolution, giving users much more flexibility, including the ability to image multiple plates at different resolutions simultaneously. Meanwhile the unique Vacuum Slider Concept (VSC) allows plates of any width to be loaded without needing to be taped in place, another waste saving innovation. With Woodpecker surface screening added to the mix, KB Folie has the option to boost ink density in the solid areas and improve dot definition for even sharper text and images, all while ensuring a smoother ink lay down for those jobs that demand the highest quality.

Having incorporated the imager into the daily workflow and experiencing the difference it has made, [Jan Marcinkowski – Deputy Production Director] concluded, “The ThermoFlexX 48s laser is very user friendly and flexible and also compatible with other devices. We have found that it provides longer plate durability, which results in greater print stability, and cuts down on waste of plate material. When we need to, it also allows us to work with files that have a lower resolution, which ensures faster data processing and acceleration of work. I can safely say that we are very satisfied with the investment.”

ABOUT XSYS

Headquartered in Willstaett, Germany, XSYS operates globally and remains one of the largest suppliers offering both flexographic and letterpress prepress solutions, including plates, sleeves, processors, workflow solutions, and expert professional services, designed to help these industries move forward with increasing innovation, improved productivity and profitability, and a reduced environmental footprint.

In recognizing our endeavor to bring more brilliance into the packaging industry – into the lives of our customers and colleagues – XSYS has achieved a Silver Medal rating from EcoVadis for its sustainability. This distinction goes beyond our commitment to protecting the environment by also evaluating our dedication to social responsibility, diversity, and human rights. 

The broad XSYS portfolio comprises some of the industry’s best-known brands of consumables (nyloflex® and nyloprint® plates), plate processing equipment (Xpress, ThermoFlexX, and Catena), surface screening software (Woodpecker), plate mounting (rotec®), and washout solvents (nylosolv®). Brilliant products and services for brilliant print results and business success.

Glendale Heights, IL – January 5, 2023, All PrintingResources (APR) announced that it has named Joe Settanni as Director of Strategic Initiatives. 

Settanni joins APR with over 25 years of experience in the Flexographic Package Printing industry. He has a proven track record in product development and customer support and will focus on automation and productivity solutions to provide additional value to APR customers.

Prior to APR, Settanni spent just shy of 16 years with a leading national graphic arts distribution company and most recently held the position of Vice President of Sales – North America for Apex International, a global anilox manufacturer. During his tenure with Apex, Settanni played an instrumental role in Apex’s work with expanded gamut printing.

Mike Williams, Vice President of Sales for APR shared, “We are extremely pleased to announce the addition of Joe to the APR team and eager for him to dig in. His experience within our industry combined with his industry-leading technical expertise will be a definite asset to TeamFlexo and will certainly be advantageous to our customers.”

Die-Cut Blank Labels with PET Liners Offer Multiple Benefits

Chicago, IL, January 27, 2023 – ChanneledResources Group (CRG), a manufacturer of blank shipping labels, release liner, and the world’s largest supplier of value-priced laminated papers and films, announced the introduction of their newest product offering: die-cut blank pressure sensitive labels with PET liners.

Channeled Resources has long been an industry leading supplier of die-cut blank labels with paper liners, serving a variety of industries including the shipping and logistics arena. They are now able to provide customers with the option of paper or PET liners.

According to Alex Hoffman, Materials Manager, “We are thrilled to be able to offer our customers another option for their die-cut blank labels. Having the choice between paper and PET, without a significant price differential, allows our customers to determine which option will best suit their needs.”

PET liner offers a variety of distinct benefits, including more labels per roll, a smoother release and increased durability. PET liners are also more easily recycled than paper liner offering a sustainable advantage. With increased strength and smoother release, customers will experience fewer line breaks and production interruptions meaning more uptime.

According to Hoffman, “The switch from paper liner to PET is actually easier than most people think. Most label applicators only need a simple recalibration and you’ll be back up and running in no time.”

Learn more about CRG’s die-cut blank labels with PET liner and the rest of their extensive product line on their website www.channeledresources.com.

Exhibit to feature expanded wine offerings, including sustainability line and alternative fibers

Graham, NC – January 5, 2023 – Fedrigoni Self-Adhesives, former Arconvert brand, part of The Fedrigoni Group, a global leader in the production of premium labels and self-adhesive materials, will exhibit at the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium taking place in Sacramento, CA January 24 – 26.

According to Melissa Harton, Marketing Manager, North America, “We are excited to be exhibiting at the Wine & Grape Symposium as we are eager to showcase some of our newest offerings to the wine market, including our expanded wine portfolio which offers a wide range of premium facestocks, along with a variety of sustainable solutions including recycled content and alternative fibers.” 

Fedrigoni’s expanded wine portfolio facestocks are FSC®-C138765 approved (when applicable) and are available in elegant textures, and diverse colors and provide high-quality performance against wet, cold, ice bucket, and humid environments. This premium line of papers includes embossed, felt-marked, pearlescent, laid, uncoated, coated, and waterproof papers.

Visitors to booth #1406 will also discover that Fedrigoni Self-Adhesives offers alternative fibers including materials made from renewable plants such as cotton, linen, bamboo, sugar cane, and hemp or from grass fibers and mineral powder. For more information on the Fedrigoni Self-Adhesives wine portfolio, visit https://pages.fedrigoni.com/sustainablewinespirits

Visit Fedrigoni Self-Adhesives at Booth #1406 to learn more about our broad material portfolio for wine and spirits.

On the back of consecutive record years for sales, Vetaphone A/S, the inventor, and pioneer of surface treatment technology, has moved to boost the strength of its management structure with an eye to the future.

Despite the difficult trading conditions imposed by the global pandemic and subsequent supply chain issues, Vetaphone has continued to enjoy a double-digit growth rate in recent years and with a declared ambition to sustain a 15% uplift year on year going forward, it has made several key changes at senior level.

First, is the appointment of Jan Eisby to take up a new position as Chief Business Officer (CBO), where he will share with his brother and fellow Director Frank Eisby, the task of focussing on the long-term strategy for the company.

Second, is the appointment of Kevin McKell as Chief Sales Officer (CSO), with the overall responsibility for Sales, Marketing, and Support functions at the company.  This is a natural progression from his previous position as Vice President Technical Sales and will further strengthen Vetaphone’s customer-facing activities.

The division of duties will see Frank, in his role as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), concentrate on the development of products and technology from the sales and production perspective, with Jan looking to build customer relationships through R&D, and an educational programme of knowledge sharing.

The overall aim is to free-up the Eisby brothers by leaving day-to-day running of the company to the Management Group, allowing them to focus on Vetaphone’s ambitious plans for the development of the business and its technology up to 2025 and beyond. 

It will also be the start of major investment in the Vetaphone Academy, which promises exciting times ahead for this innovative and progressive technology leader.

www.vetaphone.com