SurePress L-4733AW Delivers Improved Automation Functionality and SurePress L-6534VW with Orange Ink Offers Expanded Color Gamut Without Added Costs

Los Alamitos, CA – Epson America today announced it continues its legacy of providing world-class white ink prime label printing with the introduction of the  SurePress® L-4733AW water-based resin ink digital label press, delivering improved automation. Additionally, as label converters look for ways to add additional color gamut to labels without increasing price, Epson is adding the SurePress L-6534VW with Orange Ink to its portfolio of UV inkjet digital label presses. These new additions to the SurePress line offer higher levels of print quality, consistency, flexibility, and value for label converters, specialty printers and vertical manufacturers.

The SurePress L-4733AW builds on the success of its predecessor, the L-4533AW, one of the leading selling digital inkjet label presses on the market today, to offer advanced automation and unattended printing features, higher productivity on film substrates and an optional inline spectrometer. The SurePress L-6543VW with Orange Ink, an alternative to the L-6534VW with Digital Varnish, has a 92% PANTONE® coverage certification within Delta E of 1.5,1 using minimum colors to deliver maximum gamut. Enabling reliable and repeatable high-speed printing of up to 2 million square feet per month,2 it can serve the largest of label converters.  

“Label converters and specialty printers are looking for solutions that are simple and cost-effective to operate and maintain, and can deliver on stable, predictable production,” said Mike Pruitt, senior product manager, Epson America, Inc. “Epson enhanced its industrial SurePress lineup by adding new capabilities with the L-4733AW and expanding gamut with the L-6534VW with Orange Ink, which can help businesses save on upfront costs and maintenance. These advancements come without the compromise of simple operation and maintenance, production or print quality.”

More about the SurePress L-4733AW

The SurePress L-4733AW delivers on automation and ease of use. Virtually automatic, requiring no manual cleaning of the printhead surface, the L-4733AW is primed for unattended printing. With the optional SureSpectro AS-4000 inline spectrometer for real-time automated measurements to speed profiling and ensure consistent output for multi-plant networks, the L-4733AW delivers accurate spot colors and gradients required for brand-quality color prime labels and packaging. The L-4733AW supports a range of substrates, including off-the-shelf flexo materials, without the need to surface prime. Its inks meet the latest safety standards and regulations, such as REACH, and deliver high-quality images, making it a versatile press ideal for converters focusing on food and beverage and health and beauty labels.

More about the SurePress L-6534VW with Orange Ink

The SurePress L-6534VW with Orange Ink uses CMYK with standard high-opacity White Ink plus Orange Ink to widen the color gamut using minimum colors required to do so. Incorporating PrecisionCore® linehead technology and high-pigment, low-migration LED UV curing ink, the press’s center drum system is a space-saving, compact design integrating all of the functions required for production, such as Corona treatment, White Ink, web cleaner, ionizer, and an additional UV curing unit, all standard. The new model also supports a range of paper and film substrates, offering low running costs.

Availability

The SurePress L-4733AW and L-6534VW with Orange Ink will be available in June 2022. Epson’s SurePress digital label press systems are engineered with Epson components including ink, printheads, LED pinning, and curing, and use an Epson Industrial Robotic Controller to manage the press rather than a PC, further enhancing reliability and stability. For additional information, visit www.epson.com/surepress. For inquiries in North America, contact:

–        Western Region: Mark Elsbernd, 818-620-2730 or mark.elsbernd@ea.epson.com

–        Central Region: Bob Ochalla, 630-710-6005 or bob.ochalla@ea.epson.com

–        Eastern Region and Canada: Frank Connelly, 615-585-9058 or frank.connelly@ea.epson.com

About Epson
Epson is a global technology leader dedicated to co-creating sustainability and enriching communities by leveraging its efficient, compact, and precision technologies and digital technologies to connect people, things, and information. The company is focused on solving societal issues through innovations in home and office printing, commercial and industrial printing, manufacturing, visual and lifestyle. Epson’s goal is to become carbon negative and eliminate use of exhaustible underground resources such as oil and metal by 2050.

Led by the Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, the worldwide Epson Group generates annual sales of around JPY 1 trillion. global.epson.com/

Epson America, Inc., based in Los Alamitos, Calif., is Epson’s regional headquarters for the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. To learn more about Epson, please visit: epson.com. You may also connect with Epson America on Facebook (facebook.com/Epson), Twitter (twitter.com/EpsonAmerica), YouTube (youtube.com/epsonamerica), and Instagram (instagram.com/EpsonAmerica).

1 1,975 (92.0%) of the PANTONE® Solid Coated colors are within the gamut of the Epson SurePress L-6534VW CMYKOr, ink, Fasson AB074PP Top White substrate system.

2 Verified by Epson Remote Management Services.

EPSON, PrecisionCore and SurePress are registered trademarks and EPSON Exceed Your Vision is a registered logomark of Seiko Epson Corporation. All other product and brand names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Epson disclaims any and all rights in these marks. Copyright 2022 Epson America, Inc.

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, Illinois—SCREEN Americas announces the installation of a second Truepress Jet520HD to Wolverine Solutions Group of Detroit, Michigan. The company purchased an identical press in 2016. The recent investment afforded Wolverine Solutions Group the opportunity to remodel 25,000 of its 200,000 square-foot facility into a state-of-the-art climate-controlled room built for optimized productivity.            

The two SCREEN press lines, which now account for 75 percent of Wolverine’s total output, are arranged perpendicular to each other in an L configuration providing streamlined material handling and operator efficiency. While one Truepress Jet520HD is typically reserved for transactional work, the other is used for direct marketing programs involving oversized postcards and self-mailers printed on heavy coated stock. The identical configurations between the units allow the Michigan-based printer to transfer applications from one press to the other if necessary or double its throughput for longer runs. As a result of its increased agility, the company has downsized inventory and eliminated several toner-based presses.

Darryl English, president of Wolverine Solutions Group, credits the company’s success to the Truepress Jet520HD’s speed, image quality and ability to print on multiple substrates. Continuous roll-fed inkjet technology has also allowed the printer to completely eliminate the need for preprinted shells. “This has resulted in tremendous gains in efficiency that would have otherwise been lost through the management of preprinted forms,” said English. “SCREEN allows us to produce output more quickly and retain full control of every project from start to finish. This is key since we live in an on-demand world where speed-to-market remains the most important performance indicator to focus on.”

Founded in 1980, Wolverine Solutions Group serves highly regulated industries including healthcare, manufacturing, finance, government and insurance. A daily output of more than one million impressions is performed by 140 employees covering three shifts per day, seven days per week. 

About SCREEN Americas
SCREEN Americas, a SCREEN Graphic Solutions group company established in 1967, is a leading provider of digital inkjet technology serving the commercial, publishing, direct mail, transactional, packaging, folding carton and label industries. In 2021, SCREEN Americas relocated its headquarters to Elk Grove Village, Illinois, with an upgrade that included a 14,000-plus square-foot Inkjet Innovation Center.

www.screenamericas.com

Grace Label is a full-service narrow web label and packaging converter located in Des Moines, Iowa offering pressure-sensitive, roll-fed, and cut & stack labels; shrink sleeves; pouches; flexible packaging; and more.

We caught up with the team at Grace Label to learn more about their business, the impact of digital printing during COVID & Supply Chain disruptions, and their partnership with Domino. 

The interview was captured in this VIDEO: Grace Label & Domino

“We do what we say we’re going to do.”

Steve Grace, President of Grace Label describes his company. “We feel we’re a really good company because we do what we say we’re going to do.  We invest in our people, we invest in our equipment, and we make sure that our customer come first. We’re a 40-year-old family printing business. A lot of the folks here have been here a long, long time. We were young. I had hair.  We have several employees that are multiple generation. That tells you what I think it’s about.”

Four decades and continuing to grow.

“As a percentage, our largest market would be food & beverage. We also have a large growing market in craft beer, wine, and spirits. One of our customers is children’s stickers. We did over 275 million labels for that company last year. The combination of adding equipment, adding capital, adding people has enabled a 40-year-old company to have a significant increase in sales.”

Going Digital.  Taking it to another level.

“I don’t think we can pinpoint the exact moment we decided that we needed to go digital. Really, it came down to there were probably only three of four digital printers in the market that had the history. And as we assessed those, the Domino just stood out as…by far…the best choice for our company. And we had a great resource. I had a great relationship prior with Chuck Stone (Sr. Account Manager at Domino). That made the decision, and the entry into digital, much easier.”

Lou Thurston, Account Executive says, “In the eight years that I’ve been with Grace Label, I’ve seen a significant investment by the company in print technology. It started out with some of the higher end flexo presses and then we moved into the Domino press that helped us take it to another level. The results are just outstanding. We’ve seen our business grow 15% year over year. We would have never of had the opportunity had we not had the Domino technology. I couldn’t be happier.”  

The Challenge of COVID and Supply Chain

Lou continues, “Since our business is into the food & beverage industry, customers found themselves in out-of-stock situations that they hadn’t in the past as a result of COVID, and the Domino helped us really get people out of a jam.”

Steve adds, “Grace Label saw an increase in business, we saw an increase in demand. Our customers got busier. The Domino was able to turn around orders we had not had before. We were able to develop new customers. And right now during the Supply Chain disruption, the Domino is fantastic because we are able to put something on there, move it over from our flexo presses and we are able to adapt and keep our customers rolling.”  

The Domino Difference

Lou adds that it’s even more than just the technology. It’s the support, it’s the partnership. “The Domino difference for us is that they are a true business partner. Domino has been excellent in their after-sales support, and we certainly do not feel like they are just a vendor.  They have definitely become a business partner at Grace Label.  Their people are here when we need them.  Their technology folks are on the phone whenever we have questions. They help us think about our business in different ways. They’re a true partner.”

Steve summarizes the impact of Domino throughout COVID and Supply Chain disruptions. “We’ve had digital now for two and a half years. The Domino difference has really impacted Grace Label. And the Domino has been one of our best tools to be able to respond to our customers. I can’t imagine going back to a time without the ability to run the Domino.”

Domino is a leading manufacturer and distributor of digital printing and product identification solutions.  Celebrating its 44th year in business, Domino is a global organization with world headquarters in the UK, and North America headquarters in Gurnee, IL.  Domino has 25 subsidiaries, representation in over 120 countries, and over 3,000 employees worldwide. 

For more information on Domino digital printing, please visit dominodigitalprinting.com  

• Mondi to display full packaging portfolio at leading pet food trade fair Interzoo in Germany to demonstrate how innovative flexible solutions can help the industry become more sustainable.

• Mondi’s expertise helps customers move forward with innovative paper and plastic packaging that supports them in achieving their sustainability goals.

Mondi, a global leader in packaging and paper, is presenting its broad portfolio of sustainable packaging solutions at this month’s Interzoo and demonstrating how flexible packaging can drive sustainability in the pet food industry.

Packaging for pet food and pet care needs to be both protective and sustainable – the food contents need to remain fresh and intact but the top priority for eight of ten pet owners is packaging that is sustainable, according to a recent Mondi Dow Premium pet packaging survey. Shoppers worldwide are shifting towards mindful consumption and actively choosing brands that reduce their impact on the environment, particularly in light of the rise in eCommerce.

Mondi’s expertise helps pet food manufacturers all over the world respond to this, through its EcoSolutions approach. Working closely with customers means the best possible solution can be created. Those solutions use paper where possible and plastic when useful – and help consumers contribute to a better world once pets have been fed.

At this year’s Interzoo, Mondi will be exhibiting a wide range of packaging solutions for the pet food industry to meet the individual needs of customers:

RetortPouch Recyclable is perfect for wet pet food. A new high barrier pouch, it can replace complex multi-layer and unrecyclable packaging, offering a solution that can withstand high temperatures, protect the product, and provide excellent shelf life while reducing food waste.

Mondi’s FlexiBag Recyclable prove popular for dry pet food, meanwhile – a reclosable high barrier packaging solution that confines smells, protects the product and is recyclable, it is already being used by several leading pet food brands.

“We are really looking forward to meeting our partners, customers and suppliers face to face once more,” says Alexander Korolchuk, Business Development Manager Pet Food for Consumer Flexibles, Mondi. “This is an important event on the pet food calendar and will allow us to show how Mondi’s technical skills, capabilities and global presence mean we can help drive an even stronger pet food sector, by reducing food waste while improving product protection and end user trust.”

The world´s leading trade fair for the pet industry is welcoming manufacturers, retailers and suppliers back to Nuremberg, Germany, from 24 to 27 May 2022. Mondi is present in hall 7A-216 and displaying further paper and plastic solutions, as e.g. paper-based FlexiBags that are made from renewable materials and enhanced with a functional barrier to reduce the amount of plastic used while ensuring premium product protection and convenient handling for consumers. High quality Block or Pinch bottom paper bags are available with a variety of barrier options to bring the required protection to the pet food through coated material, laminated or free film between the paper plies, or greaseproof paper.

About Mondi
Mondi is a global leader in packaging and paper, contributing to a better world by making innovative packaging and paper solutions that are sustainable by design. Our business is integrated across the value chain – from managing forests and producing pulp, paper and plastic films, to developing and manufacturing effective industrial and consumer packaging solutions. Sustainability is at the centre of our strategy and intrinsic in the way we do business. We lead the industry with our customer-centric approach, EcoSolutions, where we ask the right questions to find the most sustainable solution. In 2021, Mondi had revenues of €7.7 billion and underlying EBITDA of €1.5 billion.

Mondi has a premium listing on the London Stock Exchange (MNDI), and a secondary listing on the JSE Limited (MNP). Mondi is a FTSE 100 constituent, and has been included in the FTSE4Good Index Series since 2008 and the FTSE/JSE Responsible Investment Index Series since 2007.

www.mondigroup.com

Ahlstrom-Munksjö Holding 3 Oy’s Board of Directors has agreed an ownership reorganization plan under which the production assets, debts, and liabilities relating to its Decor business will be transferred from Ahlstrom-Munksjö Holding 3 Oy, without liquidation, to a newly formed company that will be named Munksjö.

In the ownership reorganization, Ahlstrom-Munksjö Holding 3 Oy will divest the majority share of and remain with a minority share in the new Munksjö company to Ahlström Capital BV (wholly owned subsidiary of Ahlström Capital Oy) and Nidoco AB, both of which are affiliates of the current minority owners of Ahlstrom-Munksjö Holding 3 Oy. The planned reorganization is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to be completed by the end of the third quarter of 2022, following which Ahlstrom-Munksjö Holding 3 Oy will start preparing plans for changing its business name to Ahlstrom.

Based on the strategic review of the Decor business the board has concluded that a standalone company would provide the best framework for the future development of this business. As separate companies, the increased management and board focus will support the newly named Ahlstrom and Munksjö in achieving further sustainable growth and profitability through a more focused and ambitious agenda on a global basis. Once the reorganization has been completed, both companies will offer distinctive characteristics that are expected to attract investors, provide access to new capital, and drive increased value.

Ahlstrom-Munksjö has actively developed its Decor business over the years, by establishing a strong growth platform in South America through the acquisition of Caieiras’s specialty paper mill in Brazil, and more recently by entering the world’s largest and fastest growing decor paper market in China through the acquisition of the decor paper manufacturer Minglian New Materials Technology in Xingtai, Hebei Province. Through these strategic acquisitions, the Decor business has become a leading international player, well positioned to serve its customers in all essential decor paper markets globally. As a standalone company the Decor business will accelerate its growth, strengthen its competitiveness and global leadership in innovation. The Decor business has operated under the Munksjö brand for more than 25 years, and although lately under the Ahlstrom-Munksjö brand, the business is most commonly known as simply “Munksjö”, a brand recognized for outstanding quality and service across the decor industry.

Hans Sohlström, President and CEO of Ahlstrom-Munksjö, comments: “Having actively participated in development of both Ahlstrom and Munksjö, I am very proud that the Decor business has grown into a leading global business. It has successfully adapted and managed changing market fundamentals which demonstrates its strength and agility, as well as its relevance for the future. The Decor business and the Munksjö brand are naturally a great match, and by bringing them together we create more value for both. I am convinced that our colleagues and customers will see that this reorganization is beneficial and supports continued success for all parties.”

Lasse Heinonen, President and CEO of Ahlström Capital, continues: “The Ahlstrom-Munksjö Decor business is a leading global business with a broad product portfolio and a market-leading brand, Munksjö. This business is already the leader in higher value market segments and has strengthened the competitiveness in standard decor papers with a footprint in China following the acquisition of Minglian New Materials Technology. For Ahlström Capital, the Munksjö Decor business is a key investment in our core fiber segment.”

About Decor business area

The Decor Solutions business area is one of Ahlstrom-Munksjö‘s five reporting segments. The business offers the broadest assortment of high-quality decor papers in its industry. Decor papers are primarily used as the decorative surface material in laminated wood-panel based furniture, flooring and other interior and exterior building material applications. Key markets are Europe, North and South America, China and selected export markets. The production takes place at six plants: Unterkochen and Dettingen in Germany, Tolosa in Spain, Arches in France, as well as Caieiras in Brazil and Xingtai in China. Including Xingtai, acquired in January 2022, annual net sales is approximately EUR 500 million and production capacity around 250,000 tons. Currently the combined businesses employ 1,200 people. The transfer of the Decor activities in France, including dedicated parts of the Arches plant, is subject to a prior consultation of employee representatives in France.

About Ahlström Capital
Ahlström Capital is a family-owned investment company that focuses its investment activity on industrial companies, real estate and forestry. In 2021, the annual revenue of Ahlström Capital groups portfolio companies was approximately EUR 4.4 billion and the portfolio companies employed approximately 13,500 people in 33 countries. Ahlström Capital Oy and Ahlstrom-Munksjö share almost 170 years of common history.

About Nidoco
Nidoco AB is a Swedish investment company whose strategy is to create long-term value through active ownership of public and private companies. Nidoco is currently a leading shareholder of three listed companies with head offices in the Nordic region, and has direct and indirect investments in more than 300 unlisted companies globally. Nidoco is an independent part of the Virala Group.

Ahlstrom-Munksjö in brief
Ahlstrom-Munksjö is a global leader in fiber-based materials, supplying innovative and sustainable solutions to its customers. Our mission is to expand the role of fiber-based solutions for sustainable everyday life. Our offering includes filter materials, release liners, food and beverage processing materials, decor papers, abrasive and tape backings, electrotechnical paper, glass fiber materials, medical fiber materials, diagnostics and energy storage solutions, as well as a range of specialty papers for industrial and consumer end-uses. Our annual net sales is about EUR 3.1 billion and we employ some 8,000 people. Read more at www.ahlstrom-munksjo.com

On 11 and 12 of May, Mark Andy organized the Open House in its Warsaw-based Demo Room, devoted for company’s authorized dealers representing different regions of the world – Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America. It was the second event, concerning Mark Andy’s equipment presentations, organized in the recent time. In April the company invited students and their tutors from Polish printing-oriented technical universities and high schools for a special educational Open House. Finally, on 31 of May and 1 of June the company will host its customers from around the world during “The Power of Hybrid Forum”. Mark Andy invites  to register for the event on a dedicated website http://info.markandy.com/openhouse-poland-2022.

“We’re very glad about running with a scheduled agenda. It includes several meetings in our Warsaw-based Demo Room to be held this year, devoted to different groups of participants– says Lena Chmielewska-Bontron, European Marketing Manager Mark Andy Europe. – In April we hosted a group of students and their tutors. This time we had a pleasure to meet our distributors from many different areas of the world. It was the first opportunity to host such a large group of our business partners in Warsaw. Some of them participated in our sessions online, so every region Mark Andy Europe operates in was represented at the Open House. We hosted our business partners from Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America”.

The meeting started with live presentation of the equipment installed at Mark Andy’s Demo Room in Warsaw: Evolution Series E3 flexo press and two hybrids – Digital Series iQ and Digital Pro 3. Then a conference session began; the participants listened to the opening speech from Jason Desai – CEO of Mark Andy. He presented the company’s results for 2021 as well as announced new investment and development plans, including software.
The conference included three sessions run by Lukasz Chruslinski, Sales Manager Mark Andy Europe. The first one was devoted to RFID solutions and linerless substrates usage in Mark Andy presses. Then a new Digital Series iQ hybrid press (developed in a co-operation with Domino) was presented. The third session was devoted to sMART Link, a new software from Mark Andy’s a real-time, on-press data collection and monitoring system, increasing automation of label production process. The conference was concluded with a an open discussion with all the participants.

In the evening, non-formal part of the meeting Mark Andy’s guests visited the Vodka Museum in Warsaw and participated in a special dinner.

About Mark Andy Inc.
Mark Andy is a pioneer of the graphic arts and printing industry. As the world’s leading manufacturer of narrow- and mid-web printing and finishing equipment, it supplies leading global brands, including Mark Andy and Presstek printing presses, Rotoflex finishing solutions, as well as a complete line of Mark Andy Print Products consumables and pressroom supplies. All products are backed by the largest customer support team in the industry, minimizing downtime and helping customers be profitable, efficient and at the forefront of innovation. Mark Andy does what it takes to understand each customer’s unique business, the challenges they face and the pressures they feel. It strives to provide products and services that help customers solve their problems and solutions that go a step further, allowing them to excel in their day-to-day operations, ultimately increasing productivity and reaching their full potential. For more information, visit www.markandy.com.

Mondi moves to certified base paper for its full portfolio of glassine-based release liners.

The switch to certified base paper helps ensure that the wood is harvested from responsibly managed forests.

Mondi collaborates with certification schemes like PEFC to enable traceability and compliance

Mondi, a global leader in sustainable packaging and paper, has switched its entire portfolio of glassine-based release liners to certified base paper. The change is part of Mondi’s ongoing, proactive approach to sustainability, which includes developing solutions that are better for the environment.

Glassine-based release liners are mainly used for labels, tapes, and medical applications. By moving to certified base paper, Mondi is improving traceability, working with partners who manage forests responsibly in line with its commitment to maintain zero deforestation in its forests and supply chain. This latest move to certified glassine-based paper is another step in Mondi’s commitment to responsible sourcing and supply chain transparency.

Mondi’s close collaboration with partners, known as its EcoSolutions approach, means that it will continue to ask the right questions and develop the most sustainable packaging solutions to support customers in achieving their sustainability goals. Mondi already works with a number of certification bodies to help increase the availability of certified wood fibre in its key wood sourcing markets in Europe.

All of Mondi’s pulp and paper mills are PEFC or FSC™ certified, 100% of its own forests are certified and 76% of externally sourced wood and 100% of sourced pulp is from certified sources.

Stefan Schönberger, Head of Product Sustainability Release Liner, Mondi, says: “As part of our MAP2030 ambitions, we commit to taking action on climate change, and setting an example for others working in international manufacturing, production and logistics to help them make sustainability a key priority. Offering certified base paper is part of this. It is the first step to upgrading our entire release liner portfolio, which will manage our impacts while providing the best possible solutions for the customer and the end consumer.”

www.mondigroup.com

Ahlstrom-Munksjö has pledged to create sustainable, fiber-based solutions. PurposeSeal™ is pushing the boundaries of fiber-based end-use applications.  

PurposeSeal™ is a heat-sealed paper carefully constructed to ensure quality and protection for end-use packaging solutions. It boasts additional sustainability benefits when applied to Cristal™ Transparent Packaging Papers or trulyNatural™ unbleached papers.

Ahlstrom-Munksjö recently received recyclability certification for the Cristal™ transparent paper product family, including PurposeSeal™ technology. These products have passed the SBS Equivalency (WMU SBS-E) testing protocol certifying these innovative papers recyclable from Western Michigan University. Additionally, Cristal™ and PurposeSeal™ have obtained 3rd party certification from Centre technique du papier, certifying Cristal™ heal seal coating is recyclable to the European Union’s EN13430 standards.

“PurposeSeal™ is changing the way our customers can create sustainable packaging solutions,” said Zack Leimkuehler, Vice President of Ahlstrom-Munksjö’s Technical Solutions business. “Excess waste and chemicals are removed from the converting process, as the strong seal is achieved using only heat.” 

“PurposeSeal™ is completely customizable,” said Dana DeCoster, Marketing Manager of Ahlstrom-Munksjö’s Technical Solutions business. “It can be combined with other technologies such as color, transparency, water resistance, and high stretch, along with other attributes to fit any requests your customers may come to you with.”

While consumers continue to demand products with a positive end-of-life story, PurposeSeal™ can be a sustainable alternative to traditional film-based packaging. PurposeSeal™ is versatile enough to work in a variety of applications including, but not limited to, flexible packaging, insulated packaging, pouches and garment bags/wraps.

For more information on PurposeSeal™ technology and its applications, visit: Ahlstrom-Munksjö – PurposeSeal™ Heat Seal Technology (ahlstrom-munksjo.com)

For more information on our ‘From Plastic to Purpose’ campaign, visit: Ahlstrom-Munksjö – ƒrom Plastic to Purpose (ahlstrom-munksjo.com)

Ahlstrom-Munksjö in brief
Ahlstrom-Munksjö is a global leader in fiber-based materials, supplying innovative and sustainable solutions to its customers. Our mission is to expand the role of fiber-based solutions for sustainable everyday life. Our offering includes filter materials, release liners, food and beverage processing materials, decor papers, abrasive and tape backings, electrotechnical paper, glass fiber materials, medical fiber materials, diagnostics and energy storage solutions, as well as a range of specialty papers for industrial and consumer end-uses. Our annual net sales is about EUR 3.1 billion and we employ some 8,000 people. Read more at www.ahlstrom-munksjo.com

Label Academy, the global training provider for the label and package printing industry, recently hosted its first virtual master class tackling Industry 4.0. This latest in-depth learning opportunity is its fourth virtual master class to date.

Joining the Industry 4.0 chair, Labels & Labeling editor, James Quirk, was a high-profile panel of eleven guest speakers from leading label and package printing companies Baldwin Technology, Traent.com, Hybrid Software Group, Esko, X-Rite Pantone, MPS, Cerm, Label Traxx, HP Indigo, Grafotronic and Tilia Labs Inc. As with the previous virtual master classes, which have covered brand protection, digital printing technology and flexible packaging, Industry 4.0 was divided into two parts. 

Part One, which took place on Thursday 28 April, provided an overview of Industry 4.0, blockchain, data transparency, automating pre-press and quality control. Steve Metcalf, chief marketing and IoT officer, Baldwin Technology, began by introducing the topic and how it impacts the label and package printing industry. This paved the way for the next session, given by founder of Traent.com, Federico D’Annunzio, who delved into the various types of blockchain and why brands are pushing for full data transparency. Mike Rottenborn, CEO, Hybrid Software Group, then provided an insight into the advantages of automating pre-press, from pre-flight to imposition and color management, and integrating it into press and factory management systems. Closing Part One was a joint presentation given by Martin Cusack, product manager Color, DFE and iCenter, Esko and Jérôme Brangé, solution architect, Packaging, X-Rite Pantone, who set out ways of automating quality control including inspection and measuring color in-line.

The focus for Part Two, which took place a week later, on Thursday 5 May, was a more in-depth look at automating both flexo and digital printing operations and the finishing process. Kelvin van den Bunt, product manager, MPS and Lowie-Pascal Geerinck, product manager, Cerm, began with a joint presentation covering the flexo press and how connectivity can tackle some of the industry’s biggest issues at present, such as the manual skills shortage, increased SKUs and sustainability. Reinforcing these talking points were the next two presentations, given by Chris Spooner, business development manager, Label Traxx, and Christian Menegon, global business development manager, Labels & Packaging, HP Indigo. They examined the opportunities created by the digital connected press. Morten Toksvaerd, business development director, Grafotronic, then set out ways of automating the finishing process and integrating it into existing networks. The master class closed with a converter case study presentation from George Folickman, global sales director and business development, Tilia Labs Inc. He described how the software company had worked with US converter Pacer Print to automate production, and the significant cost, time and resource benefits to the business that this had made. 

Andy Thomas-Emans, Labelexpo strategic director, said: “The covid pandemic has accelerated digital technology trends that were already starting to transform the label and package printing supply chain, most notably the use of real-time data and the move towards the smart factory of the future. This has huge potential for our fast-moving industry, so it’s essential that converters in particular learn how to take advantage of this and stay ahead. Our industry 4.0 virtual master class offered the right step in that direction, with a fascinating insight into all of this and more.” 

Echoing this, Steve Metcalf said: “Data will drive the next great advantage in labels and packaging and is the centerpiece of Industry 4.0. Innovations are happening right now that make getting access to data and putting it to work easier than ever. The lineup assembled for the master class presents a how to guide on what to consider and where to begin the journey.”

Thomas-Emans added: “I’d like to extend my thanks to our fantastic line-up of speakers who took part, and attendees for joining. We look forward to hosting further sessions covering more of the industry’s most pressing topics in the coming months – online and live at Labelexpo shows.”

Mike Rottenborn added: “These master classes are one of the best platforms from which to share this knowledge with industry peers.”

The recordings for both parts of the industry 4.0 virtual master class are available to subscribers as part of the Label Academy subscription service.

The Label Academy accompanying guide, Management Information Systems and Workflow Automation, by Michael Fairley, provides additional detail on the topics discussed in the virtual master class, and is available to purchase on Amazon.com and its regional sites. 

About the Label Academy:
The Label Academy is a global training provider and on-the-job resource for the label and package printing industry. It was pioneered by industry expert Mike Fairley in response to a reduction in the number of dedicated printing colleges and the need to standardize the label industry’s very specialized training and education across the world.

The Label Academy’s in-depth and expert-led master classes in English have proved extremely popular around the world at Labelexpo trade shows over the last few years, covering a wide range of key topics in the label and package printing industry. These have included: shrink sleeves; and inks, coatings and varnishes.

Previous virtual master classes have covered digital printing technology, flexible packaging and brand protection.

The Label Academy is part of Tarsus Group – the international media group with interests in exhibitions, conferences, publishing and online media including Labelexpo Global Series, and is endorsed by FINAT, TLMI, LMAI, Turkish Label Association and BPIF.