Seattle-based Richmark Label has recently doubled its investment with BOBST by adding another two UV inkjet presses to the first two that were installed in early 2021. All four digital machines leverage BOBST Digital Inkjet Technology delivering unrivaled speed, quality, and productivity.

One of the country’s oldest pressure-sensitive label companies, Richmark Label was established over 70 years ago, and now resides in its third location, in Seattle’s historic Capitol Hill neighborhood. It manufactures a wide variety of prime labels for customers in all 50 US states. 

In October 2020, Richmark invested in two BOBST digital label presses – an LB701-UV and an LB702-UV – to replace its original, and aging presses. The plan was to replace the existing presses with presses that could deal with its short runs and handle much longer runs that were being run flexographically. Bill Donner, Richmark Label’s president, looked at a number of options before choosing the BOBST presses. According to Bill, the presses had the best combination of quality, speed, and price of anything he had seen – without the drawbacks he definitely didn’t want.

“Our average job order was about $1,000, so we needed an efficient, cost-effective press for our current short runs and one that would also be right for the longer runs we wanted to transfer from our flexographic presses. We chose the LB701-UV and LB702-UV presses and were so impressed that we bought two more a year later.”

“The print quality is every bit as good as we expected and the ease with which our people were able to learn to operate them has been even better than we expected. The set-up time, which is critical for short-run orders, is excellent and the press speed for many orders is unbelievable,” Bill said.

The perfect inkjet fit

 Wholly developed and owned by BOBST, the digital inkjet technology powering the LB701-UV and LB702-UV delivers a high native resolution of 1200 x 1200 dpi. In addition, they afford Richmark fast and easy industrial label production, allowing them to print on a wide range of substrates including paper, self-adhesive and flexible materials, proving more efficient than even the most cost-effective traditional processes. 

The larger of the two – the LB702-UV – cost-effectively addresses 90% of all label jobs up to 26,000 linear feet in length, with the capacity to print over 2.1 million sq ft per month at a printing speed of up to 330 ft/min. The LB701-UV, meanwhile, can produce 800,000+ sq ft of labels per month printing at 230 ft/min. In addition, both presses achieve fast and frequent changeovers with a short web path that reduces set-up times and waste, making them a very sustainable option for label companies.

Having been convinced that the technology would be the perfect fit for the business, Richmark Label also chose to partner with BOBST because of BOBST’s strong vision, which focuses on innovation in digitalization, automation, connectivity, and sustainability. 

“The digital market is fast evolving, so we needed a partner with a clear path towards the future. The BOBST team also has an incredible knowledge of digital print and a deep understanding of the labels market. These were key components in our final decision process,” concluded Bill.

“As part of the BOBST oneLABEL portfolio, the BOBST UV inkjet printers offer limitless, profitable digital label production and they have taken Richmark Label to the next level in their evolution,” commented Dean Haertel, Business Director oneLABEL, North America. “With four of these ultra-productive and cost-efficient machines in house, they can guarantee the fastest delivery, highest quality, and most competitive prices to secure their place as a leading label supplier.” 

About BOBST
We are one of the world’s leading suppliers of substrate processing, printing and converting equipment and services for the label, flexible packaging, folding carton and corrugated board industries.

Founded in 1890 by Joseph Bobst in Lausanne, Switzerland, BOBST has a presence in more than 50 countries, runs 19 production facilities in 11 countries and employs more than 5800 people around the world. The firm recorded a consolidated turnover of CHF 1.563 billion for the year ended December 31, 2021.

www.bobst.com

GEW has announced the appointment of Amir Dekel as Vice President, Sales at GEW Inc., as part of the company’s ongoing restructuring of its sales operations in North America. Dekel will be directing his primary efforts on GEW’s core label and narrow web business, working with key OEM partners and with a renewed focus on end user engagement.

Dekel is a degreed engineer with M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering, who brings international sales, marketing and management experience alongside expertise in global business development and technology solution sales across various print technologies, including Conventional and Digital. His background is in Operations and Management leadership, generating revenue growth by building sales and marketing functions from the ground up. He is a known authority and in-demand keynote speaker at industry forums. Dekel has experience in developing print-related solutions globally, and is fluent in English, German and Hebrew.

Prior to joining GEW he was the Business Unit Manager, Print Division at ISRA VISION, a world leader in automatic inspection and automation equipment, and was responsible for all activities of this Business Unit worldwide.

Robert Rae, Managing Director of Sales at GEW, comments: “Amir joins GEW at an interesting time as we reorganise our team in the US, to enable growth in new UV curing markets without losing focus on our core label printing customers. Amir’s long experience in narrow web in North America (as President of AVT) makes him the perfect candidate to manage this key part of GEW’s business, with his extensive market knowledge. In addition, during his comprehensive training at GEW, I have been very impressed with his technical grasp of our products and technology, which will be invaluable in the field.

“We have been in transition for some time at GEW Inc and I am very excited for Amir to bring his considerable resources to bear promoting LED and arc lamp products across the narrow web market. This will also allow Jennifer Heathcote to refocus her business development role on the industrial, coating and converting markets, as well as continuing her technical leadership role in the industry via organisations such as RadTech.”

Rae continues: “Amir will be primarily based at his office in Atlanta, in addition to spending time at GEW Inc. headquarters in Ohio. He will travel extensively to visit our customers in the web printing industry, old and new, across North America.”

At the same time, GEW’s Jennifer Heathcote is promoted to the position of Vice President, Business Development. Jennifer will shift her role to focus on business development in the industrial, coating and converting markets.

Amir Dekel
Vice President, Sales
GEW Inc., Unit X, 11941 Abbey Road, North Royalton, OH 44133, USA
M: +1 440 673 5640 | E: adekel@gewuv.com

About GEW
GEW is the market-leading manufacturer of both UV Arc and LED systems for the labelling, narrow web and sheetfed printing industries. The company has world-class production facilities at its UK headquarters, subsidiaries in the USA & Germany, and an extensive network of worldwide distributors.

GEW specialises in the design and installation of UV LED systems, having introduced its latest UV LED product, AeroLED, in early 2022. Representing the next generation for UV LED curing, AeroLED eliminates the need for a chiller by air-cooling from a single remote fan to bring UV LED within affordable reach for all. LeoLED, released in 2019, is GEW’s water-cooled solution, delivering maximum power and UV dose for more demanding applications. LeoLED is compatible with GEW’s renowned ArcLED hybrid system.

www.gewuv.com

Schaumburg, IL – INX International Ink Co., a wholly-owned subsidiary of SAKATA INX, announced today it is establishing INX Venture Capital to make minority investments in technology and materials science startups with strategic relevance to the printing inks and coatings value chain. INX Venture Capital will be a $50M investment program and will focus on categories like sustainability and circular economy solutions, digital printing, business and manufacturing automation, and services for brand owners.  

“Our corporate venture capital program represents an expansion of INX’s innovation toolkit, furthering our mission of leading the printing inks and coatings industry in delivering safe and sustainable solutions that enhance the customer experience,” said Shane Bertsch, Vice President of Strategic Planning and Innovation. “We’re eager to marry our focus of creating value for customers, brands, and consumers with our curiosity for new technologies and business models.”

Bryce Kristo, INX’s Chief Financial Officer, added, “As one of the largest ink manufacturing companies in the world, we believe our technical expertise and industry relationships can help entrepreneurs build great companies that create a positive impact on consumers’ lives and our planet. We are excited to deploy INX’s resources to help our portfolio companies scale.”

INX Venture Capital is stage agnostic, with an emphasis on early stage startups that have demonstrated “product market-fit” and have begun to generate revenue. The fund will also pursue select seed and growth stage opportunities. Typical checks will range from $1M to $3M initially, with reserves for follow-up investments. INX Venture Capital will have a global investment mandate, with an emphasis on opportunities in its core markets of North America, Europe, and South America, in concert with SAKATA INX’s worldwide innovation efforts.

The fund is jointly run with Touchdown Ventures, the leading provider of corporate venture capital managed services. Scott Lenet, Touchdown co-founder and President, noted, “We are enthusiastic about the capital investment, industry expertise, and operational excellence that INX can bring to its portfolio companies. We believe INX Venture Capital will be an ideal partner for entrepreneurs and venture investors seeking to launch and scale innovative new technologies that are applicable to printing inks and coatings.”

See details about INX Venture Capital.

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 Touchdown Ventures
Touchdown Ventures partners with corporations to manage their venture capital programs. Touchdown works closely with each corporation to help achieve the financial and strategic benefits from venture capital investments. The firm maintains offices in Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and San Francisco. More information on Touchdown can be found at www.touchdownvc.com.

Epson ColorWorks Label Printer and Ishida Weigh Scales Integrate to Provide On-Demand, Full-Color Price and Weight Labels for Grocery Stores 

Los Alamitos, CA – US convenience stores, delis and supermarkets selling fresh foods look to diversify labels by adding branding details and conveying information through color. Offering a simple solution for the fresh food weighing to packaging process, Epson America, Inc. today announced the integration of its ColorWorks® CW-C6000P and C4000 on-demand color label printers with Ishida countertop food scales. The integrated CW-C6000P printer and weigh scale solution can be used to create full-color, on-demand labels for prepared foods as well as individually weighed meat, deli and bakery items in a grocery store.  This labeling solution will be demoed for the first time at the Retail Data Systems (RDS) booth at the Washington Food Industry Association Show on May 19, 2022.

The Ishida UNI-9 scale, distributed in the US by Rice Lake Weighing Systems, plugs directly into the USB port on the ColorWorks printer, requiring no separate PC or accessory. The printer’s native ZPL capability makes it easy for the printer and scale to communicate, allowing businesses to set an item on the scale and print a label in only three taps. The label includes all necessary information, each of them customizable: item, weight, price, ingredients, barcode, safe handling info, and address. Integrating color into fresh food labels allows businesses to show a picture of a food product or add seasonal branding, highlight allergens to promote customer safety and visually identify freshness and expiration dates.

“Pairing the Epson ColorWorks printer with an Ishida scale creates an end-to-end, full-color labeling solution. For the first time, grocers can weigh an item and print a full-color label incorporating key information,” said Bonny Rindahl, product manager, Epson America, Inc. “Millions of Americans who suffer from food allergies rely on labels for allergen information, and it is easier and quicker to locate when this information is presented in color. The Epson and Ishida labeling solution gives businesses the capability to create prepared food labels that not only help a product stand out on the shelf but also help ensure consumer safety.”

The ColorWorks C6000-Series are the only color inkjet printers on the market with a peel-and-present option, ideal for environments like groceries, bakeries and delis where workers wear gloves. The CW-C6000P and C4000 printers creates durable, photo-quality images that withstand handling and are resistant to water or oil.

This Ishida and Epson integrated solution is the first of its kind, providing grocers with the ability to print weigh labels with full-color graphics,” said Grant Sutherland, business unit manager, Rice Lake Weighing Systems. “Rice Lake Weighing Systems is proud to be partnered with Epson, pioneering innovation in the grocery industry.”

Consumer purchasing trends show the demand of pre-packaged products, grab-and-go items and prepared foods continues to increase. The demand for smaller lots and customization is driven by increasing diversification of meals and increasing allergies. For these reasons, on-demand label printing gives businesses the flexibility they need, and color adds additional value.

Availability

For more information on Epson’s ColorWorks on-demand color labeling solutions, click here. To find an authorized ColorWorks reseller, click here. To learn more about purchasing an Ishida scale, visit the Rice Lake Weighing Systems website here.

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).

EPSON is a registered trademark 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.

GPD Foodpackaging installs two fully automatic BOBST MASTERFOLD 75 folder-gluers for the annual production of 750 million pizza boxes and more.

At its brand-new and highly efficient Smart Factory in Rinteln, Lower Sayony, GDP Foodpackaging GmbH & Co has been producing food packaging on a grand scale since January 1, 2022. This includes the production of 750 million boxes for frozen pizza, which are processed on two MASTERFOLD 75 folder-gluers from BOBST. Both high-speed machines – equipped with robotics and fully automated – are currently still put into operation and are installed with an EASYFEEDER 4 pre-feeder and a CARTONPACK 4 automatic packer with an integrated CASE ERECTOR. The MASTERFOLD 75 reaches operating speeds of up to 600 m/min and is not only the folder-gluer highest capacity, but the most automated high-performance line for the manufacture of folding carton boxes on the market.

“The MASTERFOLD 75 from BOBST is the best folder-gluer to meet the demands at our new plant in Rinteln. It is established on the market and has a reputation among packaging manufacturers the world over for reliable high performance”, is how Bärbel Wetenkamp, Chief Operating Officer at GPD Foodpackaging, explains why they saw no alternative to this folder-gluer. “What’s more, the exceptional versatility and very short setup times of the MASTERFOLD 75 support quick production changes – another crucial advantage of the machine.”

The MASTERFOLD 75 and its EASYFEEDER 4 and CARTONPACK 4 peripherals reliably work with a wide range of different packaging materials, another important criteria for GPD Foodpackaging. “The plans for our new plant focused on attaining significant savings, in particular in energy and paper consumption, as compared to conventional packaging manufacture. One way to achieve this is by replacing virgin-fiber paperboard with recycled paperboard,” explains Bärbel Wetenkamp. The two MASTERFOLD 75 lines in Rinteln will work with blanks of GD2 chromo duplex board at grammages from 200 to 500 g/m2.

When it comes to production, GPD Foodpackaging is breaking new ground at this plant in several ways. It uses a web-fed offset printing system with rotary inline die-cutting specially set up for paperboard printing and unique in Europe. It works with food-safe, EB-curing ink, and its higher-than-average printing speed provides for impressive productivity.

The tried and true technology of both BOBST folder-gluers earn them their rock-solid position in this innovative and fully automatic production process. Bärbel Wetenkamp: “Customers are impressed with our relying on this high-end technology for processing the blanks of finished packaging.”

The smooth interaction of the MASTERFOLD 75 with its peripheral devices ensures that the plant can count on maximum productivity from an uninterrupted folding and gluing process. The EASYFEEDER 4 pre-feeders ensure quick, smooth and consistent delivery of blanks into the feeder of the folder-gluers, preventing production stops. At the end of the MASTERFOLD 75 lines, the CARTONPACK 4 automatic packers gently fill shipping boxes with up to 200,000 units of packaging per hour, all while providing GPD Foodpackaging with various packing options. GPD can save the settings of individual production orders in the MATIC control of its folder-gluers and retrieve them at any time for repeat orders, further shortening the setup time of these orders.

Moreover, plant management can access the machine data at any time via BOBST’s productivity apps, and use them for analysis and process optimization. “We look forward to working with these high-end machines. They fit right into our revolutionary production process”, is how GPD Foodpackaging CEO Henning Diedrich peers hopefully into the future.

“BOBST is championing a drive to profoundly transform the packaging industry by making the entire production chain more agile and sustainable. The primary cornerstones are digitization, connectivity, automation, and sustainability. With the new plant in Rinteln, GPD Foodpackaging is taking a big step toward packaging production that is in line with BOBST’s vision of the future. The high level of automation, productivity and reliability of our MASTERFOLD 75 lines will provide ideal support for this innovative process”, says Hans Dreistein, a Sales Manager at Bobst Meerbusch and contact person for GPD Foodpackaging.

About BOBST
We are one of the world’s leading suppliers of substrate processing, printing and converting equipment and services for the label, flexible packaging, folding carton and corrugated board industries.
Founded in 1890 by Joseph Bobst in Lausanne, Switzerland, BOBST has a presence in more than 50 countries, runs 19 production facilities in 11 countries and employs more than 5 800 people around the world. The firm recorded a consolidated turnover of CHF 1.563 billion for the year ended December 31, 2021.

About GPD Foodpackaging Rinteln
GPD Foodpackaging GmbH & Co. KG, headquartered in Bielefeld, Germany, is building a state-of-the-art production plant on more than 65 hectares of land in Rinteln (northwest Germany) for the manufacture of packaging for food and, in particular, for frozen products. The plant is unique in all of Germany and combines innovative technology with intelligent process optimization to create a highly automated smart factory, furnished with its own logistics center and direct motorway access.

www.bobst.com

Innovia Films (Innovia), a major producer of highly differentiated speciality films announces the opening of a new 6.2 metre multi-layer co-extrusion line at its site in Płock, Poland. The state-of-the-art line will be dedicated to manufacture low-density polyolefin shrink film for shrink sleeve labels and tamper evident applications.

The film forms the basis to produce sustainable floatable shrink sleeves.  This facilitates easy separation of labels from PET, HDPE and PP bottles and containers in the recycling process to enable bottle-to-bottle circularity.  This shrink sleeve material is mainly for use within the Food, Beverage and Home & Personal Care industries.

Innovia to market the film under the brand RayoFloat™

“The opening of the line concludes our strategic investment into a high-performance shrink film, that enables more circularity when it comes to packaging – an important goal for consumer goods companies,” says Simon Huber, Managing Director, Innovia UK and Poland. “The new capacities will allow us to supply label and sleeve converters with high-quality floatable shrink sleeve material that has the potential to revolutionise the market and the way packaging is decorated to move towards more sustainable choices” continued Huber.

RayoFloat™ APO is a clear, uncoated shrink film that floats, as its density is <0.93 g/cm³.  The film is also glossy, scuff resistant and printable, with a controlled TD shrinkage up to 70%.  RayoFloat™ has been endorsed by the European PET Bottle Platform EPBP, although this film is perfect for use on a variety of HDPE and PP containers too. 

CCL Label markets the polyolefin labels under EcoFloat™

CCL Label has been partnering with multinational brands to develop recyclable PET containers for bottle-to-bottle recycling in a closed loop. Polyolefin sleeves are also a recycling-friendly match for PP- and PE-based packaging as they stem from the same plastics family.

“In recent years we have seen big changes in the market. Brands are increasingly following Design for Recycling guidelines and are re-creating their packaging to meet recycling targets. Labels can make a huge difference here, the functional properties of label materials can support recyclability and re-usability,” says Günther Birkner, member of the Management Team at CCL. “The goal of our investment in Poland is to significantly increase the capacity in polyolefin shrink films which were hardly available so far. Through our global network of CCL Label sites, we are able to convert the recycling-friendly material into EcoFloat sleeves and supply those with short turnaround times to packaging lines. This initiative will enable our customers to boost the recyclability of their packaging!”

As EcoFloat™ sleeves are made from low density polyolefins, they make the difference in the crucial sink/float recycling step at PET recyclers. The sleeve material floats and this allows for a clean separation from the heavier PET flakes that sink to the bottom of the washing tanks. This easy separation forms the basis of the yield of high-quality PET flakes that can be used in bottle-to-bottle recycling, closing the loop. EcoFloat™ has been endorsed by the European PET Bottle Platform EPBP.

“Our investment is part of our commitment to boost plastic recycling and take steps towards a circular economy as stated when we signed the Global Commitment of the New Plastics Economy led by the Ellen MacArthur foundation. In future, governments will set targets for recycling rates in municipal waste. Reaching these will not be feasible without investing in new technologies for packaging materials that support ‘Design for Recycling’. As a floatable, low density polyolefin sleeve, EcoFloat™ fulfills the requirements as defined in packaging design guidelines,” concluded Birkner. 

www.innoviafilms.com

About Innovia:
Innovia Films is a major producer of highly differentiated speciality films using proprietary ‘Bubble’, Stenter Technology and Cast manufacturing processes.  The company holds a leading global position in the markets for high performance coated films, tobacco overwrap, labels and security films.  Innovia employs >1400 people worldwide and has production sites in Australia, Belgium, Germany, Mexico, Poland and the UK.  The company is focused on high-quality value-added products, strong customer relationships, R&D and excellent service.

About CCL Label:
CCL Label is the world’s largest converter of pressure sensitive and extruded film materials for decorative, functional and information labels.

UPM Raflatac and the Finnish Paperworker’s Union signed a business specific collective labour agreement on April 22, 2022. As a result, the Paperworker’s Union’s strike at the Tampere factory in Finland ended on the same day and employees returned to work on April 25. The production ramp-up has proceeded as planned. Production volumes reached normal levels during the first week after the strike.

“We are pleased that a new business-specific agreement is now reached with the Finnish Paperworkers’ Union, enabling us to better serve our customers in the future. The agreement allows for additional production flexibility at our Tampere factory and gives us the ability to better respond to demand peaks. Increased capacity utilization also opens future opportunities for employment,” says Antti Jääskeläinen, Executive Vice President, UPM Raflatac.

The agreements made between the Paperworkers’ Union and other UPM businesses will result in improved supply security for the global label industry. However, the tight raw material and logistics situation, which has been constrained since early 2021, is expected to continue impacting the global label industry supply chain. UPM Raflatac will closely monitor the situation and keep customers informed on the availability of impacted products.

UPM Raflatac
UPM Raflatac is leading in sustainable labeling through our innovative self-adhesive label materials and services. We offer high-quality paper and film label stock for branding and promotion, informational labels, and labels with functionality. We operate a global network of factories, distribution terminals and sales offices. Our company employs around 3,000 people and made sales of EUR 1.7 billion (USD 1.9 billion) in 2021. UPM Raflatac is part of UPM. Find out how we are labeling a smarter future beyond fossils at www.upmraflatac.com.

An ideal solution to control liner variation, the AccuAdjust paves the way for fully-automated anvil control

Oak Brook, IL – Maxcess, a global leader in innovative products and services for web handling applications, today unveiled the RotoMetrics AccuAdjust Dual Adjust Anvil. Featuring easy-to-use digital controllers on the front of the die stack, quick installation into a press and automation-ready motors that ship with the unit itself, the AccuAdjust paves the way for fully-automated anvil adjustment upgrades that are ready when you are.

“We designed the new AccuAdjust from the ground-up with our global R&D team to give customers an intuitive and powerful tool to control liner variation that our customers are seeing on a daily basis,” said Nadine Powell, Global Product Manager for RotoMetrics, a Maxcess Brand. “With shortages in skilled labor, liner variation changes and material supply issues that every press operator is facing, the new AccuAdjust will be a welcomed solution to cut perfect labels, while reducing scrap from common liners such as PET, Glassine and Kraft.”

Featuring easy-to-access dual-adjustable controllers on the front of the die stack and backed by a global service and support infrastructure to ensure you are taken care of after installation, the new AccuAdjust provides customers with an adjustable anvil that is both easy-to-use and extremely accurate. In addition, since each AccuAdjust unit comes plug-and-play ready for RotoMetric’s upcoming RotoAdjust automation system for greater operator control, enhanced productivity, and Industry 4.0 analytics to run smarter, customers can be confident in future-proofing their investment with a product that can easily adopt further automation when they are ready.

See the new AccuAdjust in action now: AccuAdjust-In-Action

Visit www.Maxcessintl.com or call 1-844-MAXCESS to learn more about controlling liner variation today. 

About Maxcess: Maxcess helps its customers maximize productivity through innovative products and services worldwide. By combining more than 400 years of global service and support across the storied product brands of RotoMetrics, Fife, Tidland, MAGPOWR, Webex, Valley Roller and Componex, Maxcess offers an unrivaled network of application experts and automated, end-to-end web handling solutions to help you work better, faster and smarter. Visit them online at www.maxcessintl.com

Mills River, NC – UPM Raflatac, a global supplier of innovative and sustainable labeling materials, today announced the UPM Raflatac OptiCut™ Direct Thermal (DT) Linerless product line has been qualified on the new Epson OmniLink® TM-L100 liner-free compatible thermal label printer. This will enable Epson and UPM Raflatac to offer improved linerless label performance for OmniLink TM-L100 users in the hospitality segment.

“UPM Raflatac has developed both our assets and products to meet the needs of the fast-growing DT Linerless market. This incredible partnership with Epson will allow more end-users to benefit from the efficiencies, high performance, and sustainable design of our OptiCut products,” stated Brinder Gill, Sales Director, UPM Raflatac Americas.

In addition, UPM Raflatac is poised to meet strong growth in demand for DT Linerless material, despite supply chain disruptions common in many markets.

“Our new production line investment has increased our production capacity by 100 million m2, and we can support our customers through our global distribution network. This enables us to face the fast transition to DT Linerless in the market.,” said Gill.

UPM Raflatac OptiCut products not only offer excellent adhesion and repositionability, but customers can also make informed choices as the carbon footprint of the UPM Raflatac Linerless product line was recently certified by the Carbon Trust, a global climate consultancy driven by the mission to accelerate the move to a decarbonized future.

“In today’s everchanging environment, liner-free thermal label printing provides flexibility to meet a variety of business demands,” said David Vander Dussen, product manager, Business Systems, Epson America. “With this new qualification, UPM Raflatac has demonstrated its commitment to delivering high quality media solutions for liner-free printing, underscoring the reliability customers can expect when using OptiCut DT media with the OmniLink TM-L100.”

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

UPM Raflatac
UPM Raflatac is leading in sustainable labeling through our innovative self-adhesive label materials and services. We offer high-quality paper and film label stock for branding and promotion, informational labels, and labels with functionality. We operate a global network of factories, distribution terminals and sales offices. Our company employs around 3,000 people and made sales of EUR 1.7 billion (USD 1.9 billion) in 2021. UPM Raflatac is part of UPM. Find out how we are labeling a smarter future beyond fossils at www.upmraflatac.com.