April 22, 2022

Packaging-Connected PFAS Use, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and Product Labeling

As we approach the end of April, TLMI continues to follow state legislative activity with the potential to impact the tag and label supply chain and their broader supply chain and customer bases. Only eight states have will have their legislatures in session past June 30th, with much of that time in recess until they close at the end of the year.

Here are some of the legislative initiatives that have moved since our last update.

California continues to look at a variety of legislation with the potential to impact the tag and label industry. Assembly Bill 2247, would establish a publicly accessible reporting platform to collect information about PFAS and products or product components containing regulated PFAS. The clearinghouse database would be in place by March of 2024. This bill is currently in its initial Committee hearings.

Senate Bill 1097 would require all cannabis products, other than those for topical use, to include a warning label that covers at least 1/3 of the front or principal face of the product, using the largest practical font type possible (in bright yellow), and include a pictorial or graphic element, along with an approved warning to the consumer. SB 1097 is scheduled for its second Senate Committee hearing the week of April 18th. Please note – while the US Congress is currently considering legislation to change federal banking regulations to permit some cannabis and marijuana financial transactions, these laws remain in place for the time being.

Also active in-state on the labeling front is Senate Bill 1232 which would slightly expand on-product label eligibility for those products making biodegradable, degradable or decomposable claims, should certain environmental markers be met. SB 1232 is scheduled for a hearing on April 25th.

Maryland  Senate Bill 273, addresses PFAS use, including its incorporation as an input  for package various components, specifically labels, inks and adhesives. SB 273 continued earlier Committee progress, passing both legislative chambers. On April 20th,  Governor Hogan signed the legislation into law.

SB 273 prohibits the manufacture of, or knowingly offering for sale or distribution in state, paper-based food or beverage packaging containing PFAS that is designed and intended for direct food contact. The “direct food contact” clause was included in the final version of the legislation. The PFAS restrictions are effective beginning January 1, 2024.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul removed EPR and PFAS-prohibition packaging provisions from the state’s final budget bill, with both measures expected to receive consideration under the normal legislative process. 

The recent state activity surrounding permissibility of PFAS use in packaging coincides with the US EPA’s announcement in late March that the agency would be removing two additional PFAS classes from its Safer Choice Program, in an effort to reduce exposure to consumers.

Finally, the Hawaii legislature has moved forward legislation (House Bill 2399-SD 1) that would create a funding base for a future Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program funding. While both Oregon and Maine last year passed detailed EPR bills with outlined requirements for packaging reduction, reuse, producer responsibility organization responsibilities and connected brand/producer fee structures, the centerpiece of the Hawaii bill is a $150 per ton fee on larger importers of “fast moving consumer products”, which covers traditional food and beverage product categories. TLMI will continue to follow the legislation, which has passed both chambers, and inform members of future implications for the tag and label industry.

As always, the information provided in TLMI’s RAC Newsletter should not be construed as legal guidance. If you have questions on the legislation or initiatives highlighted, please contact Bryan Vickers, bvickers@pacellp.com, 703-403-2882 for more information.

See Samples at the Xeikon Café Chicago

Itasca, IL – Xeikon has announced the introduction of gold and silver metallic toners for its Xeikon Cheetah 2.0 Series, the most advanced line of digital label presses on the market, in line with the company’s strategy to focus on the label industry and develop application-tuned solutions.

The production of labels for wine, health and cosmetics typically requires specific embellishing steps. This has been traditionally achieved by either printing on a metallic substrate, using metallic inks or using a cold or hot foiling process. However, these traditional techniques involve high setup costs due to expensive materials and tools and to the high amount of waste generated to reach the expected quality. Adding the metallic color digitally eliminates these costs, avoids secondary processes and unlocks new value-added label design options such as personalization.

A few years ago, Xeikon launched its ‘Creative Toner’ series, a portfolio designed to enhance packaging with specific colors. Palladium Silver and Matt Silver were the first creative colors to be introduced. Today, Xeikon expands this family with Metallic Gold and Metallic Silver to provide a digital alternative to flexo printed gold or silver, measuring 6-8 on the Flop Index, an index that measures the reflectance of a metallic color. These metallic colors fit in the 5th color station of the Xeikon Cheetah press. Dry toner technology allows for hassle-free color swapping by just replacing the toner dosing unit and the developer unit. There is no extensive cleaning process required as the toner is dry, and a quick brushing with a vacuum cleaner is sufficient to be up and running between jobs.

As digitalization evolves and is increasingly adopted by the printing industry, digital technology becomes more integrated into all processes, including the converting and embellishing print manufacturing processes. Xeikon currently offers offline digital embellishing for 2D, 3D, haptic varnishing and foiling on its Xeikon Fusion Embellishment Unit (FEU). Inline embellishing with full-color digital print is available as haptic white on the Xeikon Panther UV-IJ Series. The use of metallic toners on Xeikon Cheetah 2.0 presses make it much easier to produce labels that are less complex while dramatically reducing turnaround times and simplifying the overall production process.

Filip Weymans, Xeikon’s Vice President Marketing, confirms: “The development of application-tuned toners empowers printers to create their own digital solution, allowing them to stand out from other print providers and remain competitive. With the Xeikon Metallic Gold and Silver toners, we continue our commitment to innovate in leading-edge technology and provide new opportunities for the label printing industry.”

Xeikon metallic toners will be available as of May 2022 for all Xeikon Cheetah 2.0 users. At the Xeikon Café Europe 2022, April 26-28, visitors will see live demonstrations at the Global Innovation Center. Visitors to the Xeikon Café Chicago, May 18-19 will see the great sample output. Label printers and converters will also learn how the latest Xeikon solutions bring more value to their business. In addition, visitors can reserve individual sessions with Xeikon experts to get in-depth insight and discuss opportunities and needs.

ABOUT XEIKON

Xeikon, a division of Flint Group, is a long-standing leader and innovator in digital printing technology. Grounded in the principles of quality, flexibility and sustainability, Xeikon designs, develops and delivers web-fed digital color presses for label and packaging applications, document printing, and commercial printing. These printing machines work with different imaging technologies, open workflow software and application-specific consumables.

In 2015, Xeikon joined Flint Group to create a new “Digital Printing Solutions” division for the leading global print consumables and solution provider to the packaging and print media industries. Flint Group develops and manufactures an extensive portfolio of consumables for the printing industry. These include a vast range of conventional and energy-curable inks and coatings, press room chemicals, printing plates and equipment, printing blankets and sleeves, and pigments and additives for use in inks and other colorant applications. The Flint Group is based in Luxembourg and employs around 7900 people. On a worldwide basis, the company is the number one or number two supplier in every major market segment it serves.

For more information about Xeikon, visit www.xeikon.com and for Flint Group, visit www.flintgrp.com

Follow Xeikon on:

Twitter.com/Xeikon | Linkedin.com/Xeikon | Youtube.com/Xeikon | Facebook.com/XeikonInternational

Les Crudettes declared Gold winner at this year´s Packaging Innovation Awards by DOW using FunctionalBarrier Paper by Mondi.

The recyclable packaging was judged in the categories of sustainability & responsible packaging and technological advancement.

French vegetable producer Les Crudettes uses the paper-based solution to replace plastic packaging for its ready-to-eat salads in France.

Mondi, a global leader in packaging and paper, and French Les Crudettes – LSDH Group’s Vegetable Division were recognised as Gold winner at this year´s Packaging Innovation Awards by DOW for using recyclable FunctionalBarrier Paper manufactured by Mondi to protect ready-to-eat salads. This prestigious prize follows five other wins scooped last year for the innovative paper-based solution.

Mondi’s FunctionalBarrier Paper replaces plastic films and laminates traditionally used for FMCG and consumer products with a recyclable and renewable solution. It consists of 95% paper with a functional barrier layer and keeps Les Crudettes salad just as fresh as the previous alternative. Mechanical properties include puncture resistance, flexibility, printability and barrier protection. The applied coating technology creates individual barriers against grease and water vapour while ensuring freshness for up to 10 days – the same amount of time as with the former plastic packaging.

Mondi used its EcoSolutions approach to work closely with Les Crudettes to help the company meet its sustainability goals of reducing the amount of plastic in its packaging for its salads. The packaging is verified as recyclable in the wastepaper stream in France and saves 137 tonnes of plastic per year. Additionally, the solution supports Mondi’s MAP2030 sustainability goal to make 100% of its products reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025.

Falk Paulsen, Sales & Business Development Director Functional Paper and Films, Mondi, says: “Les Crudettes gave us the challenge of developing a fully recyclable paper-based packaging solution and we are pleased that the Packaging Innovation Award acknowledges FunctionalBarrier Paper for its sustainability credentials. It is an ideal example of creating packaging that is designed for recycling. We are pleased that our product has been honoured as a Gold winner.”

Géraldine Collet, Marketing and Innovation Director, Les Crudettes, adds: “This award is a recognition of our ground-breaking innovation; our bags could revolutionise the ready-to-eat salad market. Working together with Mondi has resulted in hugely reducing the amount of plastic needed.”

The Packaging Innovation Awards by Dow, which took place in a virtual ceremony on 31 March 2022, recognise outstanding packaging projects from around the globe. They showcase the most innovative breakthroughs based on the criteria of sustainability, technological developments and enhanced user experience.

A group of independent judges from seven countries – and representing more than 300 years of combined industry experience – evaluated 189 submissions from companies worldwide. The packaging projects range from food and beverage applications to homecare and even electronic goods.

www.mondigroup.com

Codemark Colombia SAS has installed their first Nilpeter press, an FB-350, to increase capacity, add value to their printing production, and enter into new markets. Codemark has chosen Nilpeter thanks to their local sales support, the number and success of their recent installations in Colombia, and the technical support they offer in the Latin American market.

A Special Year for Codemark
Codemark Colombia SAS was founded in 2005 by Mr. Camilo Mateus. At first, the flexographic company operating out of Bogotá, Colombia, mainly provided promotional pressure-sensitive labels (PSA), ribbons, and codification machines to the local market. In 2019, Codemark started producing shrink sleeves, a market which has grown substantially in the region, a trend which predicts to continue.

2022 will be a special year for Codemark, with growth projections above 30%, in large part due to the installation of the new FB-350, which will allow them to offer applications, such as cold foil on pressure-sensitive labels and shrink sleeves, embossing, and de- and re-lamination.

Higher Speeds and Lower Waste
“The new FB-350 has doubled our average production speeds, giving us the chance to print more jobs per day, and thanks to the servo-technology and register settings, to reduce waste by up to 40%, depending on the job,” says Camilo Mateus, General Manager, Codemark Colombia SAS.

“The shrink sleeves market in Colombia has been in a constant growth for the latest 5 years – special applications such as cold foil are now widely demanded by end-users, and with this new installation, we will be able to cover that demand,” he continues.

Support and Success
“When we started the new press project, we considered several suppliers, as this was going to be our first modular press with high-end applications. We finally decided to invest with Nilpeter, due to their sales support, the number and success of their recent installations in Colombia, and the technical support they offer in the Latin American market,” Camilo Mateus concludes.

A Milestone for Codemark
“This project will be a milestone in the history of Codemark, as it’s the first modular press installed that is configured to run shrink sleeves and equipped with value-added applications. The FB-350 enables Codemark to increase the pre-press printing definition from 150 LPI (lines per inch) to 170 LPI on standard jobs, and up to 200 LPI for high-definition printing jobs. We are delighted to welcome Codemark to the Nilpeter family,” says Juan Pablo Patino, Nilpeter Commercial Manager for the Andean Region.

Sophisticated Workhorse
The FB-Line is a sophisticated workhorse offering high ease of operation and superior printing quality. Available in 13” and 16” widths, the FB-Line is the perfect choice for the flexible label printer. Innovative automation features can be added according to requirements and combined with value-added features, such as lamination, cold foil, hot foil, gravure, and screen printing. The FB-350 installed at Codemark has been equipped with a movable, rail-based Cold Foil System, which includes a separate UV-lamp, allowing them to run the application on different units in the press.

www.nilpeter.com

The program is designed to help users optimize their productivity

Itasca, IL – In the current market, printers are looking to redesign their production processes. They are seeking ways to reduce material waste, production time, ink/toner and electricity consumption while delivering the best quality. To address these concerns, Xeikon America Inc. has launched its inspiring “Do More with Less” program, which provides customers with tangible ideas on how to tackle those challenges.

Paul Salmon, Xeikon’s Global Customer Success Manager, says: “Because of the special times in which we live, printers face increased costs and shortage of materials. Xeikon’s Customer Success Managers across the globe are evaluating and implementing new methods and processes that have a tremendous impact on cost-effectiveness for Xeikon customers.”

The “Do More with Less” program offers a range of actions that improve all aspects of the print production workflow: it helps to reduce lead time, minimize the amount of material waste, and keep ink/toner consumption and operator efforts to a minimum.

Here are some examples:

• VariLane, a workflow option of the X-800 digital front-end, allows printers to add labels on different lanes alongside an existing job, with the option to have labels of different sizes. This allows Xeikon users to optimize the usage of the substrate.

• Vectorizor, a software add-on to the X-800 digital front-end, increases productivity and efficiency for label finishing. It generates the shape of “frames” to be transferred to the die-cutting device. At the same time, barcodes are printed alongside the job, sending instructions on what shape to use.

• Xeikon Color Services can help in many ways, e.g. to reduce color setup waste by providing predictable color and by offering different quality levels, thereby reducing toner and ink consumption.

• -Job Optimizer, an X-800 feature, reduces production time and substrate waste up to 30% for multi-variant jobs. These jobs use the same die-cut but with an unlimited amount of design variations (e.g. different flavors). With Job Optimizer, printers can organize their jobs in a way that drastically reduces their costs. This is a unique feature of the Xeikon workflow.

• Xeikon Business Services enables users to get real-time data on performance, generated waste, etc., for their setup, with easy data collection. All the latest printing platforms launched by Xeikon are cloud-connected, featuring machine-to-machine and man-to-machine interfaces that capture the data needed to monitor performance in a worry-free manner.

Xeikon’s “Do More with Less” program will be shared with customers during a dedicated Xeikon Café TV session and at the upcoming editions of the Xeikon Café in Europe and North America. Customers can book individual meetings with Xeikon experts to discuss their specific needs. Press operators are also invited to sit with Xeikon digital specialists and subject matter experts who will train them on how to minimize waste when setting up new, alternative substrates.

“There are many ways to ensure optimized performance of Xeikon printing equipment, said Salmon. “Through close contact with our customers, we have gathered knowledge and shared it with our customers, but we also leverage it to further optimize our technology. Our “Do More with Less” program is the result of putting that knowledge into practice.”

ABOUT XEIKON

Xeikon, a division of Flint Group, is a long-standing leader and innovator in digital printing technology. Grounded in the principles of quality, flexibility and sustainability, Xeikon designs, develops and delivers web-fed digital color presses for label and packaging applications, document printing, and commercial printing. These printing machines work with different imaging technologies, open workflow software and application-specific consumables.

In 2015, Xeikon joined Flint Group to create a new “Digital Printing Solutions” division for the leading global print consumables and solution provider to the packaging and print media industries. Flint Group develops and manufactures an extensive portfolio of consumables for the printing industry. These include a vast range of conventional and energy-curable inks and coatings, press room chemicals, printing plates and equipment, printing blankets and sleeves, and pigments and additives for use in inks and other colorant applications. The Flint Group is based in Luxembourg and employs around 7900 people. On a worldwide basis, the company is the number one or number two supplier in every major market segment it serves.

For more information about Xeikon, visit www.xeikon.com and for Flint Group, visit www.flintgrp.com

Elk Grove Village, IL — SCREEN Americas announces the installation of its high-definition, continuous roll-fed inkjet web press, the Truepress Jet520HD+, to Consolidated Solutions of Cleveland, Ohio. The press, which was installed in August 2021, is the second SCREEN press for the printer. The first, a Truepress Jet520EX, was installed in 2015.

With local and national clients spanning several different markets including retail, medical, housing, commercial real estate, healthcare, insurance, higher education, sports and manufacturing, Consolidated Solutions sought technology to meet the demands of sophisticated buyers, particularly those in the healthcare industry whose high expectations include achieving color quality and maintaining their mail date compliancy requirements. The Truepress Jet520HD+ has proven to be the best solution for this meticulous market allowing Consolidated Solutions to have the capacity to add more healthcare communications work without the need for additional staff. SCREEN’s technology and overall reliability will allow the printer to grow in other lines of revenue.

While the company’s high volume commercial and direct mail projects are primarily produced on the Truepress Jet520HD+, the Ohio solution provider’s black and white transactional jobs are reserved for the Truepress Jet520EX. Prior to 2015, Consolidated Solutions relied on cut-sheet devices for its variable data work, however they proved to be too slow and unreliable for the time-sensitive healthcare and insurance markets, according to the company’s chief executive officer, Matt Reville. “For our day-to-day projects that were continual, we needed a press that could handle large volumes at high speeds,” said Reville. “Our smaller jobs that are non-repetitive are now assigned to the cut-sheet devices.”

The addition of the new SCREEN press came at a critical time for Consolidated Solutions. It has experienced growth in its healthcare segment during the past two years both in personnel and sales and it needed to react quickly to the increased demand. “We have a great partnership with SCREEN and the Truepress Jet520HD+ is helping us to meet the increased needs of our clients,” said Reville. 

Founded in 1996, Consolidated Solutions employs 150 individuals, operates 24 hours per day, seven days per week and has two facilities located within a block of each other totaling 200,000 square feet. Both SCREEN presses are arranged in a straight-line configuration parallel to one another in proximity to the finishing equipment dedicated to the company’s direct mail applications.

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

Taghleef announces the extension of Titanium™ product family

Taghleef Industries announces the extension of its Titanium™ product family with two additional metallic films for in mold labeling applications.

Since its launch in 2015, LTZ film has been promoted under the corporate Titanium™ brand name. LTZ is a unique multi-layer film characterized by an exclusive silver look delivering either a brilliant “mirror like” gloss or a matt “gunmetal” effect to the labeled container. The strength of Titanium™ LTZ lies in its metallic component as one of the inner layers of its structure, which removes the possibility of scratching and improves ink adhesion.

The extension of Titanium™ product family is driven by Taghleef’s aim to offer a wider selection of metallised in mold label films, used to better differentiate products on the shelf with a premium bright finish.

The new Titanium™ portfolio will include the following metallic in mold label films:
• LTZ – suitable for static charging and vacuum placement
• LHZ – suitable for vacuum placement
• LIZ – suitable for vacuum placement

These substrates serve as perfect metallized labels on PP containers, therefore also represent a suitable alternative to aluminum containers. Suitable applications for Titanium™ films include small, medium and large containers of industrial applications (e.g. paints & coatings), nutraceutical products (e.g. sports supplements), premium brand foodstuff, and more.

Titanium™ product family belongs to Taghleef Industries’ portfolio of in mold label films that enables the widest choice of finishes: from a “no label look” to orange peel, satin finish, smooth finish, glossy finish, and metallic look.

For further information, contact us at labelfilms@ti-films.com

Leading West Midlands based narrow web converter, Daymark Labels, is the latest company to install a Mark Andy Digital Pro 3 press at its production facility in Hartlebury, Worcestershire, and according to General Manager, Kevan Palmer, it has made a fundamental difference to job throughput. “I can’t believe how we coped without it,” he commented, adding “on one of our regular jobs it’s shortened production time from three days to one shift!”

The Digital Pro is a second-generation Mark Andy hybrid that combines a toner-based digital engine for 1200dpi CMYK with a press platform that offers flexo printing before and after the digital module, laminating, cold foiling, rotary or semi-rotary die-cutting, slitting and rewinding, or sheeting and stacking, all in one pass. Not surprisingly, this versatile and modular press is viewed as an all-round production tool with an inbuilt future-proof configurability.

Capable of printing on a variety of stocks, from tags to pressure-sensitive and Tyvek materials, typically self-adhesive stocks, porous and wine label substrates, PET, and PP, without any need for primer, Digital Pro has a production speed of 23.4m/min (77ft/min) and requires no cleanroom environment nor involves any ‘click charge’. It features a simple to use RIP that allows any existing pdf to be printed at the touch of a button, and its small footprint and onboard compressor for its air-cooled LED-UV curing system, make for a ‘plug-in and go’ installation.

For a company like Daymark, which prides itself on serving top quality print to some of the more testing niche markets, the two new Mark Andy presses, Digital Pro and Evolution Series E5, fit their production requirements perfectly. The Evolution Series E5 features the latest Mark Andy servo platform for entry-level flexo. It has 330mm (13”) web width, eight flexo print units, and is the first to be installed in the UK fitted with GEW’s LeoLED/UV curing technology. Specification also includes a web cleaner, overhead rail with turn bar unit, delam/relam, double die stations and a sheeter/conveyor.

Described by Kevan Palmer as ‘the perfect operator’s press’ for its ease of set-up and production, he says its print quality and speed have both exceeded expectations, and significantly, allowed Daymark to bring outwork back in-house with improved customer service.

Founded by Jon Bird Snr in 1974, and now run jointly with son Jon Jnr, Daymark Labels began by specialising in short run work including foil-stamping 1000 labels at a time. The company moved into flexo in the 1980s and later into letterpress with three 340mm presses that are still producing good quality work. In fact, the semi-rotary die station on the new DPro was familiar to Daymark from its letterpress lines.

“We’d been looking at the digital technology on the market for some time, trying to work out the best solution for our customers’ specific requirements,” said Jon Bird, “and then Covid hit, and plans were shelved until such time as we could see how things settled.” Knowing that the company needed to upgrade its flexo capacity and commit to digital for the first time, it was the combination of what Mark Andy had to offer on both fronts that tipped the balance.

Jon Bird takes up the story: “We were ideally looking for a single source supply for both print technologies, and with its reputation in the market for customer support, and a comparison of its product portfolio with other press manufacturers, we decided the way ahead for us was with Mark Andy – and I’m pleased to say that, so far, we are well pleased with our decision on the presses and the level of back-up!”

Currently employing 30 people and aiming for a £3.5m turnover this year, Daymark is keen to grow its label business rapidly in the food and beverage sector and as in pharmaceuticals and the electrical industry, as well increasing its output of tags and tickets. Run lengths vary from 500 to  1 million labels but repeat business is high, which requires close attention to customer service as well as a high-quality product.

“We aim to make life as easy for our customers as possible, and do it with an environmental conscience,” said Jon Bird, adding “It’s a matter of educating the market about sustainability and what is actually achievable. We believe our partnership with Mark Andy will help us to achieve that and grow our business organically.”

Speaking for Mark Andy, Sales Manager Phil Baldwin commented: “Daymark has invested in the very latest technology we have to offer, and it will allow them to manufacture a wide variety of printed products as cost-effectively as is currently possible. The DPro has enabled Daymark to produce jobs in a single pass that previously required multiple presses. Both new Mark. Andy presses, the Evolution Series E5 and the DPro are scalable, allowing them to be adapted to meet changes in market demand. We are looking forward to supporting Daymark in their quest for ‘green production’ in the days and years to come.”

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.

One in January, another due in May, and a third scheduled for July – that’s the reality for Catapult Print & Packaging in Orlando, FL, USA, as they hit 7 total Nilpeter FA-Lines installed since 2018. The three new FA-17 are all 9-colour presses, like the previous four, continuing the strategy of “any job, anywhere, on any press.”

New Modern Facilities
Ambitious expansion plans are already in motion for the Florida-based company, with a new, modern 100.000 sq. ft. facility going up next door, built around Catapult’s employees with in-house coffee and panini bars, and of course, room for a plethora of new Nilpeter presses, both in 17’’ web widths, but also venturing into 26’’.

Any Job on Any Press
“I call our press pool Southwest Airlines – they’re all the same, for maximum familiarity and production flexibility. We can print any job, anywhere, on any press. And the technology of the Nilpeter presses allows us to do that – the quality is immense, and they’re very easy to train on, simplifying the process for our 66 employees, of which only two had previously worked as print operators,” says Mark Cook, CEO, Catapult Print & Packaging.

Catapult Print & Packaging specialize in pressure sensitive labels, linerless labels, and to a slightly smaller degree, narrow-web film. Three areas with lots of opportunities, where service, price, and lead times matter – food, household, beverage, etc.

Using their Bellissima digitally-modulated process, Catapult can screen at 350 lines per inch compared to most flexo printers when printing pressure-sensitive, wraparound, and roll stock for flexible packaging. They are one of only two printers in the U.S. producing linerless labels, and their capabilities with unsupported film give customers a world of opportunities in enhanced packaging.

No Compromise
“When we set up the business that was our model – we needed the latest technology to ensure, that strategically, if anything changed, we were agile, and could react quickly, while not compromising or losing our ability to compete on price, lead times, and quality. And with everything that’s gone on these past few years, and in the current climate, that has been paramount – still being able to quote next-day-delivery, always focusing on our customers’ needs. The Nilpeter presses play a huge part in that,” Mark Cook continues.

Pushing Boundaries
“We, at Nilpeter, are both delighted and proud to work with Catapult. They think and do things differently, with a customer-led approach driven by our technology, focused on making a difference in terms of sustainability, employee satisfaction, and of course, product quality. That’s right up our ally, and we couldn’t be happier to continue this journey with them,” says Lenny DeGirolmo, President & Managing Director, Nilpeter USA.

The Most Versatile Flexo Press on the Market
The FA-Line is the most versatile flexo press on the market – designed to accommodate the printer’s ever-growing needs, and built around the modern print operator, with an intuitive user interface and fully mobile print controls.

A benchmark of flexibility and modularity, the FA allows printers to enhance the performance of their press with Value-Adding Units, Application and Automation Packages, according to application needs and budget. Future customisations are often done with a simple press of a button. All main components are produced in-house at Nilpeter in Denmark and the US, meaning higher production quality and control.

www.nilpeter.com